The Keppel Bay Sailing Club and Conference Centre redevelopment is underway with a new 2800sqm venue eventually rising to three storeys of state-of-the-art sailing facilities, new bistro and bar, plus multiple function and flexible conferencing facilities all with expansive views of Keppel Bay and its islands.
Jointly funded by the Australian Government and the Keppel Bay Sailing Club, the much-anticipated $23 million build is set to be a landmark venue on the Yeppoon foreshore of the Capricorn Coast, and a possible sail training destination for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
“There is not a lot of convention spaces in the area, especially not small to medium in a place that can combine rooms to run larger conventions and larger functions,” club GM Mal Cochrane told Club Management. “We can probably seat up to 500 people in the combined room when it’s done.
“The priority was to make sure that we had a good area for sailing as we are heading towards the Olympics for any (visiting) country to train at. People can train here and it’s a good area to do so and there is plenty of wind.”
The new build will offer multiple dining areas, multipurpose function rooms, plus a whisky bar that can double as a dining room. There will also be a sailors’ bar downstairs for more casual activity. There are no EGMs at the venue.
With the demolition of the old club currently underway, management is now using a storage shed and a nearby residential house as temporary offices. Cochrane hopes to open the doors of the new club by July next year.
Construction is by club specialist Paynters and the new club has been designed by Brisbane-based Arkhfield Architects (Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club, Cowboys Leagues Club), but local architect Brian Hooper, who was behind the $15m reconstruction of the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame at Longreach, has been appointed Project Manager for the site.
“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with this iconic community venue to bring their rebuild vision to life,” Paynters posted.
Capricorn Enterprise CEO, Mary Carroll congratulated Keppel Bay Sailing Club Board on securing a home-grown architect to deliver the project.
“Brian Hooper Architects have collaborated to deliver incredible projects over the years, including the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach, the Tree of Knowledge Memorial in Barcaldine, and our very own Yeppoon Foreshore Precinct,” Carroll said.
“If these past deliverables are anything to go by, we can be certain that the Keppel Bay Sailing and Convention Centre is going to be an outstanding piece of infrastructure.”
The Convention Centre was originally identified as a Regional Priority Project in 2010 and will deliver a first-class resource for the Capricorn Coast and greater Central Queensland region, Carroll said.
The Keppel Bay Sailing Club’s other venues – Club Emu Park, Spinnaker and Krackers – will welcome members and guests while construction work is being undertaken.
I am enquiring into the estimated opening date of the club as I am wanting to book in a wedding function
Hi Rhonda,
That enquiry would have to be made directly with the club.