Cabra-Vale Diggers reveals $230M revamp with hotel, restaurants and convention hall
Cabra-Vale Diggers has lifted the lid on a $230 million transformation that includes a luxury hotel, swanky dining options and a major convention space.
Marking its 100th anniversary, the club has shared a sneak peek at what it’s calling a world-class destination – complete with a Novotel hotel, infinity pool, expansive gaming room, and a show-stopping aquarium lobby. When complete, it’s expected to be the largest RSL club in New South Wales.
At the centre of the redevelopment is the eight-storey Novotel, set to open 12 November, featuring 140 rooms with marble interiors, rainforest showers and sweeping views of both Liverpool and Sydney’s CBD. The rooftop pool comes with its own bar and gym, while mini cabanas add a resort-like vibe.
Stage one will also introduce a premium steakhouse with wood-fired cooking and private dining, a 24-hour convenience store, hair salon, gift shop and café – all designed by Altis Architects and managed by Signature Hotel Management Group.
In stage two, an all-day Mediterranean eatery will be added, followed by a new 800-person convention centre and upgraded dining areas in stage three. One of the centrepieces of the club’s revamped lobby will be a 22-tonne tropical aquarium and ceiling design inspired by Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.
Dany Karam, known for his work with The Star, will lead the club’s culinary charge, including a 300-seat Italian restaurant and the new steakhouse. The café, inspired by a Milan Starbucks, is due mid-2026.
Chief executive Boris Belevski said the redevelopment is designed to broaden the club’s appeal beyond gaming: “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.”
Belevski also said the new offerings would remain accessible: “Unlike a lot of other city enterprises we’re price-conscious here. 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.”
While gaming still has a role, with a 1,500-square-metre space for 450 machines, Belevski acknowledged the shift in focus: “We’re trying to move away from gaming. I wish we could just do it on food and beverage but it wouldn’t work.
We’re trying to give people a totally different image of what clubs are about.”
More than 2,500 workers have been involved in the build since construction began in late 2021. Further details – including a new name for the club – will be revealed during a gala dinner on Wednesday night. “The timing’s been very fortuitous,” Belevski added.
Jonathan Jackson, 15th July 2025
