For many people, their only contact with The ARC has been when they went there to vote!

But did you know The Daylesford ARC is an indoor community arts and recreation facility managed by The Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre on behalf of Hepburn Shire Council?

In 2007 the community of Daylesford and the state government rallied together to create what is now known as The Daylesford Arts and Recreation Centre (The ARC).

This provided a well-needed facility for Daylesford Secondary College as well as a Recreation Centre for the wider Daylesford and Hepburn communities and people from surrounding districts.

Local businesses supported this initiative. There is a brick path outside The ARC with all of the sponsors’ names. Come and have a look!

History Of The ARC

In 2002 a committee was formed to build a new indoor stadium attached to the existing facility at Daylesford Secondary College. However, the idea goes back at least to 1992 when the Daylesford Springers Basketball Association led by Sam Camilieri, after a couple of major injuries, started a campaign to replace the concrete floor in Court 3 with a sprung timber floor.

On June 12, 2002 a public meeting was held, and a committee was formed to work for an Indoor Aquatic Centre and/or Indoor Sports Centre.

The first committee members of the Daylesford Indoor Recreation Centre (DIRC) Committee Members were Sam Camilieri, David Hall, Ken Mitchell, Heather McIntyre (Principal of DSC), Colin Adkins, Ian Stewart, James Walsh, Don Sinclair, Cr Max O’Shea (Hepburn Shire), Kel Tori, Bob Kennedy, Tony Mulraney, Christine Kennedy (Hepburn Health), Glen Rowbotham (Hepburn Health), Aryn Gaialight, David Levens, John Caines and Allan Wolf Tasker (Lake House).

Others joined at later dates. The DIRC Subcommittee (Building) was Colin Adkins, Colin Le Tissier, Ken Mitchell, Colin Richardson (Daylesford Engineering), Ian Stewart (Shire Engineer), Jeff Thornycroft, James Walsh (Valuer & surveyor).

By 2006 the Community Committee had raised $300,000 (Council Bulletin July 2007) and the Hepburn Shire matched that with a further $300,000. The State Government provided $1.72 million. $120,000 came from the Federal Government and the Education Department provided the land.

The site was chosen at the Daylesford Secondary College and building began and was finally completed in 2007.

In July 2007 the YMCA was appointed by Hepburn Council to run the ARC for five years with a further option for 2 years x 2, and in August, 2007 nominations for an Advisory Committee were called by the Hepburn Shire.

In May 2008, the building was officially opened when Premier John Brumby with Sport and Recreation Minister James Merlino and Member for Ballarat East Geoff Howard toured the multi-purpose indoor sports stadium and met students from the school.

Mr Brumby said outside of school hours the recreation centre would be open to the wider Daylesford community and people from surrounding districts, so they could also benefit from the Centre’s facilities, as well as being the largest covered display space in the area, making it suitable for various events and conferences.

The Daylesford ARC is an indoor community arts and recreation facility now managed by The Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre for the Licensee Hepburn Shire Council, in partnership with the Daylesford Secondary College.

Sport, Artistic and Cultural Activities

The ARC offers a three-court stadium, a squash court and a multi-purpose kitchen/canteen. Sports currently played there include volleyball, basketball, squash, as well as martial arts and circus training.

To view the sporting, artistic and cultural activities, see the DNC website https://www.dncentre.org.au/

Parties

Need to throw a big party?

What better place to do it than The ARC? We have plenty of space, a kiosk and a warm foyer area for parents to have a coffee and relax.

Call us on (03) 5348 3569 or email admin@dncentre.org.au

DNC Joke of the Week

First gentleman of a certain age as he sat on the bench with his mates outside the Daylesford Hotel: “It’s windy today.”

Second gentleman of a certain age: “No it’s not, it’s Thursday.”

Third gentleman of a certain age: “Yeah, me too.  Let’s have a beer”.