Stadium

HISTORY

The Nunawading Basketball Centre, arguably the most famous basketball venue in Australia during the 70’s and 80’s, was first mooted in the mid 1960’s. Located on the East Burwood Reserve, Burwood Highway, East Burwood, the Centre has become a byword at home and overseas for basketball and associated facilities.

The $8 million dollar centre (2008 Insurance Replacement Value) is unique in Australia because it has been built and paid for by basketball patrons money under the administration of the Nunawading Amateur Basketball Association (NABA).

The NABA is a non-profit community advancement company and has administered and paid for the building of the basketball centre from 1969 to the present and all the profits made are put back into the centre and basketball.

Since 1970, the centre has provided the community with a major sporting asset which ratepayers haven’t had to fund. It is the home of the Melbourne East Basketball Association Inc (MEBA) which runs competitions for 800 teams (7000 players) per week, playing each day for 48 weeks of the year. The MEBA runs Representative Teams for both Juniors and Seniors under the name of the Nunawading Spectres.

In 1963 the Melbourne East Boys Basketball Association was founded and by the mid 60’s had grown to 91 teams of junior boys and open age men. In 1966, with pressure for more courts for the rapidly expanding competitions, the Association formed a Stadium Building Sub-Committee which presented a submission to the Box Hill Council for a central stadium in the eastern suburbs.

It appeared certain that a four court stadium would be built and paid for by the Council at Surrey Drive in Box Hill South, but when negotiations were in an advanced stage, the Albert Park Basketball Stadium directors made a counter application to the Box Hill Council stating that the long standing policy of the Victorian Basketball Association to control and build stadiums around Melbourne should be maintained. Confused by the conflicting correspondence from the two basketball sources, the Council abandoned the venture.

On a Sunday morning in 1968, Reg Stacker invited the Mayor of Nunawading, Councillor Keith Rooney together with members of the Association’s Building Sub-Committee to discuss stadium development over a cup of tea in Reg’s kitchen. Following that meeting, Mr Rooney said he would try and get the Nunawading Council to provide a site under lease and a cash grant of $6000 for the proposed stadium.

The Sub-Committee formed a Co-operative to raise $100,000 to build the original two court centre. The Nunawading Basketball Centre was officially opened on 24 July 1970 by the Victorian Premier Dick Hamer.

1971 – 1982	These years of operating the Stadium were challenging because the initial building cost $20,000 more than the funds available at it’s construction. All staffing positions such as door, cleaning, canteen, sports store and administration were handled by rostered volunteers. With only 2 courts and repaying loans, it was difficult to save any money for extensions
1974 – 1976	Fund Raising projects such as Art Shows and the World Snooker Championships were run at the Centre.
1977	Additional loan taken out to overlay new flooring boards on all courts.
1983	Courts 3 & 4 were added to the Centre together with upgrading of the Car Park. The cost was $400,000 and the Nunawading Council assisted by providing half of the costs ($200,000) in an interest free loan to the NABA.
1985	Dennis O’Brien was appointed full time manager of the Centre.
1987	Flooring and sub-flooring of court 1 was removed and replaced together with new drainage around the Centre at a cost of $103,000.
1989	Court 5 was added to the Centre together with some additional upgrades to the existing services at a cost of $323,000 of which the Nunawading Council provided an interest free loan of $140000 towards the costs.
1992 – 1995	$245,000 was spent in upgrades and new equipment within the centre.
1997	A major upgrade of $1.5 million dollars was carried out that included new conference rooms, change rooms, lounges, offices, canteen and etc.
2002	The Nunawading Basketball Centre signage was erected on the front of the Centre
	The Public Liability crisis occurred when the Centre’s insurer for the past 30 years, AMP, withdrew from providing public liability cover and a search over three months failed to find a provider. However, the Centre was saved one day before having to shut down when an insurer offered to provide cover.
2004	Roofing over courts 1 & 2 was replaced and new evaporative cooling was added to the courts at a cost of $180,000.
2005	A full cutback on the surface of all courts costing $100,000 was done.
2006	The Centre was re-plumbed and rewired - $8,000.
2007	New scoreboard and timer - $40,000.
2008	New rings, backboards and supports on courts 1 & 2 - $50,000.
	The NABA has spent over $6 million dollars for the building, maintenance and provision of new fixtures and equipment from 1969 to the present day and in September 2008, the 10 millionth person passed through the centre.
2009	Court 5 Backboards - $25,000
2010	Court 1 Scoreboard - $10,000
2011	Hall of Fame Event - $40,000
2012	Surveillance Cameras - $10,000
	Lighting - $78,000
	Online Scoring - $10,000
	Court 1 Sound System - $24,000
	Website - $8,000
2013	Mullauna Floors - $35,000
	Courts 3, 4 Backboards - $54,000
	POS System - $15,000
	The Gun 8000 - $9,000
	Ticket Box Reno - $10,000
	Underpinning - $28,000
	Canteen Sub-Floor - $6,000
	Satellite Venue Scoring - $10,000
2014	Court 1 Lights - $11,000
	Court 1 Logo & Lime - $15,000
	Conference Carpet - $20,000
	Canteen Reno - $20,000
	Changeroom Repair -$21,000
2015	Court 5 Insulation - $60,000
	Court 5 Gutters/Cladding - $24,000
	Retaining Wall - $10,000
	Court 5 Scoreboard - $5,000
	Hall of Fame

Stadium

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