In case you haven’t heard, North Melbourne FC Kangaroos are bringing an AFL home game to Bunbury every year for the next three years.
This is massive for Bunbury, our community and local businesses, with the match being the very first for premiership points outside of Perth, ever!
It also means, the State Government has committed another $5.7 million in upgrades to our newly developed Hands Oval precinct. This is on top of the $19.5 million already spent on this impressive community asset.
The three-year deal will see West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers play an ‘away’ game against the Kangaroos at Hands Oval, on a rotational basis.
The Roos will take on West Coast for the first match in Bunbury on Sunday, 8 June.
North Melbourne will host one match at Hands Oval and Optus Stadium each season, with West Coast and Fremantle alternating between the venues over the three years.
Hands Oval has previously hosted three pre-season matches, a West Coast-Adelaide clash in 1991 and Fremantle games against Carlton in 2009 and the Western Bulldogs in 2011.
We thank the State Government, in particular our Member for Bunbury Don Punch and Minister Rita Saffioti, for their confidence and investment in our beautiful city.
To find out more about the Hands Oval redevelopment visit the project page below.
2025 Matches at Hands Memorial Oval Stadium
To find out more about the AFL games scheduled at Hands Oval this year, visit the event pages below.
Parking and Transport
There will be a number of parking and transport options across Bunbury to help eventgoers get to and from the AAMI Community Series Match at Hands Memorial Oval on 1 March 2025.
Parking
No public parking will be available within the Hands Memorial Oval, but there a number of family-friendly, or park-and-walk, options including:
- Forrest Park, off Blair Street, Bunbury (roughly a 10-minute, 800m walk).
- Grass area adjacent to Bunbury Wildlife Park (roughly a 12-minute, 900m walk).
Please note, the wildlife park is open for visitors, so please stick to allocated AFL event parking if attending the match.
Parking bays will be limited in these areas, and it’s a first-come basis. We recommend allowing time to travel and possibly having to use another parking option if these are full. We also encourage eventgoers to use the free shuttle bus service, which leaves from Hay Park and Bunbury Bus Station (more details in the ‘shuttle bus’ section below).
There is a free shuttle bus service from Hay Park, Bunbury with a designated parking area and shuttle buses leaving every 10 minutes. Entry to the designated parking area will be via Bussell Highway (onto Socceroos Place) or Parade Road (onto Wallabies Way), or via South West Sports Centre entry roads. Shuttle buses start from 1.30pm, running until 3pm.
Local sporting clubs from the Bunbury area will be volunteering at the Forrest Park, Bunbury Wildlife Park and Hay Park designated parking areas, it will therefore cost $10 per vehicle to park with all money going to the clubs
Signage will be in place. Please follow event traffic directions and safety instructions at all designated car parking areas on the day.
Free dedicated ACROD parking will be available at the Bunbury Medical Centre with bays set aside for people with mobility disabilities. Only vehicles clearly displaying a valid ACROD permit will be granted access through road closures and can park in an ACROD bay. There will be volunteers on site to help patrons get to the venue, which is a short journey across Clarke Street (closed to traffic).
Shuttle Buses
The Public Transport Authority will be providing free shuttle bus services to and from the event from Hay Park (please see designated parking details above), the Bunbury Bus Station, and Busselton.
We encourage residents and visitors to the Bunbury Geographe region to check local bus timetables via the Transregional website for bus routes, times and planning your journey (normal fees will apply). Catching a bus to the Bunbury Bus Station, then using a free shuttle bus to Hands Memorial Oval is a great option!
Shuttle buses will then be available from:
Bunbury Bus Station (Stand 2)
First bus leaves on 1 March 2025 at 1.25pm and runs every 10 minutes, with the final bus departing at 2.55pm. Please see City Centre parking details and locations here, including free and paid options.
Parade Road Bus Stop #71925 (near Knight Street), Hay Park (500m walk from designated parking area)
First bus leaves on 1 March 2025 at 1.30pm and runs every 10 minutes, with the final bus departing at 3pm.
Busselton (Albert Street Bus Stop #95234 – across from Hally’s Bar)
First bus leaves on 1 March 2025 at 1.35pm, followed by 1.50pm and 2.05pm.
A free shuttle bus service will also be available for patrons leaving the event from 5.45pm until 6.10pm near the Clarke Street exit point, returning to the same pick-up locations. Please follow directions and instructions on the day.
We ask you to plan your journey wisely. Please travel safe, look out for each other, and never drink and drive. Arrange a designated driver or use public transport to ensure everyone in our community arrives home safely following this amazing event.
