Hakoah Club looks to commence $65 million redevelopment of Sydney’s White City complex

After years of planning to redevelop the White City tennis complex in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, owners the Hakoah Club appear to be set to commence the $65 million project.

With the project having received its final approval in the NSW Land and Environment Court, Woollahra Council and the Hakoah Club have negotiated the final details of the development that will see the revitalisation of the rundown precinct that was previously the home on tennis in NSW.

The redevelopment will see the site become an integrated sports, cultural and community venue with two heated pools, nine tennis courts (operated by Maccabi Tennis), an artificial turf football field and grandstand, fitness and wellness centre, and enclosed multi-use courts.

It will also house spaces for community events, cultural activities, as well as meeting and function spaces, and food and beverage venues.

The plan provides for the conservation and re-adaptation of the historic southern grandstand at White City, the venue of many historic tennis events, including the Australian Open, Davis Cup and NSW Open.

With more than $50 million of the $65 million project cost in place, it is hoped building will commence before the balance has been raised and the Hakoah Club’s board has resolved outstanding issues pertaining to the development’s approval.

Fundraising for the long-anticipate project was boosted in March this year when the Federal Government announced a grant of $7.5 million towards the project.

However, while the Federal Government’s funding was for “new community facilities”, the new complex will not be automatically open to all the community as it will be a member only facility to which an introduction by an existing club member will be required to join.

Nonetheless, Hakoah Club President, Steven Lowy said while the club was underpinned by Jewish culture, people from all faiths and backgrounds were welcome.

The substantial majority of funding for the project will be donated by the Sydney Jewish community. With a large part of the community funds required already pledged, a broader communal membership and fundraising campaign is expected to take place later this year to complete the necessary fundraising.

With major donor fundraising having been paused last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Lowy said that process will now resume followed by a broader community membership and fundraising drive.

In March, Lowy told Hakoah’s AGM “the excitement and generosity already shown by the community, and now backed by the federal government, reinforces that this community facility is sorely needed and strongly supported.”

The Hakoah Club has a long history in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs since its founding in 1938.

Previously located in Bondi from 1975 until 2009, the Club purchased the White City site in 2010.

The site had been vacated by Tennis NSW when it relocated to Sydney Olympic Parks prior to the 2000 Games with plans for its redevelopment have been the subject of a series of legal disputes.

Images: Concepts for the Hakoah Club's redevelopment of the White City complex.