$5m fund to rehouse ACT Sport - The Canberra Times

ACT Sport chief executive Mark Cartwright. Photo: Karleen Williams

ACT Sport wants to "tap into" Canberra's best sporting minds and bring the Hall of Fame to life when it moves into a new home at the University of Canberra next year.

The Canberra Times can reveal that in the June 4 budget the ACT government will allocate $5 million over the next four years to accommodate community sport at the new hub at the university.

A major move will be relocating the ACT Sport Hall of Fame from Canberra Stadium to the university to give it a bigger profile.

The university will also become the new home for the ACT Brumbies, the Special Olympics organisation and community sports at a $15 million facility at the Bruce Campus.

ACT Sport chief executive Mark Cartwright said the move would break down the barriers that have limited the development of sport in Canberra.

"It's a terrific opportunity to marry the university with the power of sport and for us to work together to create something unique in Australia," he said.

"The best and brightest minds in sport will be there … it's almost the perfect storm.

''The challenge is to make sure we're in the best position to activate those opportunities."

While plans for the new building have been drawn up, there's no decision on whether it will be named in honour of one of Canberra's greatest athletes.

The government's contribution includes a $1 million grant to the Brumbies, which was originally allocated for the upgrade of the Super Rugby club's Griffith headquarters.

The funding will allow ACT Sport to move out of its rundown office at Hackett Primary School. The Hall of Fame includes some of the biggest names in Canberra sport - Mal Meninga, David Campese, Michael O'Connor, Joe Roff and Ricky Stuart.

It is housed in the Meninga Stand at Canberra Stadium and consists of photos on the walls.

But Cartwright hopes moving to a new building will reinvigorate Canberra's rich sporting history.

"We're working with the university to bring the Hall of Fame to life … involving displays, artefacts and equipment which tell the story," Cartwright said