1 /5 RBarker: In the nicest way possible, this is not a good gym. Which is a shame for staff and students at La Trobe because its on campus location is very convenient. Im writing this review as some constructive criticism because I want this gym to be better.
Yes, it has weights and machines. Yes, it has treadmills and air conditioning. But considering La Trobes excellent sports and exercise science programs, and the massive new state of the art sports stadium, this place is in ironically poor shape. The fact that it isnt cheap doesnt help either.
Everything is old and antiquated. The machines are few and far between and have been superseded by generations of far superior equipment (attachments are also in bad shape). The cable machines are poor and the dumbbells go up to a very ambitious 60kg but there are far too few in the most utilised sizes (10kg, 12.5kg, 15kg etc.).
What this place does have is power racks. A lot, of power racks... All uselessly connected by dirty south bars and served by an abysmally small number of benches that are usually all taken in the free weights section.
Im not saying power racks arent great. Im saying that perhaps one or two of the literal 20(ish) power rack stations would be better served with a second smith machine. Or another machine, perhaps one that caters to less able bodies lifters. The layout is bonkers. It looks like this gym was designed by someone that got super excited about crossfit for a few weeks and forgot what kind of gym they worked for.
This place could, and should, be great. But it isnt. Its serviceable but misses in every area short of location (if you are somehow associated with La Trobe). Fingers crossed the next time La Trobe throws some money around for a campus facelift the gym makes the cut.