Road Closures
To help keep our community safe, there will be a number of road closures in place in the area surrounding Hands Memorial Oval for the AAMI Community Series Match on 1 March 2025.
The road closures will be in place from 9am to 7pm on game day, and local residents in the area will still be able to access their properties. Traffic management will be in place and while all efforts will be made to minimise disruptions, there may be some delays in the area.
Closures will include:
- Spencer Street southbound lane closed between Constitution Street and Mangles Street. Northbound lane will be open.
- Clarke Street closed between Spencer Street and Blair Street.
- Halsey Street closed between Spencer Street and Blair Street.
- Blair Street northbound will have a single lane closure between Clarke Street and Halsey Street, with a reduced speed limit of 40km.
Detours and traffic management will be in place. We ask road users to please avoid the area if you can, and to follow traffic and safety instructions in the area.
Those requiring ACROD parking will be able to access the free, dedicated bays available at the Bunbury Medical Centre with bays set aside for people with mobility disabilities. Only vehicles clearly displaying a valid ACROD permit will be granted access through road closures and can park in an ACROD bay.
Please note, there will be some traffic management in place around the Hay Park and Forrest Park areas for event parking. To view other transport and parking options for the event, please see the details provided above.
We ask you to plan your journey wisely. Please travel safe and look out for each other. We thank our community for their patience and understanding as we celebrate this incredible event in Bunbury together.
FAQs
All tickets are sold as General Admission Standing, and holding a ticket does not guarantee seating on the day.
To provide additional viewing angles for the expected large crowd, additional grandstand seating will be available at the event on a first-come-basis.
Seating at the new Hands Memorial Oval stadium is fully allocated for the AFL and its clubs. For the safety of all patrons, chairs (including folding chairs of all heights), picnic blankets, prams, strollers and coolers are not permitted in the venue, as per the Conditions of Entry.
ACROD permit holders and those who rely on a wheelchair for mobility are advised to make these requirements known at the time of booking a ticket for appropriate accommodations.
The venue has capacity for roughly 8,000 people for the pre-season match, but the tickets are subject to availability. The AFL allocates tickets for members, then all unallocated tickets are available for the general public.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer this to the Bunbury community. Ticket allocation is managed by the AFL.
The 2025 AAMI Community Series Match, West Coast Eagles v North Melbourne on Saturday March 1 at Hands Oval is now sold out, with no further tickets to be released.
Please note, this match is a fully ticketed event with no general admission member scanning available at the gate on match day.
You can check availability of resale tickets here. If you’re seeking resale tickets or can no longer attend the event and wish to resell your ticket/s, please check the Ticketmaster conditions of sale.
Tickets and pricing are managed by the AFL and Ticketmaster.
If you’re seeking resale tickets or can no longer attend the event and wish to resell your ticket/s, please check the Ticketmaster conditions of sale.
Ticket allocation is managed by the AFL and member clubs. Tickets opened to members earlier, and to secure a ticket members had the option to upgrade by paying. AFL club memberships include free entry to respective home games, however this is subject to capacity on the day.
Gates open to General Admission ticketholders from 1.30pm on game day. Gates are located on Clarke and Halsey streets. Please follow signage and instructions on the day.
Parking within Hands Memorial Oval is restricted to specifically permitted attendees only.
There will be a number of parking and transport options across Bunbury to help eventgoers get to and from the AAMI Community Series Match at Hands Memorial Oval on 1 March 2025.
Parking options include:
Forrest Park, off Blair Street, Bunbury (roughly a 10-minute, 800m walk).
Grass area adjacent to Bunbury Wildlife Park (roughly a 12-minute, 900m walk). Please note, the wildlife park is open for visitors, so please stick to allocated AFL event parking if attending the match.
Hay Park, entry via Bussell Highway (onto Socceroos Place) or Parade Road (onto Wallabies Way), or via South West Sports Centre entry roads (free shuttle bus service leaving every 10 minutes, starting from 1.30pm with the final bus departing at 3pm).
Dedicated ACROD parking will be available at the Bunbury Medical Centre with bays set aside for people with mobility disabilities. Only vehicles clearly displaying a valid ACROD permit can access and park in an ACROD bay.
Local sporting clubs from the Bunbury area will be volunteering at the Forrest Park, Bunbury Wildlife Park and Hay Park designated parking areas. It will therefore cost $10 per vehicle to park with all money going to the clubs.
The Public Transport Authority will be providing free shuttle bus services to and from the event from Hay Park, the Bunbury Bus Station, and Busselton.
