The Victorian Budget 2020/21 will include $6.28 million towards a $21 million community education and event centre to be built at Essendon Football Club’s training ground ‘The Hangar’.

The Tullamarine project will fund facilities for female football participation from the grassroots to elite level with Essendon this year affirming its wish to gain entry into the AFLW by 2022.

The centre will incorporate training and competition facilities, as well as space to host community programs to support women and girls in sport.

The project will see the development of four unisex change rooms, a function centre and community education hub. The centre will also continue to be the home of Paralympics Australia.

The Commonwealth Government and Essendon Football Club have provided funding towards the project, with construction scheduled to start in early 2021.