Family-owned Lilydale Squash and Fitness facility set for closure and redevelopment

After 40 years of operations, the Lilydale Squash and Fitness Centre in outer north east Melbourne has held its final classes.

Owned by Mal and Mandy Harvey, the Centre has been a focal point of the Lilydale community over four decades, but held its final gym classes this week, after the family sold the property to developer Forza Captial late last year.

As reported by the Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader, the Centre, which had about 1400 members, will be redeveloped and offer a new facility operated by the Melbourne-based Belgravia Group.

The new facility will also have a new swimming school and space for martial arts, and an existing beauty and hairdressing salon connected to the centre.

Mal Harvey, whose father Ian opened the centre in 1980, said the decision to sell the property wasn’t due to the business’ financial situation, but more for him and his wife to “give someone else a go”.

He noted “it’s not like we’re going broke or anything like that, we thought we’d be moving on at some stage

“We were approached last year during lockdown, and we decided maybe it’s time to do something else.”

Beyond its opening, the facility expanded with a swimming pool, more gym equipment and more space for workouts five years later.

Harvey said he had been touched by the comments from members and trainers on social media this week, adding “I didn’t realise how many people the business has affected … it’s been a second home to a lot of people for a lot of years.”

Personal trainer Deb Smith said on the centre’s Facebook page she was “hanging up my leotard and teaching days for now” after 30 years, and paid tribute to her regular group training participants.

Smith went on to say “it’s been a fabulous journey and I’ve made lifelong friends along the way

“Mal and Mandy have made LS&FC such a fabulous work environment and never has work felt like ‘work’ such a credit to them.”

The Centre’s swim school and squash courts will remain open until the end of the month, while an online auction for its gym equipment will start taking bids from today.

Images: The Lilydale Squash and Fitness Centre.