Shepparton will become the fifth Victorian city to score its own Monopoly edition next year, behind Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo and Frankston, whose edition will be launched next month.
Winning Moves, under license from toy and game company Hasbro, announced the news this week after conducting its own research into the region.
It earmarked the city as suitable after it ticked all the boxes for criteria, including the immense sense of local pride.
The company has now invited locals to have their say on what should be included in their home-grown edition.
Each edition represents the unique and special things about each city with suggestions from residents, local business owners and the council, who know the area best.
Winning Moves representative Daniel Fuentes will visit the Goulburn Valley next week to familiarise himself with the local people, popular spots and hidden gems.
“Shepparton has been carefully selected for the next Monopoly edition because of its vibrant community spirit and rich cultural diversity, making it an ideal representation of regional Victoria,” Mr Fuentes said.
“Settled in the centre of Victoria’s Goulburn Valley, Shepparton is renowned for its bustling markets, picturesque landscapes and strong local identity, making it a fitting addition to the Monopoly family.
“It truly showcases the charm and character of regional towns across the country, and we’re excited to explore the area and work with locals to develop an amazing edition.”
The first version of Monopoly hit shelves in 1935. Although the brand has evolved in the past 89 years, the gameplay and iconography of the classic Monopoly game remain unchanged, making it a timeless classic.
The Shepparton edition is expected to be widely available from March 2025 in major retail stores, boutique game shops, book stores and online at the Winning Moves website shop.
Mr Fuentes said the company hadn’t yet forecasted how many copies it expected to sell to the population of 68,000 Greater Shepparton residents, but it hoped locals would treat it as a memento and visitors would see it as a tourist guide.
Shepparton locals can suggest their top properties from now until June 3 via the Winning Moves Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WinningMovesAustralia or by emailing info@winningmoves.com.au