A major redevelopment of The Courts at East, operated by West Tamworth League Club, is nearing completion.
Project manager of building works Garett Laing told Club Management the transformation was guided by a vision to create a family-friendly, inclusive venue that feels distinctly different to a traditional club.
“Although we are a club on paper, when you walk in, it’s not meant to feel that way,” he said. “We don’t have TAB terminals or gaming machines. It’s really about creating a place for everyone.”
The redevelopment follows Wests’ 2016 amalgamation with the tennis club, which was then rundown and used to host the occasional function.
“We took on the club with the hope that someday, one day, we transformed the venue into this kind of new inclusive family space,” Laing said.
Since then, the building has been gutted and rebuilt with a fresh modern design, a new dining area, kitchen with a woodfired pizza oven, a new western terrace, playground, and outdoor seating. The tennis proshop also received a complete refurbishment.
Other features include an outdoor courtyard with a basketball court, ping pong tables, and bocce area.
“Having a large outdoor space and a playground were non-negotiables,” Laing said. “Outside of Parkes, there isn’t a venue with this type of real estate in Tamworth, so we made sure we had areas to accommodate families.”
The club’s food and beverage have also been refreshed, with catering provided by the Porterhouse Group. Meanwhile, the bar is stocked with finer wines, cocktails, and craft beers, something different to Wests’ other sites.
The project was delivered as a joint venture between Wests, Tennis NSW and Tamworth Regional Council, with the club focusing on the clubhouse and outdoor amenities while council resurfaced the tennis courts.
Since welcoming patrons back, The Courts has seen a diverse mix of patrons come through.
“Before we did anything, the clientele was limited. It was bustling by any means, but now it’s so nice to see so many different groups of people walking through our doors now, which is what was the intent of the design and original brief and that’s heartwarming to see,” Laing said.
While most of the renovation is now complete, the final piece will be the installation of an outdoor big-screen TV, set to go up in time for the Melbourne Cup.