We encourage residents and visitors to the Bunbury Geographe region to check local bus timetables via the Transregional website for bus routes, times and planning your journey (normal fees apply). Catching a bus to the Bunbury Bus Station, then using a free shuttle bus to Hands Memorial Oval is a great option!
Shuttle buses will then be available from:
Bunbury Bus Station (Stand 2)
First bus leaves on 1 March 2025 at 1.25pm and runs every 10 minutes, with the final bus departing at 2.55pm. Please see City Centre parking details and locations here, including free and paid options.
Parade Road Bus Stop (near Knight Street), Hay Park
First bus leaves on 1 March 2025 at 1.30pm and runs every 10 minutes, with the final bus departing at 3pm.
Busselton (Albert Street, across from Hally’s Bar)
First bus leaves on 1 March 2025 at 1.35pm, followed by 1.50pm and 2.05pm.
A free shuttle bus service will also be available for patrons leaving the event from 5.45pm until 6.10pm near the Clarke Street exit point, returning to the same pick-up locations.
Please follow directions and instructions on the day.
Bunbury Bus Station (Stand 2)
First bus leaves on 1 March 2025 at 1.25pm and runs every 10 minutes, with the final bus departing at 2.55pm.
Please see City Centre parking details and locations here, including free and paid options.
Parade Road Bus Stop (near Knight Street), Hay Park
First bus leaves on 1 March 2025 at 1.30pm and runs every 10 minutes, with the final bus departing at 3pm.
Busselton (Albert Street, across from Hally’s Bar)
First bus leaves on 1 March 2025 at 1.35pm, followed by 1.50pm and 2.05pm.
A free shuttle bus service will also be available for patrons leaving the event from 5.45pm until 6.10pm near the Clarke Street exit point, returning to the same pick-up locations.
Please follow directions and instructions on the day.
Out of respect for the South Bunbury residents living in proximity to the ground, we ask that event attendees do not park on the neighbouring streets unless you have permission from the property owner.
To help keep our community safe, there will be a number of road closures in place.
The road closures will be in place from 9am to 7pm on game day, and local residents in the area will still be able to access their properties. Traffic management will be in place and while all efforts will be made to minimise disruptions, there may be some delays in the area.
Closures will include:
- Spencer Street southbound lane closed between Constitution Street and Mangles Street. Northbound lane will be open.
- Clarke Street closed between Spencer Street and Blair Street.
- Halsey Street closed between Spencer Street and Blair Street.
- Blair Street northbound will have a single lane closure between Clarke Street and Halsey Street, with a reduced speed limit of 40km.
Detours and traffic management will be in place. We ask road users to please avoid the area if you can, and to follow traffic and safety instructions in the area.
Local residents in the area will still be able to access their properties. Traffic management will be in place and while all efforts will be made to minimise disruptions, there may be some delays in the area.
There will be options to meet accessibility needs. The City is working through these with the help of the AFL, SWFL and accessibility consultants. Wheelchair/walker only viewing platforms, accessible toilets and ACROD parking will be available.
When booking a ticket, there is an option to book accessible seating tickets, along with an accompanying adult ticket.
Free, dedicated ACROD parking will be available at the Bunbury Medical Centre with bays set aside for people with mobility disabilities. Only vehicles clearly displaying a valid ACROD permit can access (through road closures) and park in an ACROD bay. There will be volunteers on site to help patrons get to the venue, which is a short journey across Clarke Street (closed to traffic).
Free, dedicated ACROD parking will be available at the Bunbury Medical Centre with bays set aside for people with mobility disabilities. Only vehicles clearly displaying a valid ACROD permit can access (through road closures) and park in an ACROD bay. There will be volunteers on site to help patrons get to the venue, which is a short journey across Clarke Street (closed to traffic).
For the safety of all patrons, prams, strollers, picnic rugs, chairs (including folding chairs of all heights) and coolers are not permitted in the venue, as per the Conditions of Entry.
For the safety of all patrons, chairs (including folding chairs of all heights), prams, strollers and coolers are not permitted in the venue, as per the Conditions of Entry.
Yes, there will be a variety of food options as well as several operating bar services and cool drink stations. Water will be available free of charge.
No, the entire Hands Oval Memorial Precinct is a smoke and vape free area
The venue has capacity for roughly 8,000 people for the pre-season match, but the tickets are subject to availability. The AFL allocates tickets for members, then all unallocated tickets are available for the general public.
The match will be broadcast on Kayo and Foxtel.
There is no curtain-raiser during the preseason game and Hands Oval on 1 March.