Cash-strapped Kirribilli Club considers surprise site to relocate venue in response to rising overheads, rental costs

A derelict bowling club at the centre of an Aboriginal land claim is being touted as a possible site to relocate a prime waterfront club and restaurant as the cash-strapped venue grapples with ongoing lease dispute.

The Kirribilli Club is scouting locations for potential sites to relocate the venue.

A derelict bowling club at the centre of an Aboriginal land claim is being touted as a possible site to relocate a prime waterfront club and restaurant as the cash-strapped venue grapples with ongoing lease dispute with its landlord.

The Kirribilli Club in McMahons Bay is ramping up a search to find a new home in response to rising overheads and rental costs for its current building in McMahons Point.

The venue is known for boasting prime views across Lavender Bay and over the decades has hosted plenty of big name guests including Nicole Kidman who once descended on the club for a game of Anzac Day two-up.

Club president and chair Lukas Bendt said the rising rental costs and increased strata fees has seen the venue’s overheads soar by 20 per cent to $2 million a year.

Last month, the club took the extraordinary step of issuing a mayday call to its 20,000 members seeking donations of up to $2000 as means to either buy the building from its landlords or bankroll a relocation.

The Kirribilli Club overlooks Lavender Bay.

The Saturday Telegraph understands the club has raised approximately $2.7 million – a figure that falls short of the estimated funds to buy the venue which last sold for $22.855 million in 2022.

Mr Bendt said the club was now facing the “very real likelihood” of having to relocate when its current lease agreement expires later this year.

“We’ve been very humbled by the donations we’ve received but unfortunately it’s just not enough to buy the venue and unless we can rewrite our lease it’s almost certain that we’ll be having to relocate,” he said.

The club was founded in 1943.

“Our rates, strata levies and day-to-day operating costs have all increased and while we have a strong business model it’s killed by the cost of living. It’s just making it impossible.”

One site being considered as a potential new home for the club is the former Waverton Bowling Club, which fronts on to Sydney Harbour and has stood vacant since 2019.

The move, however, has been complicated by a recent land claim granted to the Metropolitan Aboriginal Local Council which has yet to publicly declare its future plans for the waterfront site.

The former Waverton Bowling Club building has stood vacant for more than four years.

Mr Bendt said the search for a potential new venue has been hampered by a shortfall of suitable available land in the Kirribilli area.

“We can’t go out of our area because we’re not the West Hornsby club, we are the returned service leave club for Kirribilli and we’re committed to staying in the area,” he said.

“We have time on our side but the options are limited.”

Kirribilli club president Lukas Bendt

A photo inside the McMahons Point venue.

The venue’s current cash woes came after private property firm Stadia Capital bought the waterfront Lavender Bay club building in 2022.

Stadia Capital managing director Scott Staniforth said the property owner was “sympathetic to the club’s situation” however has “not contemplated a sale” of the club “at this stage”.

He said the club’s rental agreement has increased 3 per cent in line with the current lease agreement and that the $2 million figure outlined by the club board was “inaccurate”.

Other options being considered by the club include potentially subleasing sections of the current venue to a third party, as well as seeking further cash injections from willing investors.

Despite challenges, Mr Bendt said the club is confident it can survive into the future.

“Everyone wants to see the club thrive and there’s a determined effort to see the club continue.”