First look at Cabra-Vale Diggers’ massive redevelopment, to be renamed Cabravale Club Resort

Clubland just got colossal. A new name will be bestowed on a southwest Sydney venue where a 140-room hotel, aquarium-studded lobby and swanky steakhouse will make it the largest RSL club in NSW. Take a virtual tour here.

Artist impressions of the redeveloped club, to be called Cabravale Club Resort.

Cabra-Vale Diggers’ transformation mirrors a redevelopment fit for a holiday resort so its new name is aptly titled Cabravale Club Resort.

The new branding for the club, which is celebrating its 100th year, coincides with the $230m masterplan which will transform the already-vast venue into a destination that aims to shift the focus from gaming to a culinary attraction.

At the centre of the project is the eight-storey Novotel hotel to open on November 12, along with the gym and rooftop swimming pool at the eight-storey building.

A tour of one of the king rooms shows a space replete with rainforest shower, bath, double vanity and koi artwork adorning the mid-range Accor hotel.

Some rooms have vistas of the Parramatta and Sydney CBD skylines while the western views of sunlit rooms look towards the growing centre of Liverpool.

The hotel kicks off stage one of the redevelopment.

Mini cabanas will line the hotel’s infinity swimming pool, which will have a bar on the same level and a gym.

Signature Hotel Management Group will manage the hotel, which will open in stage 1 along with a steakhouse, gaming room for 450 machines, a hairdresser, gift and 24-hour convenience shop and a cafe.

An all-day cafe at the new Cabra-Vale Diggers Club, now to be called Cabravale Club Resort.

A club’s main lobby will feature a 22,000kg aquarium with tropical marine life, ponds, a lotus-designed ceiling and artwork inspired by Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.

Altis Architects has designed the venue.

A Mediterranean restaurant to offer all-day dining under stage 2 while stage 3 will include a convention hall for 800 and a redevelopment of the existing gaming floor, most likely to host more restaurants.

The stylish Starbucks in Milan inspired the club’s new cafe, to feature conspicuous copper hoppers when it opens in the first half of 2026, along with the family-friendly, 300-seat Italian restaurant run by Dany Karam.

He is also behind the club’s steakhouse, set to feature an open kitchen using wood-fired cooking techniques and will have a private dining room, a whisky bar and a cellar laden with 1800 wine bottles.

Artist impressions of the redeveloped Cabra-Vale Diggers Club.

Cabra-Vale Digger’ chief executive Boris Belevski said the key changes aimed to shift the club’s reliance on poker machines and pivot towards more culinary options for its 80,000 members.

“We’re trying to do things to stop people going into the city,’’ he said.

“They can stay here and enjoy it.

“We wanted it to be a world class destination like no other seen in Australia.’’

Tropical fish will fill the aquarium, which will be 8m by 2m.

The changes are lavish but Mr Belevski hopes the club can still be affordable for patrons.

“Unlike a lot of other city enterprises we’re price-conscious here,’’ he said.

“Club still have that reputation – we’re not saying we’re going to be dirt cheap, either – but we’re not going to be charging city prices.’’

Despite the focus away from gambling, the new gaming room is no shrinking violet and spans 1500sq m to host 450 poker machines and slot terminals.

Cabra-Vale Diggers RSL Club group chief operations officer Luke Whalan, chief executive Boris Belevski and chief commercial officer Vicki Le inspect the new 1500sq m gaming room.

“We’re trying to move away from gaming. I wish we could just do it on food and beverage but it wouldn’t work,’’ Mr Belevski said.

“We’re trying to give people a totally different image of what clubs are about.’’

More than 2500 workers have been employed on the project since construction began in late 2021.

Cabra-Vale Diggers Club will unveil more details of its masterplan at a gala dinner on Wednesday night when it is also celebrating its centenary.

“The timing’s been very fortuitous,’’ Mr Belevski said.

Twenty returned servicemen seeking camaraderie and purpose established the club in the aftermath of World War 1.

The club grew from humble beginnings in a repurposed army hut to become a

cherished local institution.

Originally published as First look at Cabra-Vale Diggers’ massive redevelopment, to be renamed Cabravale Club Resort