The Plenary Conventions consortium has announced that the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is nearing completion.

The precinct features a 1,000-seat theatre, two expansive event halls, a range of meeting rooms, conference facilities, and adaptable event spaces. It will also include food and beverage outlets, a spacious public plaza, and a 200-room hotel operated under the globally recognised Crowne Plaza brand. Landscaping and interior fit-out works are currently underway, with over 500 tradespeople on-site daily installing essential systems and finishes. The project is being developed through a precinct partnership led by the Plenary Conventions consortium. Plenary Group is acting as sponsor, investor, and developer of the hotel and commercial components, with Built as the main contractor, Woods Bagot as the architectural lead, and BGIS handling facilities management. This development serves as the flagship initiative of the Geelong City Deal—a AU$ 676 million (US$ 440 million) collaboration between the Australian Government, the Allan Labor Government, and the City of Greater Geelong.

The façade—comprising 25,000 ceramic tiles and expansive glasswork—was developed in partnership with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) to mirror the Western Beach cliffs in Geelong, a site of profound cultural importance to the Wadawurrung People. Nyaal Banyul is set to become the first convention centre in Australia to be designed from the ground up in collaboration with local Traditional Owners. Additionally, it will rank among the most environmentally sustainable convention centres in the Southern Hemisphere, with the façade’s insulation playing a key role in enhancing energy efficiency.