Museum of Inner West Rugby League

The Leichhardt Oval Museum project is a cornerstone initiative arising from the master planning of the precinct, centred on establishing a museum that tells the story of the Inner West’s five foundational rugby league clubs, Wests, Balmain Tigers, Annandale, Glebe and Newtown. To be located within the historic caretaker’s cottage, the museum will celebrate the sporting, social and cultural significance of Leichhardt Oval while reinforcing its role as a place of shared memory, identity and community pride.

The project’s objective is to transform the caretaker’s cottage into a dynamic, inclusive and accessible museum venue that aligns with the Inner West Cultural Strategy and Council’s broader cultural and community objectives. The museum will operate as a contemporary cultural hub, integrating physical exhibitions, digital platforms and community led programming. It will highlight diverse narratives, including women in sport, First Nations contributions, and multicultural and LGBTQIA+ participation, while fostering intergenerational engagement and broad community participation.

Delivered through a Design and Construct engagement, the appointed museum consultant will be responsible for strategic and interpretive planning, exhibition and virtual design, stakeholder engagement, and full project delivery within an approved budget of $700,000. This includes all consultant fees, fabrication, installation, and digital development. The project will be guided by Council’s core values of compassion, integrity, collaboration, innovation and respect, ensuring the museum is sustainable, community driven and reflective of the Inner West’s diverse histories and contemporary identity.