Easts Group, in partnership with residential developers Mirvac, has completed the redevelopment of the Waverley Bowling Club site, with contemporary hospitality venue Waverley Greens and luxury residences for over 55s at The Langlee. Both sites open on Tuesday 10 October.
After two years of construction, the new club opens with a restaurant, external café, lounge, alfresco dining, onsite parking and bowling greens.
In December 2020, Easts Group announced its partnership with property group Mirvac to revitalise the former Waverley Bowling Club site into a contemporary lifestyle precinct and modern hospitality venue. The development moved quickly after the ground-breaking ceremony in April 2021, with a goal of completing the development in time to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Club.
Easts Group CEO Joe Kelly told Club Management that the complete overhaul of the Waverley Bowling Club site had been on the cards for over a decade.
“Waverley Bowling Club joined the Easts Group in 2009, at a time when the club was outdated and facing financial difficulties. Upon merging, the Easts Group Board and Management set about the task of examining what the Club could be while ensuring its long-term sustainability.
“This was an extensive process that led to a vision of a mixed-use site comprising a valuable community club for our Members and local community with residential living for the over 55 market.”
Kelly continued: “At a time when bowling clubs are closing or struggling to survive, we saw an opportunity to create an exceptional and viable new community and residential precinct for the Eastern Suburbs.
“We knew we could achieve this by providing the Members and the Eastern Suburbs community with a first-class sporting, social and community hospitality venue, that along with a residential offering, would set a new benchmark in leisure, comfort and amenity in a landmark location close to Sydney’s most renowned beaches.”
Located on Birrell Street opposite Waverley Oval, the Easts Group has designed Waverley Greens with the aim to bring nature indoors, with the use of natural woods and plant life to aid the transition between the interior, alfresco space and bowling greens.
“The inclusion of one synthetic green will ensure we can host bowls all year round without the risk of weather disruption that natural bowling greens face. On-site parking will also be a key attraction for a club in this area and ensure fantastic access for our Members and guests,” Kelly told Club Management.
The Ambry Bar and Restaurant will create culinary experiences for every aspect of the Club’s offerings, including casual dining, group gatherings, team building and special occasion reservations. The Ambry and Henrietta Street Café are operated by Jesper Hansen’s Blond Catering.
“We are honoured to be partnered with Easts in this renewal of Waverley Greens. I’m excited about building on that community atmosphere that was at the old clubhouse, and bringing our culinary passion and expertise to this exciting project to deliver a destination to bring people together,” stated Hansen.
Kelly said the design of the Waverley Greens and The Langlee has integrated the two projects impeccably to create a community feel.
“The highlight for me is the seamless integration of Waverley Greens and The Langlee residences, and the incredible likeness to the architect’s vision and artist’s impressions, which is a testament to the delivery of the project by Mirvac.
“Waverley Greens will be incredibly popular, filled with natural light, finishes and greenery. The venue was designed to bring the outside inside experience via sliding doors that open the club up to the wonderful outlook over the bowling greens – and this will be the spot I head to when I visit the Club!
“The panoramic views from The Langlee apartments and resident rooftop garden are incredible and capture the amazing Eastern Suburbs coastline, and are beyond what we expected when the project began.”
The next chapter
Members and locals have been eagerly awaiting the opening of Waverley Greens, with many people walking by commenting on the look of the venue. Residents have begun moving into The Langlee apartments, and some of the club’s bowlers got an early look, and have had overwhelmingly positive feedback on both the bowling amenities and the overall club that has been returned.
Kelly said that Easts Group was incredibly fortunate and grateful that a lot of Waverley members maintained their memberships while construction took place, and they looked forward to welcoming them back into the venue. Beyond that, the CEO believes Waverley Greens will attract new members as well.
“We are also confident that Waverley Greens will prove incredibly popular with the Eastern Suburbs community, and we’re already seeing that with lots of interest, enquiries and new applications for Membership,” stated Kelly.
“We’re also anticipating Waverley Greens to be popular with our near-30,000 Members of our ‘easts’ club at Bondi Junction – approximately 1km away. We have a unique offering at Waverley Greens that we know will complement easts.”
Waverley Greens has also opened in time to celebrate the club’s 130th anniversary, with Waverley Bowling Club formed in 1893. It’s the sixth oldest bowling club in Sydney.
The milestone will be celebrated on 13 October at Waverley Greens, with the event including a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, Waverley Bowling Club Members parading on the new greens to the playing of bagpipes, followed by a celebratory beverage.