The Projects That Shape Australia and the Trades Behind Them

The trades that went into building one of Australia's most iconic stadiums 🏟️

This article is presented in partnership with BuildSkills.

Trades are one of the backbone's of Australia’s economy.

They’re essential for construction infrastructure that you use or see every day.  They contribute 9 per cent to the GDP from the construction sector and address a critical skills shortage.

From massive stadiums to cutting-edge renewable energy sites, the nation’s biggest projects are powered not just by vision, but by skilled trades working together on the ground. These aren’t just jobs: they’re careers shaping the future.

Panorama of the MCG before
the 2017 AFL Grand Final. Image: Flickerd

You’ve probably seen an exciting game of AFL or cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), maybe watched Taylor Swift perform – but do you know how it was made and the jobs required to keep it maintained?

Maintaining a venue as large and busy as the MCG isn’t just about game day prep. It involves constant, behind-the-scenes operation involving a wide mix of trades.

There are a lot of jobs that go into keeping the MCG event-ready like electricians and AV technicians, carpenters and general builders, lift technicians and more.

Image: ZAP Cricket

When was the MCG or “The G” built?

This iconic sports venue was built all the way back in 1853 when the 15-year-old Melbourne Cricket Club was forced by the government to move its former site so Australia’s first steam train could pass through the oval.

Nowadays, the MCG is used for more than just cricket. It’s been used to host the 1992 World Cup Final, countless AFL and VFL Grand Finals and the 1956 Olympic Games.

It’s also been used for many blockbuster music concerts like for Michael Jackson back in 1996, Eminem in 2019, Ed Sheeran in 2023 and most recently Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2024.

Electricians and AV Technicians.

These teams handle everything powered and digital. That means stadium lights, scoreboards, broadcast infrastructure, and emergency systems.

For events like the Test or the Grand Final, reliability is critical as any failure affects tens of thousands of people instantly.

They also work with complex control systems, fibre networks, and increasingly smart stadium tech, making this a highly technical and evolving role.

Plumbers and Gas Fitters.

With tens of thousands of attendees, plumbing is a vital operation. Tradespeople maintain:

• Bathrooms and water supply systems
• Food and beverage outlets
• Drainage and waste systems

They also have to comply with safety standards and report quickly to any issues during an event.

HVAC Technicians (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning).

These are the people in charge of keeping the venue cool in summer and warm in winter. Even in an open-air stadium, enclosed areas like corporate boxes, media rooms, kitchens and change rooms rely heavily on climate control.

Carpenters and General Builders.

These trades handle the physical structure and constant wear-and-tear. With that many people attending the grounds for events, they need carpenters and general builders to repair and build seating, handrails and access areas, build temporary stages or event setups for artists and maintain all the doors, lighting, etc.

They’re essential for quick turnarounds between different event types.

Painters and Surface Technicians.

High-traffic venues need constant upkeep to stay presentable for the thousands of attendees.

Painters and surface specialists refresh seating, barriers and internal spaces, apply protective coatings to prevent corrosion and damage and maintain branding and visual standards.

Lift Technicians and Mechanical Fitters.

With multiple levels and heavy foot traffic, lifts, escalators and mechanical systems need to run flawlessly.

These trades maintain vertical transport systems, moving parts in retractable seating or equipment and back-of-house mechanical infrastructure.

Imagine being able to work in the same stadium that some of your fave AFL or cricket players have played at?

Or get a stage and lights ready for your most played artist?

There are more venues than just the MCG that requires trades like this. You can specialise in a skill and expand your experience to more places like transport hubs, renewable energy sites and major housing developments.

To learn more on training and jobs available to get started in these trades and working on maintaining or building a project like this, head to BuildSkills.com.au.