Queenwood Tennis Centre: Future of popular Oxford Falls courts unclear after owner serves up rent increase

Almost 20 Sydney tennis centre employees are set to lose their jobs after its operator — an exclusive private school — decided not to renew its lease when the owners served up a rent increase.

The Queenwood Tennis and Sports Centre on Tuesday. The future of the 12-court facility at Oxford Falls is unclear after its current operators decided not to sign a new lease. Picture: Jim O’Rourke.

The future of a popular northern beaches tennis centre, run by an exclusive private girls’ school, is under a cloud after it opted not to renew its lease on the facility.

Queenwood, a girls’ school in Mosman, has been operating the Queenwood Tennis and Sports Centre, which has 12 courts that are also open to the public for social and competitive tennis, at Oxford Falls for 10 years.

But the school has confirmed it will not be renewing the lease after negotiations with the site’s owner, Hajuan Pty Ltd, a company with links to Taiwan and with a registered address at Lane Cove.

Its major shareholder lives in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, according to Australian Securities and Investment Commission documents.

This masthead understands the owner was asking for a significant rent hike on the next lease.

“It was a difficult decision,” Queenwood said in a statement on Tuesday.

Queenwood said it was a “difficult decision” to move away from the Oxford Falls centre. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

“But as we’ve considered the future needs of Queenwood sport, the lease was no longer viable.”

It is understood close to 20 full-time and casual tennis centre employees, including coaches, will be made redundant when Queenwood’s lease ends on December 20.

As well as hiring courts for social and competition tennis, and offering coaching classes, the courts in Oxford Falls Rd are used by Queenwood for school sport and inter-school tennis competitions.

It is understood the lease has not yet been taken up by a new operator.

One local player, who had been playing social tennis with eight other woman at the centre every week for 30 years, wrote on a local community Facebook page they would have to find new courts to play on.

Queenwood has been operating the tennis centre at Oxford Falls for 10 years. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

This masthead also understands the owner of the property, which accommodates another tenant — a centre for medical, health and therapy services for children and teenagers — asked Queenwood if it was interested in buying the facility.

But Queenwood said on Tuesday it was moving its school tennis program to the Mosman Lawn Tennis Club “for the next few years”.

The Queenwood Tennis and Sports Centre at Oxford Falls. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

“We’ll continue working with the property owners (at Oxford Falls) to support a smooth transition to any new operators,” the school said.

The school said it had “greatly enjoyed being part of the vibrant tennis community in Oxford Falls and beyond” for the past 10 years.

“We’re grateful for the wonderful, warm community members who call this tennis centre their home, and our passionate, dedicated staff who have served you so well,” it said.

The property owner has been contacted for comment.