Memberships to Saint Haven private fitness and wellness club sell out ahead of opening

In advance of this Thursday's opening of new fitness and wellness club Saint Haven in the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood, memberships for the facility - understood to range in cost from $150 to over $1000 per week - have sold out.

Offering an alcohol-free space that encourages diversity, while focusing on wellness, anti-ageing and bio hacking, Saint Haven membership involves a five-stage application process complete with interviews focused on the prospective member’s commitment and goals in wellness, whether they would fit the culture of the club and their desire to be part of a focused wellness community of like-minded people.

Created and backed by entrepreneur Tim Gurner, founder and Chief Executive of the $10 billion Gurner Group, Saint Haven Collingwood is planned as the first club in a chain that aims to give members an alternative to traditional clubs, where they can socialise, work and play in the ultimate playground of luxury and wellness.

Gurner explains “while I can’t comment on the exact number of applications that we didn’t proceed with, it was a substantial number – we are very focused on curating a diverse group of members that will interact cohesively, as we bring together people from all different backgrounds.

“We wanted to create a luxury exclusive club where one day you might be sitting next to one of Australia’s leading banking executives, then a hip hop musician or a local artist the next.

“This is not a club for Instagram profiles, this is a very private club for members that fosters special relationships and connections shared together over a mutual goal of creating the ultimate life.

“This is not a stuffy old private establishment Club of last century that favoured cigars, pomp and procedure. The community is crying out for modern private clubs where members can socialise in an environment that is relaxed, luxurious, comfortable, and focused on health and wellness.

“This is the first of many clubs we will open around Australia and the world - it will be a place where you can work, rest and play with like-minded people who want to live their ultimate life.”

Saint Haven General Manager, Sean Carey adds “the early oversubscription of memberships is testament to the huge investment and vision we have put into a club that we know offers something not available anywhere in the world.

“This, combined with the ability to socially connect with others in a calming, private environment, has resonated with our foundation members and we are welcoming members from all ages and stages of life, brought together by a shared defining principle to invest in themselves and live their best lives.”

Gurner’s 20-year wellness journey has culminated in the learnings, vision and work behind the Saint Haven club, which will open its doors to members next week in what Gurner describes as “the ultimate private club that focuses on social connection and letting people live their ultimate life, with a huge focus on wellness and anti-ageing.”

The Club offers members the entire spectrum of wellness – from the latest bio-hacking and anti-ageing technology, to relaxation, breathwork, mindfulness, strength and conditioning, and recovery treatments alongside an organic wholefoods restaurant and personalised 6-star hotel-style service, to deliver a world-first dedication to private wellness for members.

Saint Haven’s unique approach to recovery and anti-ageing combines science-backed programs and world- renowned technology and equipment with ancient wisdom, bringing together progressive health and wellbeing treatments previously only found in the world’s most exclusive health retreats.

Think about the perfect ancient bathhouse with purified ice-cold plunge pools and thermal mineral-infused pools, sauna and steam rooms, and a menu of globally leading anti-ageing treatments ranging from IV infusions, cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red light therapy, through to breathwork classes in the meditation cave and a range of practitioner treatments across multiple health disciplines.

The exclusive club takes design cues from northern Italy’s ancient grottos and spas, New York’s private clubs and Thailand’s health retreats, alongside the SOHO House model, providing members with the ability to experience all their world-class benefits under the one roof.

At the helm of the Club’s interior design is Gurner Group’s head Interior Design Director Simon Brugaletta, whose nearly two decades of experience has seen him work for practices in Milan, Malta and Hangzhou, China. It was his time in Italy that influenced the concept for Saint Haven, with the internal spaces inspired by the balanced, harmonious interiors found in Northern Italy’s bath houses.

Gurner Group’s intrinsic focus of delivering the best-of-the-best in amenity, aesthetic and ambience is evident in every facet of Saint Haven – from the personalised health data collected via Oura ring to personalise training and recovery programs, to the warm embrace of the “Path of Life” entrance that begins the arrival journey, right through to the reverse-osmosis filtered water that permeates through steam rooms and club showers; every minute detail has been carefully curated by the expert team.

Saint Haven members will also have access to programs designed by world-leading mentors, hand-picked by Gurner, bringing a level of expertise and wisdom that isn’t currently available to consumers.

The Saint Haven coaches offer a holistic approach to overall health and wellbeing with important consideration given to nutrition, sleep, recovery, mindfulness and training.

One of the key members of the executive team is Nam Baldwin – who counts Mick Fanning, Stephanie Rice and the Richmond Tigers as his past and present clients, and with whom Gurner has been working with for nearly a decade on his own peak performance journey; Charlotte Thaarup, a mindfulness expert who is releasing her own book on mindfulness and meditation; and Chris Nayna, a strength and conditioning coach who brings years of experience across strength and conditioning.

