Controversial Melbourne property developer Tim Gurner charging $50k a year for his Saint Haven clubs
Wealthy property developer Tim Gurner, who once claimed “arrogant” workers need to be sacked, is charging eye-watering fees for memberships to his gyms. See the video and full list of what’s included.
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Exclusive: A property developer who sparked outrage when he claimed “arrogant” workers need to be sacked to improve productivity is charging $50,000 a year for up-market gym memberships.
Tim Gurner has been spruiking his “luxury gym” and “private wellness chain” Saint Haven, alongside his major apartment developments.
Prospective gym members have leaked a price and list of the membership tiers at the clubs, which are based in Melbourne.
The “Ultimate Membership” costs $499 per week, according to the price list, but Mr Gurner said there were “packages in excess of $1000 per week” – or $50,000 per year.
The $499 package includes access to “cryotherapy, infra-red sauna, red light therapy and lymphatic compression.”
It also includes either a weekly massage or personal training session and transfers in a $500,000 Bentley, with Mr Gurner saying he had a “large waiting list” to join.
A prospective member questioned its value for money.
“They have been following up with me every day to see if I will join,” the source said.
“I don’t know how they are going to sell them. I went as a guest and it didn’t look that busy.”
A Saint Haven club has already opened in Collingwood and South Yarra, with a Toorak branch, to be known as Saint Haven Black, also set to open.
That club will have a one-in, one out, membership policy and new members will have to be nominated by existing members.
Mr Gurner, who has apologised for his insensitive comments about “arrogant” workers at a property summit in Sydney last year, said members were “actually saving money”.
“We do not, and will not, comment on the pricing, members or different levels within the clubs – all we will say is what we have already said previously, which is that our memberships at Saint Haven start at $189 per week and at SAINT start at $89 per week,” he said.
“It is clear from the current members and the very large waitlist that our members see true value in our offering, and the majority are actually saving money compared to what they were spending in multiple locations – we just bring it all together into one space for efficiency, convenience and so much more.”
Mr Gurner, who reportedly has a net worth of $989 million, has been on a personal wellness crusade.
He has limited his food intake to 3300 calories per day and monitors his sleep.
The wellness clubs are a side business for Mr Gurner, who plans to build a $2.5 billion apartment precinct in the Docklands, with the first stage receiving approval this month.
Elysium Fields, which will replace a car park near the Channel Seven studios, has been marketed as a “futuristic wellness hub” and a “haven for utopian living offering residents access to groundbreaking anti-ageing treatments.”
Mr Gurner declined to comment on how much he was investing in the project.
“Personal investments into the project remain confidential at this time, but when complete, Elysium Fields is expected to have an end value of $2.5 billion,” he said.
stephen.drill@news.com.au
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Originally published as Controversial Melbourne property developer Tim Gurner charging $50k a year for his Saint Haven clubs