Brisbane leagues clubs spending $30b to take on Queen’s Wharf casino precinct
Multimillion-dollar facelifts are transforming southeast Queensland’s leagues clubs, RSLs and bowlos as they roll the dice on their biggest-ever gamble — beating Brisbane’s newest casino. SEE THE PROJECTS
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A spending spree is transforming the southeast’s leagues clubs, RSLs and other venues as they prepare to stave off competition when the landmark $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf resort and casino opens in Brisbane’s CBD.
Just three years ago, the Covid-19 pandemic was the biggest threat facing clubs, with many closing for good or cutting jobs.
Now there is another threat, the massive Star Casino coming as part of the historic Queen’s Wharf precinct by Christmas.
Clubs and RSLs have been laying the ground work for the battle ahead, growing their membership base by splashing cash on revamps of their facilities in the past three years.
Carina Leagues Club chairman Wade Core, who has been at the helm for more than two decades, said his club’s upgrades needed to be done.
“When we were in the process of going through the planning for our redevelopment, we looked at two things,” he said.
“There was a threat the casino provided to our business, but the threat we provided to ourselves would have been sitting by and doing nothing.
“I think any club that hasn’t done something may struggle going forward, especially clubs within 5-10km of the casino.
“But those clubs may have struggled anyway because people are continuously looking for value for money.
“Because we have done what we’ve done, I don’t think the casino is a threat to us now.”
Mr Core said even without the casino, clubs had to continually spend money on their facilities and search for new revenue sources to stay alive.
We take a look at some of the bigger projects competed in recent years or under way.
WYNNUM MANLY LEAGUES CLUB
Arguably the biggest of all the revamps in recent years has been at Wynnum Manly Leagues Club.
The venue, on Wondall Rd at Manly West, opened the doors on a $10 million revamp in mid-2021, with the full redevelopment completed later that year.
The base for the famous Wynnum Manly Seagulls, the project was the popular club’s biggest in its 43-year history.
Works included a new cafe and bar, a new lounge bar and reception.
The upgrades also included a new wing to the club allowing for a front presence to the traffic, a new open-plan cafe and dining area with live entertainment, plus a new start of the art gaming lounge.
The main field at Kougari Oval was moved 6m towards the famous Chook Pen.
The completion of the project was a huge boost for the bayside considering the leagues club’s history of investing back into the community, which included more than $1.3 million-worth of contributions to local groups and organisations in 2019.
CARINA LEAGUES CLUB
One of Queensland’s biggest leagues clubs, it launched a new era with the completion of a multimillion-dollar development in 2020.
The Creek Rd venue’s additions included an innovative sports bar called Sidelines and The Hive, an outdoor alfresco dining cafe.
The projects had been almost a decade in the making.
The new sports bar and cafe was a Queensland-first for a leagues club in the state, according to officials, with the cafe allowed to have different opening hours compared to the main venue.
The completion of the project came at an important time for the venue after taking a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID-19 virus, like many businesses, forced the club to review its existing operations,” Carina Leagues Club chairman Wade Core said.
“In doing this, management determined that there was a need to provide facilities that would enable the club to not only remain relevant with our members, but also attract additional members and guests.”
Mr Core said the sports bar and cafe would revolutionise the club.
Carina Leagues Club Doug Wakefield said recent events had fast-tracked the redevelopment.
“One of the big factors is the construction of the new casino in the city,’’ he said.
“When that comes in it’s going to have a major impact on clubs, so we needed to be able to keep moving forward and thinking of new ideas to make sure the club has a bright future.”
The project included a new state-of-the-art 185 inch LED screen for the sports bar, with the aim of becoming a venue where customers can watch all the biggest sporting events.
There was also an alfresco cafe and deck adjacent to the sports bar and outdoor lawn dining spaces near the cafe.
The project has created more than 50 jobs.
EASTS LEAGUES CLUB
Easts lost the fight for the NRL’s next license, which ultimately went to the Dolphins at Redcliffe.
