Locals get access to Rabbitohs’ new $56 million NRL Centre of Excellence and community sports hub

Randwick City Council and the NRL’s South Sydney Rabbitohs have opened the new Heffron Centre in the Sydney suburb of Maroubra.

Located at Heffron Park, the $26 million Centre of Excellence for the Rabbitohs combines with a community sporting hub operated by Belgravia Leisure.

Opening the doors to the public for the very first time last weekend, the Heffron Centre staged a series of free activities, sporting competitions, gymnastic showcases, giveaways and access to both the BK’s Gymnastics facilities and the sports spaces the new centre has to offer.

Commenting on the opening, that saw guests participate in tours, a range of classes and a dance party, Randwick Mayor, Dylan Parker stated “it was such a joy to see the complex come to life. To have the doors thrown open to the community and see the buzz and hype of the weekend - it’s the culmination of a lot of hard work come to fruition.”

As a part of the multipurpose facility, the two indoor sports halls will accommodate sports such as netball, table tennis, football, basketball, badminton, pickleball, volleyball and futsal.

The landmark sporting complex, which offers multipurpose community sporting, dance and gymnastics programs and facilities to the Randwick City community and surrounding areas, is also the new home for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Rabbitohs Centre of Excellence
Having been based in the suburb of Redfern for 70 years, the Centre of Excellence delivers an array of contemporary facilities for the NRL club - while also embracing its heritage.

Murals and photos adorn multiple rooms and corridors displaying the clubs’ greats including Clive Churchill, John Sattler, John Sutton, Jack Rayner, Arthur Hennessey, George Piggins, Ron Coote, Mario Fenech, Harold Horder, Eric Simms, Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess and Cam Murray.

There are photos of Souths’ first side in 1908, the fight-back reinstatement march and the day Souths played St George before a then record crowd of 78,056 in the 1965 grand final.

There is a detailed history wall along with another wall naming every player from every premiership-winning side. Meetings rooms are named in honour of club legends with club directors to meet in the Clive Churchill boardroom.

The Centre of Excellence features an 80-seat lecture theatre, three indoors pools, two saunas, film and audio studio, player lounge, recreational areas, yoga and stretching area, running track, climate room, hydration station, physio room, doctor’s room, laundry, rotating hot and cold pools and an infra-red sauna.

In the lobby is South Sydney’s reception area which includes a cafe where meals will be prepared for players. There will also be a retail shop and interactive area.

South Sydney Chief Executive, Blake Solly noted “it’s been a project 10 years in the making so to now be moved in and watching the players, coaches and staff see it for the first time, when they’ve heard so much about it, is overwhelming.”

Heffron Centre
Nick Cox, Chief Executive of facility manager Belgravia Leisure, is thrilled to see the Heffron Centre come to life, commenting “this landmark building will be a sporting and wellness hub for Randwick City and surrounding areas, and we are honoured to be at the helm of creating positive social impacts via the delivery of quality programs and services. Belgravia Leisure takes this responsibility very seriously, and we will work tirelessly to ensure the Heffron Centre is a safe, welcoming and inclusive place for everyone.”

BK’s Gymnastics and The Dance Society at the new Heffron Centre are also proudly part of Belgravia Group, which aims to get one million kids across Australia active each year, said Belgravia Group Executive Director Alex Lord.

Lord advised “the opening of this new site puts us another step closer to reaching our goal.

“We want to make a difference to the health and wellbeing of Australian kids and help them develop a love of movement that will last a lifetime. With engaging and supportive environments like The Dance Society and BK’s Gymnastics Heffron Centre, we can positively influence a significant number of children.”

The new BK’s Gymnastics space is designed to engage children with gymnastics activities as soon as they can walk, and take them on a journey through the sport, whether it’s just for fun or with a competitive purpose.

Excited to invite the local community into the new state-of-the-art children’s gymnastics facility, BK’s Gymnastics Chief Executive, Mark Rendell added “this club will feature the latest equipment, expert coaches and a fun learning pathway through the sport.

“The community is just as excited as we are - we’ve had over 350 expressions of interest from local families before the doors opened. We can’t wait for the next generation of gymnasts to thrive in this facility.”

Images (from top): Elite gymastics display at the new Heffron Centre, the new facility from the air, junior netball being played at the Centre and community sport activities during the opening of the much-awaited sporting hub.