Catch up on how the Kennedy Community Centre project is progressing along via our monthly updates below.

October 23, 2024

As the sun continues to shine a little longer each day, more and more work is being done on our future home at the Kennedy Community Centre this spring.

The erection of structural steel continues to take shape at the Harris Elite Training and Administration Facility (Harris ETAF), with the admin area mostly complete. Further steel installation has progressed with the indoor theatre, and excitingly commenced to the indoor training zone. Internal glass has been measured for the ground floor frames to go into place in the Harris ETAF, while the roofing contractor has commenced onsite.

Over at the AFLW Oval and Community Pavilion, shear walls have been installed which will support future grandstand seating plans. Ensuring these steps are completed will lead to the next critical activity being the erection of structural steel. In the coming weeks, we will also see further work being done to prepare for the sand and turf to be laid down on both our ovals as we push into the warmer months. Meanwhile, our light towers will begin to be erected during the month of October, which is also a notable milestone in the project.

With project progress approximately 60% complete, the club remains on track to make the move to Dingley during the second half of next year. The Kennedy Community Centre will be a wonderful facility for both our men’s and women’s programs, but we still need your help to ensure our players have absolutely everything they need to compete for premierships, year after year.

As part of our critical fundraising strategy, we are delighted to unveil our new legacy offerings, with the opportunity to etch your, your family’s or the name of a loved one into the landscape of the Kennedy Community Centre. For a tax-deductable donation, you can secure a dedicated plaque aligned to a tree or park bench to be honoured by all that pass through our new home at Dingley. Donations to this campaign will help the successful delivery of the Kennedy Community Centre, from state-of-the-art technology and equipment to cutting-edge recovery and education resources. 

Landscaping on site is well underway, with a number of trees already planted and park benches installed. Places are limited, so please do not hesitate if this is something you wish to secure. To view the options available, CLICK HERE. Alternatively, you can email foundation@hawthornfc.com.au for any questions you might have or to arrange a confidential discussion.

  • Steel frames on the Harris ETAF being erected

 

  • Progress on the AFLW Oval and Community Pavilion

 

September 17, 2024

The club is still surging towards our completion date of the Kennedy Community Centre in the second half of next year.

There is lots happening at the main Harris Elite Training and Administration Facility, including the structural steel being installed on both levels.

Meanwhile, as mentioned in last month's update, the aquatic zone works are continuing, which includes testing of the hot and cold pools.

Over at the AFLW Oval and Community Pavilion, excitingly, the primary concrete structure is now complete.

Given the calendars have now flicked over to spring, we look forward to making strong progress as the weather warms up.

  • Aerial view of the Harris Elite Training and Administration Facility.

 

  • Progress on the Community Pavilion and AFLW Oval

 

  • Reverse view of the Community Pavilion and AFLW Oval

 

  • Aquatic zone works are continuing 

 

  • Structural steel on the Harris Elite Training and Administration Facility being erected.

 

August 7, 2024

Despite some challenging winter weather conditions, construction has progressed on track over the past month.

Notably, the Harris Elite Training and Administration facility (Harris ETAF) is beginning to take shape, which is very exciting. The Harris ETAF will house both football programs, our administrative team as well as past players, in addition to featuring a dedicated museum, retail offering and open foyer lounge which will be accessible to our loyal members and fans to come and have a coffee whilst watching our teams train on our main oval. As we informed you last month, the pool area has progressed strongly in recent weeks. We are now at a phase where the hot, cold and magnesium pools are ready for hydrostatic testing to ensure they are safe for use by our athletes across our AFL and AFLW programs. Steel fabrication is now underway with upcoming installation to commence framing the building.  

Over at the Community Pavilion & AFLW Oval, all gas mitigation and in-ground work is now complete. We are now working through the formwork on Level 1 on the pavilion ahead of the first concrete pour on that level, which is expected to take place in the coming weeks. In addition to both building footprints progressing, critical sewer and water connection works remain in progress, in addition to permanent power being established in the coming months partnering together closely with the relevant service authorities.

More broadly, we have spoken about the importance of ensuring the club remains in a strong position when we get to move into this facility in being able to access the newest and most elite equipment for our players – and this hasn’t changed. There are a number of upcoming initiatives the club will soon be launching to grow the contributions for the project – this will ensure our players and coaches are best supported to achieve the ultimate goal of winning premierships when we are in our new home.  

If you would like to know more about contributing, as always, you can get in touch with our Capital Campaign Executive Rodney ‘Rocket’ Eade directly via RodneyE@Hawthornfc.com.au. 