But in the process, the club redeveloped its facilities at Main Ave, Coorparoo (Langlands Park), transforming a function area into a 24-hour, seven days a week commercial gym.
The multimillion-dollar project also featured extra gaming space and a sports bar with a designated smoking area as part of a clubhouse extension.
The revamp was started when the club was making a bid, under the Brisbane Firehawks, to be the NRL’s newest team.
A $10 million redevelopment of Langlands Park into a 3000-seat boutique stadium was also recently completed.
BROTHERS LEAGUES CLUB IPSWICH
A major expansion is under way at Brothers after a development application, which included the demolition of two houses, was approved.
The Ipswich club will use 26 and 28 Wildey St, Raceview — both of which are currently occupied by a low-set house — for parking associated with its nearby facility.
With a total area of 1468 sqm and a 32m frontage to Wildey St, the revamped site will accommodate 69 parking spaces as well as landscaping.
The application proposed to have the Wildey St blocks become part of the Brothers’ 8ha complex, which currently comprises playing fields, clubhouse and parking.
“Although a carpark, the proposal is technically an extension to the existing entertainment use (club) and recreation use (parking associated with outdoor recreation),” the plans stated.
The expansion proposal comes after a major $14 million redevelopment in 2017 and 2018 which saw a new bistro and kitchen, new bar precinct, large gaming room and three outdoor smoking areas added to the complex.
It now also boasts a large lounge area with alfresco seating, three separate bars, a restaurant and a cafe.
The redevelopment created 20 new jobs and expanded the club’s team to 120 people.
Before those upgrades the club, which opened in 1974, underwent major renovations and extensions in 1993 and 2007.
ARANA LEAGUES CLUB
From humble beginnings, this small leagues club has grown into a popular powerhouse after expansion plans were delivered.
It opened a mega makeover late last year which included expanding its previous offerings at the Keperra clubhouse.
The Dawson Rd venue began in 1969 when a group of parents rallied together to found the West Arana Hills Junior Rugby Leagues Club.
In 1972, with help from Brisbane City Council, it moved to the present current location, a former cow paddock.
The four-month-long expansion project, built by Ashley Cooper Construction and designed by BSPN Architecture, featured the expansion and refurbishment of the existing undercover outdoor lounge and alfresco dining areas.
An extension of the first floor was also part of the revamp, which included extra works on a proposed car park and facade facelift to improve access to the clubhouse for pedestrians.
CLUB PINE RIVERS
Off the back of being crowned Queensland’s ‘best bowls club’ last year this popular venue, which boasts 58,000 members, has a revamp coming.
Development plans include a new multipurpose bowler’s area and a player comfort gaming floor.
These two initiatives will see the club extend eastwards and also add a new seating area with food and drinks by the greens.
A new multipurpose bowlers area has already been completed as part of the revamp.
It features a 7m purpose-built container with benches, fridges, storage, sinks, coffee facilities, beer taps and a playground.
The player comfort gaming floor is receiving an extension and makeover by extending the eastern side of the building, creating more space with high ceilings and large windows for natural light.
The gaming floor will also have garden views through the new large windows, LED screens, modern gaming machine bases with down lighting to brighten the space, remodelling existing coffee shop into a cafe, new outdoor smoking areas and outside seating areas with modern decking and greenery and modern decor throughout.
GAYTHORNE RSL
Gaythorne RSL could be in store for a facelift after a change to a development application approval was lodged with Brisbane City Council.
The application is for the internal refurbishment, external facade amendments and extension for the existing RSL building, on Samford Rd at Mitchelton.
The application includes demolition of the majority of the internal RSL areas, the outside alfresco area, the existing foyer and bottle shop, existing roof and awnings as well as the southern external walls, windows and doors.
It also includes a new internal layout, relocating internal areas, moving the loading bay and roller shutter door, the redesign the designated outdoor smoker’s area, a new redesigned entrance to the RSL, moving the existing memorial to the southern entrance and new landscaping.
As part of the application, the RSL will cut the number of pokies to 110 machines.
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