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Penrith Panthers, Mulgoa Road: Complex becoming a city within a city

Penrith Panthers Leagues Club is well on its way to becoming a place where you can work, rest and play with luxury high-rise living, a new exhibition centre and entertainment for the whole family in the works. SEE THE FULL VISION

What it could look like....An artist impression of the proposed ESQ 1818 village at the former Penrith Panthers site. Supplied by CABE
What it could look like....An artist impression of the proposed ESQ 1818 village at the former Penrith Panthers site. Supplied by CABE

The Penrith Panthers complex is fast becoming its own city within a city, with high-rise development, luxury homes and a new exhibition centre in the works, allowing people to live, work and play on the site.

More than $600 million is being pumped into the The Mulgoa Road site recently, which has been a flurry of activity for years, welcoming swanky seniors living development The Royce, the $22 million rugby league centre of excellence, a redeveloped leagues club and a new multi-storey carpark in recent years.

Panthers Leagues Club is a popular destination for people of all ages. Picture: Angelo Velardo
Panthers Leagues Club is a popular destination for people of all ages. Picture: Angelo Velardo

On top of the existing club, restaurants, and entertainment, Panthers will soon be home to a sprawling apartment complex, a seniors living complex, and the $88 million large conference and convention centre, which will include a 4.5-star hotel.

Construction is moving ahead on high-rise luxury units in the exclusive $500 million East Side Quarter development and the huch-hyped exhibition centre on the site of the old carpark.

The East Side Quarter is the largest of the development offering resort-style living with more than 850 apartments built on a 6.5 hectare plot of land.

At least 11 residential buildings of either four or five storeys will join a larger multi-use building once the five-stage development is completed.

East Side Quarter would be built on the plot of land to the north of the club on the shores of the Aqua Golf lake.

What ESQ 1818 on Penrith Panthers site will look like.
What ESQ 1818 on Penrith Panthers site will look like.
Aqua, the East Side Quarter’s second stage, is currently selling.
Aqua, the East Side Quarter’s second stage, is currently selling.

The project would include more than 3500sq m of stores and restaurants and a specialised “eat street”, the first of its kind in Penrith.

Once you’ve hit retirement age, then The Royce on the other side of the precinct will be available to you.

The Royce, named after Panthers legend Royce Simmons, is built on the southern side of the precinct behind the Outback Steakhouse.

Stage two of the senior’s living complex, which includes 52 apartments and a 128-bed aged-care home, is expected to open in September.

Panthers is also reveered for its entertainment options for the whole family including the newly opened Lakeview Bar, completed upgrades inside the club in August 2018, and the new Basement Sports Bar which is the “home of Panthers away games”. There is also the popular iFLY indoor skydiving centre and Aqua Golf for the kids.

Carissa Azzopardi, 6, enjoys the hugely popular iFLY at Penrith. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Carissa Azzopardi, 6, enjoys the hugely popular iFLY at Penrith. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Panthers legend Royce Simmons at the opening of The Royce senior’s living complex in 2017.
Panthers legend Royce Simmons at the opening of The Royce senior’s living complex in 2017.

There was some controversy earlier this year when other media outlets reported that Penrith MP Stuart Ayres hadn’t disclosed his membership at the club before granting $12 million towards the Western Sydney Conference and Convention Centre.

Panthers’ chief executive Brian Fletcher wouldn’t comment on that, but said the developments at the precinct would have a “great impact on the club”.

“There are 780 units being built with an extra 1500 people that will be living near the club,” he said.

“The ESQ and Royce have been in the planning for a long time, and they’re a very good mix together.

“It’ll be good for the district as well, they’ll all be going to the Westfield and other local shops.”

Mr Fletcher said the club was done with development for a little while.

“No plans for any more entertainment at the moment,” he said. “I think we’ll settle down and make sure we have a healthy bank balance going forward in these difficult times.”

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/penrith-press/penrith-panthers-mulgoa-road-complex-becoming-a-city-within-a-city/news-story/e993d47e192b2dfd079d717048b29fcc