‘Heartbreaking’: Sydney’s biggest squash, table tennis, ping pong club faces closure for $2.9m childcare centre

Hundreds of Sydney squash players could soon be left without a home to play their sport after plans were lodged to demolish one of the city’s last remaining clubs to make way for a $2.9m childcare centre.

Hundreds of Sydney squash players could soon be left without a home to play their sport after plans were lodged to demolish one of the city’s last remaining squash clubs to make way for a multimillion dollar childcare centre.

Willoughby Squash Club members are appealing for public support to find a new facility to host their games following the release of plans to redevelop the club’s 50-year-old home ground next to Hallstrom Park in Willoughby.

Over the decades, thousands of locals from children to retirees have trained on the club’s 10 courts – including many who have gone on to compete on the national and Olympic stage.

The club is also home to a thriving membership base on tennis table, ping pong, badminton, and racquetball players who travel to the site from as far as the inner west, northern beaches and Hornsby.

The club – which dates back to the 1970s – is also home to the only doubles courts in all of Sydney.

The club caters for hundreds of indoor sport players.

Now the facility is facing demolition to make way for a three storey $2.9 million childcare centre that would have enough space to accommodate 165 children and 29 staff.

It is understood the long term owner of the squash club – who has dedicated 50 years to maintaining the venue – is retiring and has sold the venue.

Squash member Jack Goodman said the loss of the club’s facilities would leave the entire region without a dedicated squash and indoor racquet facility and has now appealed to local councils for support.

The club has operated for 50 years in Willoughby.

“It’s the single biggest squash centre in Sydney and to see it go would be heartbreaking for not only our members, but for the viability of the sport as a whole,” he said.

“In the last 40 years about 80 per cent of the squash courts in Sydney have been redeveloped because land value has become so precious.

“But compared to other sports such as tennis, soccer, rugby and golf, the sport has never been given the same level of support by local councils and what we’re hoping to find is a small amount of space that a council could provide in order to keep the club going.

Former world champion squash player Michelle Martin.

“On the size of a single tennis court you could have up to six squash courts. From a population density perspective, it’s one of the most efficient uses of outdoor recreation spaces you can have.”

Michelle Martin, a world champion squash player, said maintaining squash facilities was vital for up and coming players from across Sydney.

“We have hundreds of members and in 2028 squash will be the Olympics but without facilities such as these, where do we get the teams and development squads?” she said.

Olympian Vivian Tan runs coaching classes at the site.

Vivian Tan, a decorated Australian ping pong player who runs a table tennis club at the site, is also hopeful a dedicated facility can be found.

“We have more than 100 kids who train after school and it’s becoming more and more popular as the population of the area increases,” she said.

“It’s a sport that’s played by all generations – you can start from eight years and play as old as 100 years.

“There’s no other centre like this in Sydney.”

A concept image of the childcare centre planned for the site.

Dozens of locals have written submissions to Willoughby Council relating to the redevelopment plans for the site including nearby resident John Sage who said the squash club provides residents with vital recreation space.

Members of the facility have also started a petition calling for local councils to help the club find a new home.

The proposed redevelopment of the club remains under assessment by the council’s planning department.