Club Whitsunday opens in Airlie Beach, giving away boat for Australia Day

An Airlie Beach community club is ‘fully embracing’ Australia Day for its grand opening, promising thong throwing, cricket and a boat giveaway. Take a sneak peek.

Club Whitsunday is the newest hospitality joint in the Whitsundays. Photo: Contributed

A brand-new community club in Airlie Beach is going big for Australia Day weekend, promising to ‘fully embrace’ the day and give away a brand-new boat.

Club Whitsunday, jointly owned by five local sporting clubs and independently managed, is officially opening its doors on January 20, and chairman Justin Butler said it has been a long time coming.

“Ten years ago we started raising some money to increase the sporting facilities at the precinct and then realising how grants can piggyback off each other at both state and federal level I just sort of kept ratcheting it up until we had about 10 million in the pot to create a community club, which Airlie Beach desperately needs,” Mr Butler said.

“It’s certainly something that was missing, was that club environment for the community and particularly the younger people, you know, here it’s either pubs or nightclubs, essentially.”

Mr Butler called the club the first true greenfield development community driven, hospitality club opened in Queensland in 25 years making it “a pretty big deal”.

Club Whitsunday offers patrons good value and high quality. Photo: Contributed

The club has a huge Australia Day celebration planned.

“We’re a community club fully embracing Australia Day,” Justin explained.

“We see thong throwing, cricket, touch footy out on the field straight off the side of the facility, a real Australia Day celebration across that weekend.”

There will also be plenty of promos and giveaways both on Australia Day and throughout the year with a brand new boat on offer.

Club Whitsunday. Photo: Contributed

Club Whitsunday will offer a full hospitality club experience seven days a week including a sports bar, live bands, a bistro, pokies, TAB, and Keno.

The primary members of Club Whitsunday will be the five main clubs at the sports park, the rugby union, soccer, AFL, touch footy and netball clubs.

Club Whitsunday opens on 20 January. Photo: Contributed

“Ultimately they’re the owners of the facility and the directors and management team are there to provide a thumping, modern progressive hospitality offering that makes good money and helps develop not only the club, but also the sporting fields, the sports attached and, if it’s very successful, not-for-profit and community groups throughout the shire.” said Justin.

Justin says Club Whitsunday would not have been possible if not for the hard work done by volunteers over the last 10 years, all of whom are excited for the project to now be taken over by professional paid management.

He encouraged people to get down to the club not only for good value and high quality offering but also to support local community sports.

Club Whitsunday is located at 2489 Shute Harbour Road, and jointly owned by Whitsunday Netball Association, Whitsunday Raiders Rugby Club, Whitsunday Touch Association, Whitsunday United Football Club, and Whitsunday Australian football Club.

Allan Milostic, secretary of Whitsunday Football Club and Whitsunday Sports Park operations committee said profits will be reinvested back into sport and the community in the Whitsundays.

“The immediate benefit is funding back into all the sports to help development, and hopefully help set up future playing spaces,” Mr Milostic said.

“We are severely lacking grassed areas where we can play and this will go a long way.”

Club Whitsunday will run the canteen and bar operations for home games, he added.

“Our role is basically supporting the club so it can support us in return.”

Airlie Beach Cricket Club is an associate.

Originally published as Club Whitsunday opens in Airlie Beach, giving away boat for Australia Day