A Lasting Legacy for Ballarat Youth

A Lasting Legacy for Ballarat Youth

For more than 80 years, the Eastwood Leisure Complex has been a place where people came together to learn, connect and build community. While its role as a community facility has come to an end, its impact on Ballarat is far from over.

Instead of marking the end of Eastwood's story, the Eastwood Leisure Complex Committee has chosen to create a lasting legacy by establishing the Eastwood Leisure Complex Fund with the Ballarat Foundation.

Created with an initial gift of $150,000 from the Committee's remaining funds, the Fund will ensure Eastwood's longstanding commitment to supporting local young people continues well into the future.

The Committee concluded its stewardship of the facility at the end of 2025, returning management of the site to the City of Ballarat. Originally established as the Ballarat Youth Centre in 1945, Eastwood has supported generations of young people and community members for more than eight decades.

Rather than allowing its contribution to end with the closure of the Committee, Eastwood has chosen to invest in the future. The Eastwood Leisure Complex Fund will be held in perpetuity, with annual investment returns directed towards initiatives that create positive outcomes for young people experiencing disadvantage in Ballarat.

Former Eastwood Leisure Complex Committee Chair Mark Valentine said the decision reflected the Committee's desire to leave a lasting contribution to the community it has served for so many years.

"For more than 80 years, Eastwood has been a place where people have come together to learn, connect and grow. As the Committee's chapter comes to a close, we wanted to ensure the resources entrusted to us continue to benefit the community. Establishing this fund creates a lasting legacy that will support young people and help strengthen Ballarat for generations to come."

The establishment of the Fund demonstrates how community leadership can continue creating impact long after an organisation's day to day operations have ended. By preserving the original gift and distributing annual investment earnings, the Fund will provide sustainable, long term support for projects that benefit young people in Ballarat.

Ballarat Foundation CEO Andrew Eales welcomed the establishment of the Fund and its focus on future generations.

"The Eastwood Leisure Complex has played an important role in the social fabric of Ballarat since its beginnings as the Ballarat Youth Centre in 1945. We are honoured to partner with the Committee to establish this permanent fund, ensuring Eastwood's legacy lives on through ongoing investment in opportunities and support for local young people. This is a powerful example of community leadership creating benefits that will be felt for generations."

The Eastwood Leisure Complex Fund joins the Ballarat Foundation's growing network of community funds, providing sustainable, long term support for initiatives that reduce disadvantage and strengthen the Ballarat community.

While Eastwood's role as a physical community hub has come to an end, its commitment to creating opportunities for young people will continue. Through the Eastwood Leisure Complex Fund, its legacy will live on, supporting future generations and continuing to strengthen the Ballarat community for many years to come.

Below l-r: Mark Valentine, Marita Moller, Andrew Eales and Blake Gordon.