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

 

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 steer 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