Canberra’s climbing community is in free-fall with the closing of the 25-year-old Canberra Indoor Rock Climbing (CIRC) business in Mitchell – the oldest climbing gym in Australia. Its lease runs out on 31 January 2025 and is not being renewed.

CIRC boasts Canberra’s longest-running youth program (est. 1999) and has given rise to dozens of champions who’ve competed at Oceanic titles and World Championships. Its sudden exit will be keenly felt throughout Canberra, with the business sponsoring dozens of sporting groups and local charities over two-and-a-half decades.

Owner Gordon Kelly, who purchased the business in 1999 (it was first established in Kingston in 1990), said he would not be re-locating the business.

“I love what I’ve been doing and it’s been a privilege,” Gordon said. “We’ve taken in everybody, the Ted Noffs Foundation brings people here, schools from interstate, scouting groups. I’ve sponsored footy teams, netball teams, soccer teams, rugby league teams. I was the sponsor of the Gungahlin Jets for 16 years – pretty much anyone who sends me a letter asking for a donation for a raffle or a prize, I’m happy to do that.”

What started out as Canberra’s first climbing gym (at the old Bus Depot Markets) has since become a hub for Canberra’s tight-knit, rock-climbing community. Former coach of Australia’s climbing team, Cait Horan, said CIRC had impacted her life “deeply”.

“It afforded me leadership opportunities in the sport that I love and allowed me to travel the world as Australian Climbing Coach,” Cait said. “Through the gym I built a second family in the climbing community that proved to be one of my greatest supports as I tried to rehabilitate from Leukemia.

“Without the support of Gordon and the gym, I would not be the climber, but more importantly, the person I am today. The loss of CIRC is not only very sad for me but for the Canberra climbing community.”

CIRC has also supported people with disabilities and those with dementia. One regular climber, who developed dementia, would be brought in by his friends and family and Cait said his face would light up as his climbing memories returned. 

CIRC’s long-running youth development program – Canberra’s first – has led the way.

“I believe we had the first youth development program, which I started at Kingston in 1999,” Gordon said.  “The good thing about that is that all the other gyms have copied us over the years and started their own programs and climbing is stronger because of it.”

CIRC has previously hosted state finals for climbing competitions and is the only top-roping gym in Canberra. It also provided local climbers with lead climbing, bouldering, competitions and squad training.

The task of unpacking CIRC is a long and expensive one (a 9m x 4m bouldering cave plus 38m of bouldering walls) and Gordon is currently crowdfunding to help with costs. CIRC has two months to vacate the premises from 31 January.

For one final ascent, Canberra’s climbing community is saying goodbye to CIRC on Friday, 31 January, 5:30pm, with a final climb and sausage sizzle. 

Canberra Indoor Rock Climbing is on Facebook and Instagram and is located at 38 Essington Street Mitchell.