History

"Gunners Place" didn’t start with its current name—it evolved along with our mission. The idea to start a youth centre began in 2016/2017 with a dedicated Network Coordinator at Barnardos, who identified the need for a space in Gungahlin where young people could unwind, connect, enjoy a meal, and access support services. Initially partnering with several organisations, including the PCYC and Harrison School, this collaboration started as a Youth Drop-In and sports program at the Harrison gym every Tuesday.

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Soon after, the youth program moved to Gungahlin College, launching a pop-up space for students, thanks to collaborations with several organisations, including the Messengers program.

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But it quickly became apparent that Gungahlin needed a more permanent space for young people.

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The youth program then moved to Gungahlin College, launching a pop-up space for students, thanks to a collaboration between several organisations, including the Messengers program.

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The organisations involved, including Barnardos, started conversations with a local shopping centre to find a space for the youth centre, as Gungahlin lacked a dedicated Youth or Community Hub at the time. Despite the challenges of securing a long-term spot, the organisations secured a temporary lease at the shopping centre. During this time, "Gunners Place" was born, with a youth-led iniaitive to create its name and logo, which is still proudly used today. 

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At its new temporary home in the shopping centre, Gunners Place became a popular Wednesday hangout for young people, with each partner organisation running activities throughout the week. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Gunners Place took a break. 

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As restrictions lifted, Gunners Place resumed operations and faced two more moves, including a temporary space near the bus interchange and our current location at Rubys Apartments. In 2023, the current version of Gunners Place was set up and launched in February 2024 with the support of ACT Properties and Minister Chris Steel. 

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While our location at Ruby's Apartments is our current home, development approval for the new Gungahlin Community Centre is underway and expected to open in late 2026.