Waverton Bowling Club: Land council reveals future plans, dual naming for waterfront site

A former Sydney club could be demolished after an Aboriginal land council took ownership and control of the run-down site in a landmark land claim.

A former north shore bowling club could be demolished after an Aboriginal land council took ownership and control of the run-down site in a landmark Aboriginal land claim.

New details have emerged about what could be in store for the former Waverton Bowling Club site after the Land and Environment Court granted control of the site to the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council last year.

The bowling club, previously under the control of North Sydney Council, was once a thriving social hub for local bowlers but has stood vacant for the last four years after the club fell into liquidation in 2019.

Land council chief executive Nathan Moran – speaking publicly about the site for the time since the land claim win – has now hit out at North Sydney Council for the “shocking” and dilapidated state of the bowling clubhouse which he claimed had been left to rack and ruin by poor management.

Mr Moran said the organisation was now in the process of weighing up potential uses for the site which may include demolition of the 1947 clubhouse due to its run-down state.

The land claim was determined in the Land and Environment Court in November.

“The building was unstable from the time we got it – it has an infestation of termites, the balcony is an absolute shambles. It’s been left to rot apart,” he said.

“From the time it was handed over it’s clear to us it hasn’t been cared for properly by the council.

The club was once a popular gathering space for residents.

“We’ve had to undertake technical and building reports to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the building and also engage security because we’ve had a number of break-ins in recent months.

“We still don’t know if it’s possible to refurbish the site or if it will need to be demolished.”

Mr Moran said future uses of the site would be in line with current zoning controls of the site but was quick to reject claims the site could be repurposed into housing.

He also revealed the land council was considering cultural renaming of the site including dual naming to recognise the traditional owners, the Cammeraygal people.

Nathan Moran, CEO of Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.

“Bowling clubs, cafes, preschools and events are possible under the current planning controls and it’s those uses that are in line with what we’ll consider,” he said.

“It could be very good for events, it could be we find a commercial operator to work with because we don't have the benefit of incurring income to start up a business.

“At this point it’s about understanding what we have here. and making the most of a beautiful site.”

North Sydney Council is meanwhile lobbying the state government to potentially buy the site off the Land Council.

The Land Council has had to address poor security at the site which was resulted in a number of recent break-ins.

North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker said an acquisition at a fair market price could enable the site to be incorporated into surrounding parkland and made available for public use.

It is also understood North Sydney Council has been unsuccessfully trying to hold meetings with the land council and has sent at least five letters to the land council to seek details on its future plans for the site.

Mr Moran said the land council would follow a process of due diligence.

“The council haven’t made any offers to us and seem to have taken a position where they’re dictating what they want us to do with it,” he said.

A photo of the site, which has seen better days.

“They should understand we’ll always do what’s required.”

Mr Moran said the land council expected up to $500,000 will be spent on the bowling site before a final decision on its future is made.

He said expenses to date had included commissioned building and technical reports.

“This is the reality of land rights. People don’t care for these sites and when it’s handed over we inherit all the costs,” he said.

The land claim was the first time the land council has successfully secured a land claim in the North Sydney local government area.