Melbourne Cricket Club appoints builder for National Sports Museum redevelopment

The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) has announced that arete Australia has been awarded the contract to carry out the $17.1 million redevelopment of the National Sports Museum (NSM) located inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

After an extensive and competitive tender process, the MCC selected arete Australia, a fit-out division of Kane Constructions, because of the company’s long and successful history in delivering tailor-made, complex and demanding building projects throughout Victoria.

arete Australia have delivered projects across a broad range of sectors including sport and leisure, government, tertiary education, health, commercial, and hospitality.

MCC Chief Executive Stuart Fox said this was a significant milestone in the Club’s vision to transform the National Sports Museum into a leading-edge attraction in the sporting and cultural landscape, advising “we’re delighted to have a highly-respected and award-winning company like Kane Constructions carry out this important redevelopment project.

“As a specialist division of Kane Constructions, arete Australia focuses on interiors, fit-outs and refurbishments and its team of highly experienced construction specialists have delivered numerous high-quality projects."

Tristan Forster, Kane Constructions's joint Managing Director Kane Constructions, said the company was excited and honoured to deliver the NSM Refresh Project, adding "we look forward to collaborating with our client, the consultant team and various stakeholder groups to deliver what will be the leading global sports museum.” 

The upgrade to the National Sports Museum, which is scheduled to be completed by late February 2020, is supported by a $5 million contribution from the Victorian Government.

Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula welcomed the major milestone, concluding "this is a significant step towards creating our new home of sporting history at our iconic MCG and we welcome arete Australia, who will get on with the job of this redevelopment.

“With more than 140,000 people from Australia and overseas visiting the museum or taking an MCG Tour each year, the new renovations will provide even more reason for fans to visit the home of Australian sport.”

The NSM’s last day of operation will be Friday, 16th August before it closes for renovation works.

When complete the new-look National Sports Museum will be a vibrant and unique sporting experience for all visitors, embracing the latest technology to create a state-of-the-art interactive environment.

Daily tours of the MCG will still continue to operate while the NSM renovation project is underway. MCG Tours will run daily from 10.00am until 3.00pm from inside of Gate 3 at the MCG. 

Images of planned features for redeveloped National Sports Museum: AFL Grand Final Day (top); Game on Entry (centre); and Cricket South Wall (above)