Penrith RSL set to undergo $30m expansion after council approval

A western Sydney RSL has been given the green light to proceed with mega upgrades of its existing club. Find out what is in store.

L: Penrith RSL currently, R: An impression of the expansion

A western Sydney RSL has been given the green light to proceed with mega upgrades of its existing club.

Penrith RSL is set to undergo a blockbuster redevelopment which will see the arrival of a brand new function centre, a 470-seat restaurant, a concert hall and retail space.

Penrith RSL chief executive officer Neil Chand said the expansion would be “spectacular” and “bring a whole new audience” to the club.

“It’s a big project. a massive expansion which will be smack bang in the middle of the city. We needed to do this, Penrith needs this,” Mr Chand said.

Submissions for the $30m proposal were put forward to Penrith Council in early October, which gave the plans its blessing on Friday, almost six months later.

An artist impression of Penrith RSL planned expansions

Mr Chand said his team only received the news on Monday morning and hoped to begin construction as early as June, with completion by the end of 2024.

The redevelopment will take the form of a two-storey extension featuring a 500-seat mixed-use auditorium for concerts and exhibitions, and a function centre including kitchens, preparation areas and a bridal room

An artist impression of Penrith RSL planned expansions

Above the function centre, will be a 470-seat “pub-in-club” type restaurant with an adjoining terrace that offers up an alfresco style dining looking over the surrounding streets.

Meanwhile the remaining floor space from the new wing of the club will be used to reconfigure existing indoor and outdoor gaming facilities to allow for extra spacing between gaming machines.

In addition to the new facilities, the club’s interior will also be getting a facelift with the walls, floors and ceilings all set to undergo a modern renovation,

Current punters will be pleased to know the existing Star Buffet, Castle Lounge and Maze Cafe will all remain largely untouched while the Wave bar will be merged with the gaming area.

Planning documents state the proposed works were a “natural extension” of the site which was “currently under developed” into a significant and well-designed contemporary hospitality venue.

The new extension will also have its own “separate architectural character,” and “language” and will bring “urban design excellence” to the Penrith CBD.