Club Central Hurstville’s $45 million refurbishment and expansion starts next month. It will include a 124-room hotel and a function centre, which are set to position Hurstville as an entertainment and event destination.
The three-and-a-half star standard hotel will be Hurstville’s first premium accommodation and the new function centre will have seating for 600 banquet-style, along with two stages and its own dedicated kitchens.
Club Central chief executive officer Mike Walker said the hotel will combine with the function centre in cross-marketing to capture various markets including friends and family, training, sales representatives and large corporate functions.
The function area will also be able to host international entertainment acts.
Mr Walker sees people travelling to Hurstville to catch a show and stay overnight at the hotel.
“We are in negotiation with a top hotel chain to manage the hotel, with the details to be announced shortly,” he said.
“The council has wanted a major hotel in Hurstville for decades. Now we are putting up the money. We are prepared to invest in Hurstville’s future.”
Club Central president Brian Coney said he believes the club-hotel combination will be a success.
“It’s been only nine years since we built a new club and decided to invest in the future of Hurstville,” he said.
“Now we are ready to take our investment to the next level,” he said.
There will be five levels of hotel accommodation with a giant atrium in the centre giving natural light to every room.
On the thop level will be a rooftop bar with views toward Botany Bay and which will do breakfasts for hotel guests in the morning and operate as a cafe and bar during the day and then a bar in the evening.
The hotel will be positioned on top of the expanded club premises on Cross Street on levels four to eight.
The expansion will increase the club’s floor area by 50 per cent.
Works will include refurbishment of the existing club. The Arena bar which becomes a sports bar.
The Townson lounge, currently a gaming area, will become a members lounge adjoing a new food service area.
The existing al fresco gaming area will move.
Two new escalators and four lifts will service the club, car park, hotel and rooftop bar.
The club has signed a Voluntary Planning Agreement giving $1million to Georges River Council to be spent on local infrastructure. A second VPA of $250,00 will be negotiated with the council for the rooftop bar area.
Mr Walker, who retired as the club’s chief executive officer last week, is staying on to oversee the project management of the club’s expansion.
“We expect to start work in September with demolition and with major works to commence about March or April next year,” he said.
“Overall, we expect the work to exceed two years.
“It means the club has a commitment to the future growth of Hurstville,” he said.
The plans and exterior are on display in the Club Central Hurstville foyer.
Mr Cloney said the expansion is about much more than Club Central but about Hurstville in general.
“The expansion of our current offering at Club Central Hurstville is going to enable us to provide new and enhanced facilities for members and guests,” he said.
“But importantly it also supports the strategic directions for Hurstville as a key hub for community activity, entertainment and employment opportunities.”
