The Croatian Club has revealed detailed design plans for its rebuild of Concord RSL and Bowling Club, which will soon open as The Concord, after recently receiving DA approval.
“We are proud to announce that we have successfully achieved Development Application Approval, which now moves us into the construction phase of the project,” the club said. “We are extremely proud that what would normally take two to three years to realise for many organisations, we achieved in three months.”
Since purchasing the former Concord RSL in November 2021, the Croatian Club has been working towards delivering the new club, gutting the original building last year and expecting to open the new premises at the end of this year.
The Concord will feature a new design by Altis Architecture, new livery with hints of Croatian colours and food inspired by the Dalmatian Coast with fresh and grilled seafood, plus a rotisserie for whole pigs or lamb and two wood-fired pizza ovens.
The new space will be broken up into different zones, reception/function centre, sports bar, lounge area, bistro, alfresco area, Croatian Memorial Garden, memorabilia room, class/conference room, cabana/beer garden and children’s outdoor gym and green space area. A separate reception centre space will cater for up to 350 for sit-down dining or up to 500 people in conference-style seating.
“This new premises is a major milestone for not only our club, the Croatian community in Sydney but for the wider Croatian diaspora,” the club board said. “We thank our past and present members since 1951 who founded and built this club into what it is today and created a fantastic legacy for future generations.
“Our signature feature will be our outdoor alfresco Cabana Area that is inspired by Croatia’s Adriatic coast,” the club said. “This will include two wood-fired pizza ovens and charcoal grills for a modern but authentic Croatian-inspired menu.”
The open-air cabanas and raised seating amphitheatre area will house a large outdoor screen and stage for patrons’ entertainment every night of the week. The outdoor children’s play gym, along with a secure open green space for kids, will also be a drawcard for young families.
There will also be an Honour Wall which will be a permanent display for future generations to show the families and individuals who have contributed towards the building of the new club.
“Our vision is to create a modern, family-orientated, Croatian-inspired club that all Australians of Croatian descent will be proud to call their home, but one which will also become a landmark destination for the broader local community,” the club said.
“This is a truly exciting new era for the Croatian community in Sydney and a world first for the Croatian diaspora.”
The Croatian Club Ltd sold its own site in Punchbowl and purchased the 2100sqm inner western Sydney site from RSL NSW for $8.55m in 2021.
