Bol Harbuz and Dr Nic Giummarra open Magnetic Island Gym

For years, Maggie residents went without a public gym until two “out-of-towners” decided to raise the bar on the island’s mental and physical health. See the equipment they’re bringing in first.

Bol Harbuz and Dr Nic Giummarra are set to open Magnetic Island Gym in mid-August.

For years, Magnetic Island residents have been without a public gym until two “out-of-towners” decided to raise the bar on the island’s mental and physical health.

Bol Harbuz and Dr Nic Giummarra’s creation - Magnetic Island Gym - is located 1/60 Kelly Street, Nelly Bay and is set to open its doors to the public from mid-August, 2023.

Mr Harbuz and his family had been holidaying on Magnetic Island from Melbourne for a decade before making the sea change permanent five years ago.

With a background in body building and boxing, Mr Harbuz had the vision to open a gym on the island, initially for himself, but as Mr Harbuz got to know the community, he discovered it was something a lot of locals could benefit from too.

After a tumultuous few years with the pandemic and people battling through the cost of living crisis, business partner, Dr Nic Giummarra also saw the value in improving everyone’s physical and mental wellbeing.

Meet the men behind Magnetic Island’s only gym. Bol Harbuz and Dr Nic Giummarra are ready to give back to the community.

A former Magnetic Island GP, Dr Giummarra focuses largely on physiology for older residents.

Raising their families on the island, their children attend the same school and play in the same AFL team, coached by Mr Harbuz.

“For me it’s all about community. I’m in the SES, I coach the AFL football side. It’s all about giving back,” Mr Harbuz said.

“Gyms are very tribal, we want everybody to come in and feel part of it,” he said.

Magnetic Island Gym will have a full time PT and doors will be open 5am-10pm, every day.

The gym will be staffed eight hours a day and outside of those hours members will be able to come and go with a fob key.

The pair are currently stocking up the facility with a range of cardio equipment, free weights and boxing bags. They will also be running HIT classes.

The owners expressed a desire to “keep it real so we can keep it affordable.”

“We don’t want to buy a quarter of a million dollars of equipment and then pass that cost on to the community,” Mr Harbuz said.

At the moment, their aim was to keep membership prices under $20 a week.

For more details about Magnetic Island Gym and to stay in the loop with the upcoming open day, visit facebook.com/magneticislandgym.

Originally published as Bol Harbuz and Dr Nic Giummarra open Magnetic Island Gym