Commonwealth Games athlete villages to include bedrooms in garages and living spaces

Accommodation for athletes at the Victorian Commonwealth Games will include beds in converted garages as organisers race to have villages ready for 2026.

Garages and living spaces in homes built for Commonwealth Games athlete villages are likely to be used as temporary bedrooms in a bid to squeeze in almost 7000 participants.

Victoria is racing the clock to build four village precincts in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Morwell, within about two-and-a-half years.

About 1100 permanent homes and apartments are being planned across the four sites, as well as an undetermined number of temporary and prefabricated buildings that will boost capacity ahead of the 10-day international event held in March, 2026.

The regional Victoria construction boom will come in two stages; the first will create “Games Mode” housing and community space that maximises occupancy — such as by temporarily fitting out garages and living spaces as bedrooms.

An artist's impressions of one of the athletes villages.

About 7000 athletes will compete in the games in 2026.

The second “Legacy” stage will happen after the event, when properties will be modified for residential living.

Documents released as part of an expressions of interest process show organisers want to go to market for the construction of almost 100 4-bedroom homes, almost 400 3-bedroom homes, and more than 350 2-bedroom homes.

On top of this, there could be almost 120 apartments built in Bendigo and Geelong at Waurn Ponds.

Some homes will be used for public housing but are to be built in a “tenure blind” method – meaning they won’t be distinguishable from properties sold on the private market.

“Dwellings for Games Mode will be delivered in such a way as to maximise the number of athletes and team officials per dwelling,” documents say.

“In practice, this may mean delivering the dwellings without kitchens and delivering garages and living areas as temporary bedrooms.”

A map of the proposed athletes’ village site next to Waurn Ponds train station.

The proposed Ballarat athletes’ village.

The Bendigo site of the planned athletes’ village.

A fourth athletes’ village will be in Morwell.

When asked why kitchens may not be required, a government spokesman said athletes would eat in purpose-built dining halls in villages.
He said the number of athletes per house will be determined by requirements set by the Commonwealth Games Federation, and properties would have a 7.5 Star energy rating and modern amenities “that will boost local sport for generations to come and leave a legacy of high-quality and affordable social housing”.

“Local businesses and contractors will have a fantastic opportunity to help build Games villages that are modern, accessible, and energy efficient,” he said.

Organisers hope construction will begin as early as September in some regions, as they race the clock to open facilities for assessment by September, 2025.

Proposed locations for builds have been released and maps show some sites are adjacent to relatively dense residential areas, meaning thousands of locals will face years of construction chaos.

In Morwell the proposed site is close to existing homes along Holmes Rd, while in Bendigo the village will be in Flora Hill within land bordered by Retreat Rd and Osborne St – around La Trobe University’s athletics track.
Ballarat’s village will be across from an equestrian precinct and industrial precincts, while Geelong’s site is next to Waurn Ponds rail station.