$65m Bruce Gordon Centre extends a lifetime of investment in the Illawarra
Plus 5 facts you might not know about the man
When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cut the ribbon on the Bruce Gordon Centre at UOW’s Innovation Campus on Friday, the ceremony said as much about one man’s six-decade position in the Illawarra as it did about the Dragons.
Gordon, 96, is an institution in the Illawarra. The $65 million St George Illawarra Dragons Community and High Performance Centre - named for the man who bought WIN from Rupert Murdoch over lunch in 1979 and built it into the world’s largest privately owned regional TV network - is the latest instalment in his regional investments which span media, property, and sport.
The property portfolio across the Illawarra is extensive. The “WIN Grand CBD redevelopment” was being assembled from 1990. The $10 million Dragons acquisition in 2018 kept the club financially anchored in the region when institutional appetite wavered. The centre is consistent with the pattern.
The facility itself is solid: two full-sized NRL fields, elite gym, sports science labs, and dedicated facilities for the NRLW squad - a design choice projected to bring 6000 new female participants into regional sport over the next decade. The federal government contributed $13.6 million; NSW and the Dragons covered the rest.
Dragons chairman Andrew Lancaster, who also runs Gordon’s investment firm Birketu and holds his seat on the Nine Entertainment board, said the facility gives the club infrastructure that “matches our ambition” - not only for elite NRL and NRLW teams but for the community pathways that sustain the region’s sporting future.
Who said what:
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: “Our investment of $13.6 million to the St George Illawarra Dragons’ Community and High Performance Centre will provide a world-class facility for the Dragons to deliver the next chapter for the Illawarra”.
“Fifteen months ago, we backed this vision for the boys and girls of the Illawarra to be the next NRL and NRLW Dragons, and today we’re proud to help make it a reality.”
Minister for Sport, Anika Wells focused on the elite pathways and the equitable facilities provided for female athletes:
“This isn’t just a training centre for the Dragons – it’s a place where the next generations of athletes will develop, where women and girls will have access to sport, and where the community can come together around something they can be proud of.”
Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes: “The opening of the Bruce Gordon Centre is a major milestone for the Illawarra and a powerful example of what can be achieved when all levels of government and community partners work together.
"It will be especially important for local women and girls, giving them access to elite facilities close to home and the chance to pursue sport at the highest level."
Member for Whitlam, Carol Berry highlighted the community benefits and the long-term impact on women's leadership in sports.
“We have seen in the NRL that investment into quality sporting facilities and programs is incredibly important for club success and community culture. By investing in our young talent here in the Illawarra, we help build local champions, not only in the NRL but across a wider range of sports."
The Gordon Dossier: five facts you might not know
Long before he was a media mogul, Gordon was a professional magician, performing acts to entertain troops in army camps around Sydney during his teens.
During his time leading international sales for Paramount, Gordon moved in a sphere of global titans, striking deals with figures such as Silvio Berlusconi and German media entrepreneur Leo Kirch.
His property empire extends to the North Atlantic, where he owns the 10-hectare Wreck Hill Estate in Bermuda, a property formerly owned by the celebrated manager of the Bee Gees, Robert Stigwood.
Gordon is a major supporter of the arts; his contributions are recognized through the Bruce Gordon Theatre within the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre and his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
His 1979 acquisition of WIN was a tactical masterpiece. Murdoch was forced by cross-media ownership rules to divest WIN to acquire Channel 10; Gordon leveraged his own shares in Ten to secure the regional network.These facts underscore an “unconditional commitment” to the region that has spanned 45 years, blending high-stakes business acumen with a personal dedication to the Illawarra’s cultural fabric.