Federation University has taken an unexpected step into pop culture, securing a place on a special edition Monopoly board celebrating the city of Ballarat.
The newly launched Ballarat edition brings together some of the region’s most recognisable landmarks, institutions and local businesses, with Federation University included as a reflection of its longstanding role in the local community.
The official launch was held at the picturesque Ballarat Botanical Gardens, where Vice-Chancellor Duncan Bentley, Chancellor Philip Freier and Deputy Chancellor Rhonda Whitfield joined community representatives to mark the occasion.
For the university, the inclusion is more than a novelty. It signals the depth of its connection to Ballarat and the broader region, built over decades through education, research and community engagement.
“It’s pretty special seeing Ballarat, and Federation, captured like this,” the university noted, highlighting the sense of pride attached to being featured alongside the city’s defining institutions.
While the move might feel unique, Federation University is not the first to pass “Go”. University of Melbourne previously appeared on a Melbourne edition of Monopoly around a decade ago, while University of Canberra and TAFE Queensland have also featured in their respective regional versions.
Some institutions have even taken the concept further, creating their own bespoke editions, including University of Technology Sydney and University of Sydney, reflecting a growing trend of universities engaging audiences through creative and community-focused initiatives.
Back in Ballarat, there was also some light-hearted debate about real estate status. As one learned reader quipped, “At least we were placed on the green tile and not brown,” a nod to Monopoly’s hierarchy of property values.
For those keen to get their hands on the game, the Ballarat edition is now available through Federation University’s Mount Helen campus store, offering students, staff and locals the chance to see their city, and their university, from a different perspective.
At a time when institutions are increasingly focused on demonstrating their local impact and community value, landing on a Monopoly board might seem symbolic. But for Federation University, it’s a reminder that its place in Ballarat is not just educational, it’s cultural too.
