Rockhampton to Host Major National Hockey Championships
Published on 05 December 2024
Rockhampton Regional Council has secured the prestigious 2025 Hockey Australia Country Championships, a signature sporting event expected to inject over $2.4 million into the local economy.
The eight-day national tournament will bring together the finest regional hockey talent from across Australia in August 2025. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will serve as the official host of the championships, adding a unique dimension to the Rockhampton event.
Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said Council was eager to welcome Hockey Australia and the Country Championship to the city and region.
“Securing championships like this present a major economic opportunity for our local economy, with more than 770 players and their families expected to stay in our region over the course of the event,” Mayor Williams said.
“That’s eight or more nights of accommodation, eight or more nights of food and meals and additional activities that I’m sure will be widely welcomed by our local businesses and workers.
“Having those national, international and Olympic standard sporting facilities like Kalka Shades means that we not only have the chance to train and nurture some truly outstanding local sporting talent but we are also able to secure events like this which mean so much to our economy and jobs.”
Advance Rockhampton’s Tourism and Events Manager Zac Garven said that promoting our region to peak bodies such as Hockey Australia aligns with Advance Rockhampton’s economic development strategy, and hosting a sporting event of this size presents a significant boost to Rockhampton’s visitor economy.
“We’re continuing to put Rockhampton on the radar as a destination of choice amongst state and national sporting peak bodies and are yet again providing a major event that will give an economic boost not only to Rockhampton, but neighbouring councils across Central Queensland as visitors choose to stay longer,” Mr Garven said.
Kookaburras great and Olympic gold medallist Mark Knowles is delighted the 2025 National Country Championships will be decided in his hometown, acknowledging years of hard work that has allowed Rockhampton to host a hockey event of this magnitude.
“When it’s a town that you love and grew up with, you know how special it is for hockey. I grew up in the country and I know how important these National Championships are for country players too, they get to represent their state and have the chance to be picked for national country teams,” Mark Knowles said.
“One of the things ‘Rocky’ has always tried to do is provide a brilliant facility, provide great weather, and provide a fun environment, and these National Country Championships will tick off all of those. August is prime time in Rockhampton, it does not get much better so enjoy it and put plenty into the economy and enjoy yourselves.”
The championship features both men's and women's competitions and is uniquely distinguished as the only Hockey Australia event to include a men’s and women’s team from the Australian Defence Force, who hold affiliate membership status similar to state associations.
The 2025 Hockey Australia Country Championships are to be held in Rockhampton between Saturday 9 August and Saturday 16 August 2025.
For more information about Hockey Australia, go to https://www.hockey.org.au/
ENDS