Ballarat’s new big screen to stream Matildas' semi-final

Ballarat’s new big screen in Alfred Deakin Place will light up for the Matildas’ FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.

The newly-installed screen will stream the match against England, which is certain to be one of the most watched sporting events in Australian history.

The broadcast will be free for people to attend, with a coffee van and a small number of food trucks to be set up on site. It will be a family-friendly, alcohol-free event.

There are also public toilets available on site.

People wishing to attend are advised to bring their own chairs and blankets, with cold weather forecast and little protection from the weather in Alfred Deakin Place.

The Channel 7 broadcast will begin at 7.30pm and is scheduled to conclude at 10.30pm.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the Matildas had captured the imagination of the Australian population and had united the nation.

“The scenes we saw around Australia on Saturday were just incredible and I was blown away to see the entire country swept up in the emotion of the Matildas,” he said.

“Their ability to bring the whole community together is simply amazing and we would love to contribute to uniting Ballarat as one to cheer on the green and gold.

“There’s something about watching the match in a big crowd that brings an atmosphere beyond compare. So, bring your camp chair, bring a blanket and come down and be part of something special.”

The five-metre wide screen installation began in July, with the finishing touches still being finalised in the Alfred Deakin Place area.

The screen was approved by Heritage Victoria in December 2022 and is designed primarily as a public art space.

The project was fully funded by the State Government’s COVID Safe Outdoor Activation Fund 2021, targeting industries most impacted by the pandemic.  

It is currently displaying Daniel Crooks’ 2012 video work, ‘A Garden of Parallel Paths’ on loop, which splices together tracking shots of Melbourne laneways.

The screen will also be used for the upcoming Ballarat International Foto Biennale, which runs from 26 August – 22 October.

The match starts at 8pm.