Landmark facility showcases how sport, retail and community can work together to unlock participation, connection and economic growth.
Nunawading Basketball has officially opened The Summit Sports Complex, a landmark new three-court venue at Forest Hill Chase that has redefined how community sport is delivered and experienced.
Located on Level 3 of Forest Hill Chase, The Summit integrates a competition-grade basketball facility within a retail environment, creating a destination that brings together sport, community and commerce.
The facility was officially launched on 29 May before welcoming thousands of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and families during the annual Nunawading Tournament over the King’s Birthday long weekend.
One of the largest junior basketball tournaments in the Southern Hemisphere, the Nunawading Tournament attracted more than 1,300 registered teams from across Australia and New Zealand and delivered 3,216 games across more than 90 courts throughout metropolitan Melbourne, highlighting the scale and reach of basketball participation across the region.
As one of the tournament venues, The Summit hosted 129 games across the three-day event, drawing significant traffic through Forest Hill Chase and providing an early demonstration of the venue’s capacity to drive participation, visitation and economic activity.
The scale of the tournament highlighted the growing demand for basketball infrastructure and reinforced the importance of innovative solutions that create additional playing opportunities for the community. The Summit represents Nunawading Basketball’s latest response to that challenge, creating new capacity through an innovative partnership model that connects community sport with an existing retail destination.
Nunawading Basketball CEO Mark Hallett said The Summit represented a major step forward for the organisation and the broader basketball community.
“The demand for basketball in Melbourne’s east continues to grow every year and additional court access is critical for our community.
This facility creates more opportunities for young people and families to participate in sport, stay connected and continue developing through basketball pathways at every level of the game.
The Summit was never simply about adding three courts. It was about challenging traditional thinking around community infrastructure and creating a facility that delivers benefits for participants, partners and the wider community.”
Beyond increasing court capacity, The Summit introduces a new model for community sport that extends beyond traditional facility outcomes.
Throughout the King’s Birthday Tournament weekend, Forest Hill Chase experienced increased visitation as tournament participants and spectators moved between games, dining, shopping and entertainment offerings throughout the centre, demonstrating the role organised sport can play in driving visitation, spend and engagement for local businesses.
Nunawading Basketball General Manager – Representative, Brand and Commercial Paul Flynn said the venue demonstrated the potential for sport to play a greater role in activating community spaces.
“The Summit is more than a basketball venue. It is an example of what can be achieved when organisations are prepared to think differently about how community infrastructure is delivered.
Basketball is one of Australia’s fastest-growing participation sports, and with that growth comes a responsibility to find innovative solutions that create more opportunities for people to play.
What we’ve seen during the opening weeks is the power of integrating basketball into an existing community destination. Families are spending more time within the precinct, retailers are benefiting from increased visitation, and participants are enjoying an experience that extends beyond the court.
We believe this project positions Nunawading Basketball as a leader in innovative facility development and provides a blueprint for Basketball Victoria, sporting organisations and community partners seeking new ways to meet growing participation demand.”
The Summit is now a key home for Nunawading Basketball programs, competitions and events, supporting grassroots participation, athlete development pathways and community engagement across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Developed through a partnership between Nunawading Basketball, Basketball Victoria and Haben, owners of Forest Hill Chase, the project reflects a shared commitment to creating accessible, contemporary sporting infrastructure that responds to the needs of a growing community.
As participation continues to grow across all levels of the game, The Summit reinforces Nunawading Basketball’s position as a leader in community sport innovation, demonstrating how creative partnerships can unlock new opportunities for participation, development and long-term growth.
