Swansea RSL Club has submitted plans to Lake Macquarie City Council to demolish an adjacent two-storey fibro house to make way for a $1.84 million redevelopment, including new outdoor bar, kitchen, partly covered outdoor beer garden and carpark.
With a design by EJE Architecture, the new 300sqm outdoor area will also include a relocated kids’ play area and new toilets. The upper floor will house administration offices relocated from the existing clubhouse and will also include a new boardroom.
During a recent visit by Club Management, the venue was packed with patrons, indicating a solid recovery from pandemic restrictions over the past few years. The new development site is adjacent to the Pacific Highway and the span lift bridge which links Swansea to the greater Lake Macquarie areas, north to Newcastle and south to the Central Coast.
“The outdoor area will include TVs and have music through the speaker system,” the DA states. “There may be duo-style entertainment in the afternoons which would finish by 10pm. Typical days for outdoor entertainment would be Friday to Sunday.”
The assessment says the noise will be similar to that already coming from the club.
The last major renovation of the club was completed in 2019 with a new kitchen, second eatery and two new deck areas added. EJE Interiors in conjunction with EJE Architecture was also behind the re-imagined light-filled extension and bright interior renovation.
The club was established as an Army Hut on the Swansea Channel for the Swansea RSL Sub-Branch around 1936 which was replaced by a brick building in 1961, then expanded to a two-storey building in 1987. A decade later, the club entrance was moved to Bridge St, with lounge areas and a bistro offering water views of the Swansea Channel. In 2006 the name of the club was changed from Swansea RSL Sub-Branch Club Ltd to Swansea RSL Club Ltd. In 2007 the extensions continued with new administration, TAB and outdoor smoking areas plus refurbishment of the lounge, bar and gaming areas.
The club’s annual report listed total revenue of $2.96m, to 31 December, 2022, which was up 35.6 per cent on the previous 12 months.
