Bunbury will be centre stage this weekend as the AFL’s first-ever in-season fixture in regional Western Australia is played at a sold-out Hands Oval, drawing thousands of visitors to the South West.
The clash between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and West Coast Eagles marks the beginning of a three-year agreement secured by the WA Government to bring two North Melbourne home games to the State annually — one regional and one metropolitan. The second match in this year’s series will see the Kangaroos face the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium on June 14th.
Tourism Minister Reece Whitby expects a significant influx of visitors to Bunbury, with an estimated half of the crowd travelling from outside the region to attend the match.
“This AFL match is more than just a Sunday at the footy for Bunbury – it’s an economic supercharger that will bring thousands of visitors to the region who are going to spend valuable tourist dollars at bars, restaurants, accommodation providers, and local businesses.”
North Melbourne fans have been able to take advantage of direct Melbourne-to-Busselton flights, while a free shuttle service will operate between Busselton Margaret River Airport and Bunbury for arrivals from both Sydney and Melbourne.
In addition to the on-field action, the region’s renowned food and wine will be showcased through the South West Tasting Experience marquee — an elevated boundary-side venue offering premium local produce to ticket holders, designed to further enhance the visitor experience.
Minister Whitby said the initiative is part of the State Government’s broader strategy to “festivalise” major sporting events by integrating premium food, wine, and cultural experiences.
“Adding to the vibrancy of the match is the South West Tasting Experience, which will showcase some of the best of the South West’s gourmet offerings,” Minister Whitby said.
The match is also the first major test for the newly upgraded Hands Oval, following a $19.5 million redevelopment — $14 million of which was contributed by the State Government — to ensure the venue can host events of this calibre.
Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti said the investment was paying dividends for the region.
“Hosting these events clearly has fantastic benefits for WA, bringing great value to our State’s economy while providing our regional community the opportunity to experience an in-season AFL match,” Minister Saffioti said.
“Our government’s significant investment in improvements at Hands Oval has meant this facility is now capable of hosting major sporting matches like this.”
Bunbury itself is adding to the excitement, with the Bunbury Big Weekender city-wide festival taking place over four days, further boosting the hospitality and tourism sectors as visitors flock to the region.
