HAWTHORN Football Club’s new homebase in Dingley Village has been officially opened.
The $113 million project has received money from all three levels of government, the AFL, and Hawthorn Football Club. The federal government has confirmed it spent $15 million on stage one works, which triggered the release of $5 million in ratepayer money from Kingston Council towards the project. The state government also put in $15 million.
The finished Kennedy Community Centre project features a new community oval and pavilion, which is expected to be used for Hawthorn FC’s AFLW team.
Kingston Council and Hawthorn FC have agreed to a 30-year partnership. Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley said “this partnership ensures our community can share in a space where elite athletes train and play. It’s about connection and opportunity — giving local players, especially women and girls, access to first class facilities and pathways to take their game to the next level.”
“Sport plays such an important role in our community. It keeps us active, builds friendships and brings people together. This project will inspire the next generation of footballers while strengthening our community for years to come,” she said. “We’re incredibly proud to have supported the community facilities and to see it come to life here in Kingston. We look forward to seeing this partnership grow — and to the many ways the Hawks will contribute to our community both on and off the field.”
Hawthorn FC president Andrew Gowers said the new facility “will transform our football club into the future, providing our players and staff with a world-class high-performance environment, best positioning Hawthorn in our never ending pursuit of sustained premiership success.”
Last week’s opening was attended by numerous MPs, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. Albanese said “to all of you who have worked so hard to deliver this project, you have done something extraordinary.”
“Our government is proud to have supported the work of the Hawthorn Football Club, the Victorian Government and the Kingston City Council. I am so pleased this is a place that belongs to the community because that is what sport in Australia is all about – bringing people together and building that sense of community,” he said.
Allan said “Victoria is the home of the AFL, and this is a landmark moment for Hawthorn Football Club and for women’s sport in Victoria. These elite facilities will give the Hawks a home to train, play, and inspire the next generation of players for many years to come.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc News – 26 November 2025