Former Tour de France 2013 yellow jersey wearer Simon Gerrans is the mentor who created the cycle programs for Saint Haven’s PURSUIT Performance Cycle Studio – a fully immersive cycle performance experience with the latest Technogym skill bikes which allows Saint Haven’s Coaches to personalise the programming while maintaining high performance in a group setting.

Marieke Rodenstein, the group’s Head of Research, Bio-Hacking and Anti-Ageing, has spent time travelling the world and reading the latest science journals to offer members the latest technologies and information to boost their members’ longevity, helping them live into their hundreds while staying happy and mobile.

Saint Haven’s industry-leading team of experts and practitioners will also offer unparalleled support and guidance designed to enhance, enrich and elevate the lives of members, further supported by the likes of massage and mobility therapists, naturopaths, acupuncturists and functional medicine practitioners – all of which will communicate behind the scenes, informed by members’ Oura ring data and member experiences, to ensure that each element of strength, recovery, wellness and activity is tailor-made.

The unprecedented and integrated level of attention, service and communication between the team means members benefit from a holistic recovery and wellness journey – a member who has a tight muscle in their leg could sign up for a physiotherapist treatment; the physio could then inform the PURSUIT Performance Cycle Studio trainer, and they could then work with the strength and conditioning coach to ensure the muscle is safely built back up before regular activity resumes, ensuring each Saint Haven member is always performing at their peak.

The benefits to wellness won’t stop upon leaving Saint Haven – in fact, members will have access to exclusively created scents, shampoos and skincare products created by “no-nasties” expert Vanessa Megan and boutique Melbourne fragrance house VAHY – the 100% natural products will complement the likes of mineral spas, vitamin C showers and hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Saint Haven, keeping the hair and skin healthy.

Members will also be encouraged to unlock their best selves through the use of the Saint Haven Members App, which will advise on recommended workouts, nutrition and recovery based on the data collected via Oura rings – it will also enable members to order meals and tonics to enjoy after their wellness experience.

Gurner adds “Over the last 15 years I have personally been looking for a great Private Club that is not centred around rich food, alcohol and procedure – I wanted a place that felt like home that was warm, comforting, diverse and let me connect with like-minded people who also wanted to live their ultimate life.

“We had the idea to combine that with another one of my true passions – wellness and anti-ageing – so people can share amazing experiences together in a luxurious space.

“I’ve been obsessed with health and wellness since I was about 16; I have spent my life researching the latest technologies and treatments from around the globe and have tried everything you can imagine, from micro-dosing mushrooms to infrared saunas and Oura rings, all with the aim to boost my longevity to over 100 years.

“Saint Haven is the evolution of this lifelong obsession, I am very excited to bring these learnings, methods and research to consumers – many of which haven’t been as yet available in the Australian market or together in the one venue – to create certainly the most ambitious holistic wellness offering this side of the Pacific.

“I knew the concept would be popular, however we have been humbled by the incredible response. To sell out in a matter of weeks is very exciting for the future of the concept – moving forward the membership application process will remain rigorous for new applicants.

“I knew the time was right for Saint Haven when I was confident we could deliver the best possible experience – I wanted to push the boundaries of what is possible for Private Clubs and Wellness offerings around the world.

“Many of the treatments available at Saint Haven are habitual for me now, and they have given me the clear mind, mental energy and physical strength necessary to create, grow and lead a multi-billion-dollar business over many years while continuing to enjoy my life.

“It is critical to us that members feel like they are at home when they walk through the doors. When creating Saint Haven we set out to bring together the effective methods of bio-hacking and anti-ageing – the result is a holistic and exclusive space that will genuinely improve the lives of members, while providing a meeting place for an expertly curated post-workout meal or nutrient-rich tonic.

“The doors opening at Saint Haven represents an important milestone for us, and marks the next step in our mission to deliver excellence without compromise – whether it’s a world-class lifestyle experience or the latest in anti-ageing technology.”

More than a gym, Saint Haven is a holistic community where performance meets recovery, strength meets mindfulness, and science meets ancient wisdom. Together with members’ co-working spaces, lounges, and a Haven Wholefoods nutrition bar, Saint Haven is a private sanctuary inspired by the world’s best 5-star hotels, where like- minded people can not only work towards optimal health, but meet, learn and connect with others.

Gurner Group is an institutional-grade, private development, design and lifestyle business with a $10 billion portfolio that focusses on transforming landscapes and environments where people can live their best lives, across six business divisions spanning wellness, hospitality, design, property management, funds management and BTS and BTR property development.

Saint Haven will open its doors in Collingwood on 11th May 2023.

For more information please visit www.sainthaven.com.au