  • Harris ETAF taking shape, with the pool area progressing strongly

 

  • Aerial view of the pool area at the Harris ETAF

 

  • Community Pavilion and AFLW Oval

 

  • Aerial view of Community Pavilion and AFLW Oval

 

July 10, 2024

Work continues to progress strongly at the Kennedy Community Centre, with the club on track to move into its new Dingley base next year.

With the project's builders ADCO nearing a third of the way through their construction program, and civil works predominantly finished, the total build is around 40% complete.

The Harris Elite Training and Administration main concrete structure is now complete, with last of the suspended pours being undertaken successfully. Precast panels are also now in place to all stairs and cores.

Excitingly, construction is well underway on the pool, with the plunge pool walls & base completed and 25m pool bulked out. The project will next see all walls and bases poured and curing whilst steel is being erected around the pool itself.
 
Over at the Community Pavillion, the first ground slab has been poured, along with precast panel installation around cores and perimeter panels going up. Around the oval, light tower footing conduits and reinforcement has been successfully installed, with footing poured in preparation for installation in coming months.

Also in the coming months will be job of installing sand & turf on both ovals in Spring 2024 to allow ample time to be ready for use for our players and coaches.

  • Concrete on the Harris Elite Training and Administration Facility is nearing completion

 

  • View of the main training oval and the Harris Elite Training and Administration Facility

 

  • View of the AFLW Oval and Community Pavillion, with bench seating in place

 

June 17, 2024

Critical piling work is complete for both building footprints, supporting the Harris Elite Training and Administration Facility (Harris ETAF), AFLW Oval and Community Pavilion, and future sports light towers. This now allows us to begin excavation work for the inground services for each building, which will see the installation of features including pipes, drains and cables.

Additionally, important sewer connection works have occurred, which enables the site entrance to be asphalted. The ground and level 1 structure of the Harris ETAF continues to take shape, with concrete being poured on both levels. Drainage and irrigation systems for both ovals are complete in readiness for turf delivery and installation in Spring.

While general landscaping, including tree planting, mulching, and the installation of bench seats around both ovals has occurred with over 550 trees planted to date.

  • Aerial shot of the Harris ETAF and AFL main training oval.

 

  • Bench seating has been erected around the AFL main training oval.

 

  • Trees beginning to take shape after being recently planted.

 

  • Works progressing on the AFLW Oval and Community Pavilion 

 

  • Wider shot of the AFLW Oval and Community Pavilion 

 

May 3, 2024

A few weeks ago, co-vice captains from both the club's AFL and AFLW sides in Dylan Moore and Emily Bates made a special visit to Hawthorn's new home at the Kennedy Community Centre.

As shown in the images below, the vertical columns supporting the structure of the Harris Elite Training and Administration Facility (Harris ETAF) have been erected.

With piling almost now 90 per cent complete, formwork has now been commenced in preparation for the first-floor concrete slab of the Harris ETAF, with reinforcements being laid.

The fencing around both the main training oval and the AFLW and Community oval is now in place, in addition the main entrance roads have now been sealed, with footpaths also installed.

Meanwhile, the first delivery of plants have gone into the ground, which is the start of some important greenery to surround the new home base in the years to come.

  • Work underway on the second level of the Harris ETAF.
  • View of main road into Kennedy Community Centre snaking around the Community Pavilion & AFLW Oval
  • The Harris ETAF coming out of the ground with view of main training oval in background.
  • AFL & AFLW Co-Vice Captains Dylan Moore and Emily Bates tour their future new home at the Kennedy Community Centre.

April 17, 2024

The construction of the Kennedy Community Centre has taken a critical step, with concrete pouring now underway. 

Important piling work has been carried out (now approximately 70 per cent complete) to set the base for the Harris Elite Training and Administration Facility, as well as the Community & AFLW Pavilion.

At the Harris ETAF, we are down to the last section of piles down the western end which will support the club’s future aquatics zone.

On Saturday April 13, the first concrete slab was poured at the Harris ETAF (where the future 100 seat indoor theatre will be).

Additionally, the very first vertical elements of the project are being erected, with columns being boxed up and poured.

As you can see in the image below, this progress is very exciting for the club with the foundations now being laid for Hawthorn’s future home.

  • First concrete being poured on Harris ETAF
  • The first vertical elements of the project being erected, with columns being boxed up and poured.

 

March 22, 2024

A month on from Turning of Sod, the Kennedy Community Centre is tracking along strongly with its progress.

The project’s builder, ADCO are now fully mobilised and established onsite.

Piling works are more than one-third complete out of approximately 320, which will form the foundations for both community and club facilities.

Oval drainage and irrigation works are also in progress, while the broadcast area pavement is under construction.

  • Main training oval

  • "Harris" Elite Training and Administration Facility

  • Piling being undertaken on main "Harris" Elite Training and Administration Facility

  • Close up of works on the main training oval