Harbord Diggers Club to re-open in 2018
The Harbord Diggers Club, located in a hut overlooking Freshwater Beach with terrific views Sydney’s spectacular northern beaches is temporarily closing on November 1 to complete construction on its hospitality precinct.
But plans are for a big reopening next year.
The club, which sits on a precinct located on Evans Street in Freshwater and which includes adjoining Crown Land, is steeped in history. Formed over 80 years ago for returning soldiers, it has always been run as a non-profit with its profit pumped in to help the local community.
But times have changed and the community’s needs are growing and have become greater.
So after six decades the club’s management decided it needed to diversify its services.
As a result, it has embarked on developing new contemporary facilities to ensure the club becomes a profitable social enterprise.
There will now be a redevelopment creating a new club home, a seniors’ living village, community facilities, child care, fitness centre and public swimming pool.
There will also be a gaming floor, an extended hours café, high quality child play areas and crèche. Added to that will be a diverse mix of cafe, bar and restaurant spaces, and a large format lounge bar area.
The club will also feature a Fitness Centre gymnasium extending over about 1684 square metres over two levels, and an aquatic centre of approximately 1279 square metres including two or three pools, at least one of which is proposed for a dedicated Learn To Swim (LTS) facility. There will also be a child care centre over two levels sitting on 640 square metres with a large outdoor area providing an additional 480 square metres, a youth centre community facility of approximately 607 square metres and Members Services comprising services and allied health outlets. These may include Day Spa, Travel, Hairdresser and Business Centre.
Following a 2014 design competition held by the Mounties Group, Architectus Consortium, comprising Architectus, CHROFI and JMD Design, were selected to do the job.
by Leon Gettler, July 19th 2017
