The Eastwood Leisure Complex Fund ensures the legacy of one of Ballarat's most significant community organisations will continue to make a difference for generations to come.

Established with an initial gift of $150,000 from the Eastwood Leisure Complex Committee, the perpetual fund honours more than 80 years of community leadership by investing in opportunities for young people experiencing disadvantage in Ballarat. Rather than marking the end of Eastwood's story, the Fund creates a lasting legacy that will continue supporting local young people well into the future. 

Held in perpetuity by the Ballarat Foundation, the Fund invests its capital and distributes annual earnings to projects that create positive outcomes for young people. This approach ensures Eastwood's contribution to the Ballarat community will continue long after the original facility has entered its next chapter. 

For decades, Eastwood brought people together through sport, recreation and community connection. Today, the Eastwood Leisure Complex Fund carries that spirit forward by investing in young people and strengthening the Ballarat community for generations to come.

From Youth Centre to Lasting Legacy

The Eastwood Leisure Complex has been part of Ballarat's community fabric for almost 80 years. Established in 1945 as the Ballarat Youth Centre in the years following World War II, it was created to provide young people with safe recreational opportunities, encourage healthy lifestyles, and strengthen community connection during a period of rebuilding and optimism.

Over the decades, the original Youth Centre evolved into the Eastwood Leisure Complex, expanding to include meeting spaces, sporting facilities and a basketball stadium. As the community grew, so too did Eastwood, becoming one of Ballarat's most valued multi-purpose community hubs.

For generations of Ballarat families, Eastwood has been a place to learn, play, volunteer and connect. It has hosted an extraordinary range of activities, including basketball, martial arts, dance, fitness programs, playgroups, seniors' activities, community education, cultural events and meetings for local organisations. By the early 2020s, the complex was home to more than 100 community organisations, delivering approximately 14,000 programmed hours each year, welcoming around 60,000 visits annually, and supporting more than 1,000 participants every week.

What makes Eastwood special is not simply its buildings, but the role it has played across generations. Many Ballarat residents first visited as children, returned as parents or volunteers, and later participated in lifelong learning or community groups. It has been a place where friendships were formed, volunteers contributed thousands of hours, and community spirit flourished.

Following the Committee's decision to cease operations at the end of 2025, its remaining funds were entrusted to the Ballarat Foundation to establish the Eastwood Leisure Complex Fund. This lasting legacy ensures Eastwood's commitment to supporting young people and strengthening the Ballarat community will continue well into the future, carrying forward the vision that began with the Ballarat Youth Centre almost eight decades ago.