The facility features four indoor multi-sport courts, a café, and a gathering space, alongside essential amenities, changing facilities and a sensory room. Outdoors, the centre offers a civic plaza with extensive activity areas, including basketball and netball hoops, table tennis, informal play areas and nature play zones - providing much-needed indoor sports infrastructure for Armstrong Creek, and a lasting asset for the community.
Conceived as more than a venue for sport, the four-court sports complex has been designed as a place for activity, gathering and connection. A generous civic plaza creates a welcoming threshold to the building, with a singular arrival point establishing a clear sense of entry and orientation. Internally, a strong central axis connects the different elements of the facility, supporting intuitive movement and creating opportunities for interaction between its diverse users.
A core design drive was connection to Country - creating a facility that is distinctly of its place, while responding to the needs, aspirations and identity of the Armstrong Creek community. The name Tarratarra, meaning “many wings”, was gifted through a rich co-design process with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation. Drawing inspiration from the River Red Gum Ghost Moth, its story and connection to Country are woven throughout the building’s narrative, guided by Wadawurrung Woman Corrina Eccles.
Looking firmly towards the future of this rapidly developing suburb, Tarratarra creates a place where people can come together, be active and connect through sport and shared experience.
The facility seeks to engage both its users and the wider community by blurring the internal and external boundaries and energising the precinct. The landscaped external plaza will have a direct line of site to a planned shopping centre located only 300m away and a proposed railway line and station will eventually sit adjacent to Tarratarra.
In keeping with the project’s commitment to respecting and caring for Country, sustainability initiatives have been integral to the design from the outset. These initiatives have been guided by a project charter that establishes specific goals for sustainability and climate resilience. Tarratarra Stadium will targeting a 5 Star Green Star Buildings v1 rating, which is in alignment with the City of Greater Geelong's Environment Strategy 2020-2030.
