Bondi Surf Bathers Surf Life Saving Club redevelopment plans move forward
Bondi Surf Club is a step closer to construction for major upgrades. As part of the plans, there will be a ‘hang out zone’ and something that will be of particular interest to history lovers. SEE THE ARTIST IMPRESSIONS.
Wentworth Courier
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Australia’s oldest surf life saving club is on track for an $11.4 million redevelopment with construction hoped to start in 2022 following the resounding support of locals for the draft concept plans.
Councillors unanimously decided to move to the detailed design phase for the Bondi Surf Bathers SLSC project at this week’s meeting.
The process will ultimately result in a development application, at which point the club will be eligible to apply for state and federal government grants to plug their $3.9 million funding shortfall.
Council is tipping in $4.5 million and the surf club has so far raised $3 million.
Of the almost 400 people who participated in the council’s consultation, 86.2 per cent support the overall concept.
Bondi Surf Bathers was originally built in 1934, designed by renowned architects Ross and Rowe who were also responsible for the Commonwealth Bank building at 48-50 Martin Place.
However with the club’s volunteer base exploding from 100 to 1700 members since then, president Brent Jackson said the subsequent renovations and additions to the clubhouse had created a bit of a mess.
“You walk around and go, ‘wow this is confused’,” Mr Jackson said.
“Over the years we just kept adding pieces to meet different needs but the result of all of that is the club has 10 different levels.
“There are parts where you have to walk upstairs in order to go downstairs.”
While the footprint remains unchanged and the external facade will undergo little change, save to return it to a design more sympathetic with the original, the inside will receive a comprehensive overhaul.
Highlights will include expanding the women’s washrooms which are currently half the size of the men’s and are housed in the space which used to serve as a card room for the life savers of yore.
There’ll be a designated hang out zone for the 450 nippers and 200 juniors who are now restricted to a tiny office.
While lifesavers have long taken interested tourists and visitors to see their historic collection, the upgrade will create space in the main hall for an official surf museum.
The next level of design will also incorporate public suggestions for improvement.
These include installing seating, surf board racks, bicycle parking and bubblers and interactive play elements for kids.
“The feedback showed us at a macro level people were happy but they had some suggestions on a micro level,” Mr Jackson said.
Mr Jackson said the club was very happy with the “momentum and progress” of the plans with construction hoped to begin just as the neighbouring Bondi Pavilion redevelopment is completed.