Game on: Shepp’s Monopoly is out of the box

By Bree Harding

Mar 19, 2025

Miniature schnauzers Minnie and Pebbles stopped by during their walk around the lake for a picture with Mr Monopoly. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The giant dice have been rolled and the lid has been lifted on the highly anticipated Shepparton edition of the worldwide board game classic Monopoly.

Mr Monopoly had exciting news at Victoria Park Lake on Wednesday. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Mr Monopoly made a grand entrance along a red carpet at Shepparton’s Victoria Park Lake on Wednesday morning for the game’s launch while a crowd of its local fans and stakeholders looked on.

Mr Monopoly arrived via a red carpet. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

A representative from Winning Moves, the company behind Monopoly: Sheppparton Edition, under licence by Hasbro, Jaime-Lee de Niet, took to the microphone to welcome the crowd.

Winning Moves representative Jaimie-Lee de Niet with Mr Monopoly. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

“Monopoly is the most played board game in the world and is loved by more than one billion people in over 114 countries and enjoyed 47 different languages,” she said.

“We have created a board that includes 22 of the most-voted-on, most iconic and most well-known locations (in Shepparton).”

City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali stood next to Mr Monopoly as he expressed how exciting the moment was for our city.

Mr Monopoly with Mayor Shane Sali at the launch in Shepparton. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

“There’s some amazing locations that have been recognised on the board and I don’t think anyone over their lifetime hasn’t played Monopoly; I know I have, and I’m very keen to get my hands on a board as well,” Cr Sali said.

“It’s an exciting day and I’m looking forward to unveiling all the squares.”

Mr Monopoly showcasing one of the game’s coloured squares. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

One by one, larger-than-life-sized game cards were revealed as Mr Monopoly held each one high to the crowd, who clapped and cheered for their favourite landmarks (or their workplaces, schools and industries) that are now immortalised in game-playing print.

The giant board will be on display at the Shepparton Visitor Information Centre. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Then, the giant game board, now on display at the Shepparton Visitor Information Centre, was unsheathed.

Three members of the crowd were selected to roll the giant dice for a chance to win a copy of the game.

Notre Dame College house captain Will Emanuelli and Bob Hall won copies of the game at the launch. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

A draw between Notre Dame College Year 12 student and school captain Will Emanuelli and long-term Monopoly fan Bob Hall, who brought a copy of the classic game purchased in the 1970s along with him, saw them both snag a board.

Dad Ben Ladson and his son Jono Ladson, 5, were excited for the launch. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

People lined up for photos with Mr Monopoly, while Jo Matthews from Shepparton game and gift shop Delightful Rainglow sold copies to those who missed out on prizes.

Delightful Rainglow's Jo Matthews sold more copies than initially anticipated when the game was announced last year. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Ms Matthews said she had pre-ordered 90 copies of the game when it was announced last year, but had to more than double that order after pre-selling over 100 to customers before Wednesday.

“They sold quickly. It’s been frantic,” she said.

“I didn’t want to let anyone down, so I ordered an extra hundred for today.”

Ms Matthews added a custom-made Shepparton Monopoly cookie and a bag of Allen’s Monopoly lollies to each of her customers’ purchases.