Essendon reveals Windy Hill redevelopment plans

The Essendon Football Club has announced a $50 million redevelopment plan of its spiritual home at Windy Hill.

The club says it hopes to transform the venue into an “unmatched” Victorian female footy and community sport precinct.

The Bombers played home games at the Essendon ground from 1922 until 1991 when they moved to the MCG, but continued to use it as their training and administration base until 2013 when the club relocated to The Hangar at Tullamarine.

The club has worked to re-establish its connection with its traditional home in recent times, and it’s hoped the $30m stage one of the redevelopment will be completed in time to host Essendon AFLW home games in 2024.

While the Alan T. Hird and R.S. Reynolds grandstands will be retained and refurbished to enhance the spectator experience, the W.H. Cookson Stand will be demolished and fences removed to the public to open the venue up for community use.

The oval will be reshaped, expanded and resurfaced, to serve as the home of Essendon’s AFLW, VFLW and VFL teams, as well as elite junior football programs and community football including EDFL grand finals.

It’s proposed the turf cricket wicket table will be removed, with the Essendon Cricket Club to be relocated elsewhere. However, the Victorian Premier Cricket club who has called Windy Hill home since 1872 and has a lease until 2031, is yet to sign-off on any move, despite having preliminary discussions.

The plans for the precinct also include the bowls club being relocated to a new site, allowing for the playing surface to be enlarged, with the council to scout for new and improved facilities.

The first phase also includes lighting to allow for night matches, digital scoreboard, four unisex changerooms, and the Windy Hill social venue and pokies moved offsite, with improved admin offices created for the Essendon and District Football League.

The second phase, worth more than $20 million, will include the construction of the Windy Hill Community Sports Centre, outdoor play areas, café and training track.

Essendon FC President Paul Brasher said, “We are determined to ensure the vision for Windy Hill delivers a sustainable outcome for the entire community and future generations.”

“Like the Essendon Football Club, both the Essendon Cricket Club and the Essendon Bowls Club have a rich history at Windy Hill, but the current tired and constrained facilities do not do justice to their importance to the community or meet their future needs.”

Essendon Cricket Club President Simon Tobin said, “As the original grantee and resident of Windy Hill, Essendon Cricket Club holds the longest association with the precinct, having called it home since the club’s inception in 1872. Since that time, some of the world’s greatest cricketers have played at Windy Hill. As it stands now, however, the facilities require significant improvement to not only meet the needs of ECC, but also the many other sporting groups and broader community of Moonee Valley.”

It’s planned that construction would commence on the Windy Hill precinct redevelopment in late 2022.