The southern hemisphere’s largest tennis academy is set to be built 25km southwest of Geelong.
This world-first partnership will see CORA effectively replicate French tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou’s flagship facility in Nice on the French Riviera. The tennis academy complex at CORA will consist of 48 courts, including 33 tennis courts, 15 other courts (padel, pickle and mini), a show court and a clubhouse with state-of-the-art gym and swimming facilities which will offer membership access and a pro shop.
“This is a big move for our brand, we have always loved Australia, a genuine ‘tennis nation’, and this partnership is an exciting development for the region, providing educational and career opportunities for young students as well as athletes,” Mouratoglou said.
“With over half the Australian adult population showing clear interest in tennis and school programs as well as tennis camps, CORA is the perfect partner to help deliver our vision in APAC, creating the number one tennis school program in the southern hemisphere.”
In collaboration with an Australian-accredited boarding school provider, Mouratoglou Academy Australia at CORA will have the capacity to offer approximately 200 places to tennis students (between years 5 and 12) with the first school year expected to commence in 2027.
The academy will be built at Modewarre and the associated boarding school will form part of the larger CORA sport and tourism precinct which is anticipated to include other sport academies, a 128-Room 5-Star Wellness Hotel, 30 Super Lodges, a Retail Village, Allied Health & Sports Science facilities and a significant conservation precinct.
“It is really exciting to see our region become home to this world-class training facility,” deputy prime minister and Member for Corio Richard Marles said.
“Not only will students and athletes from the Victorian Surf Coast, greater Geelong and beyond benefit, but it will also support hundreds of local jobs.”
“CORA creates an incredible opportunity to deliver a significant legacy product that positions the state as a centre of sporting excellence on the world stage. This development also provides the much-needed ‘anchor’ product along the Great Ocean Road to encourage visitors to stop and engage with the area for longer periods of time and, importantly, to spend more in the region,” Victorian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said.
During construction it is estimated that CORA will create more than 1000 jobs and inject more than $2 billion into the local economy and in operation, provide 800 jobs and more than $150 million in revenue annually to the region.
