The old derelict Balmain Leagues Club site on Victoria Rd has been engulfed in fire.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria-road-closed-due-to-large-rozelle-fire-20220507-p5aje5.html
terribly sad how that club ended up. So unnecessary
terribly sad how that club ended up. So unnecessary
Sad the way we let our heritage be treated.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Wasn't the site finally being developed? I haven't lived in Sydney since 2005, so haven't kept up with the debacles of that site. Many fond memories there for me though, was always drastically sad to see it empty and fall into disrepair.
Wasn't the site finally being developed? I haven't lived in Sydney since 2005, so haven't kept up with the debacles of that site. Many fond memories there for me though, was always drastically sad to see it empty and fall into disrepair.
No, it is set to be used as a dive site for the next 7 years, after which construction can start on the approved development, so about 10 years until a club is returned to the site.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Wasn't the site finally being developed? I haven't lived in Sydney since 2005, so haven't kept up with the debacles of that site. Many fond memories there for me though, was always drastically sad to see it empty and fall into disrepair.
No, it is set to be used as a dive site for the next 7 years, after which construction can start on the approved development, so about 10 years until a club is returned to the site.
Who owns the land?
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Wasn't the site finally being developed? I haven't lived in Sydney since 2005, so haven't kept up with the debacles of that site. Many fond memories there for me though, was always drastically sad to see it empty and fall into disrepair.
No, it is set to be used as a dive site for the next 7 years, after which construction can start on the approved development, so about 10 years until a club is returned to the site.
Who owns the land?
Heworth Holdings Group
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
The fire that tore through the abandoned Balmain Leagues Club site on Saturday afternoon is being treated as suspicious after NSW Police reported two teenage boys were seen running from the area shortly after the incident.
Emergency services were called to Rozelle after reports of the fire at Victoria Road near Darling Street about 4.30pm on Saturday, finding the disused building engulfed in smoke and flames.
Fire and Rescue NSW confirmed on Sunday morning that the fire is being treated as suspicious and NSW police confirmed that after investigators returned to the scene on Sunday.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne described the fire as “large and dangerous” and on Sunday tweeted that it “was no surprise”.
“The fire brigade have had to go out there regularly over the last couple of years, this is not the first fire,” Byrne told the Sun-Herald.
“They [Transport for NSW] have not responded at all to our concerns, we need this building demolished now, it’s a very unsafe place aside from the fires.”
“Since September 2020 the owners of the site have been unable to proceed with their development, which was approved by a state government appointed panel, and includes a new Wests Tigers Leagues Club,” Byrne tweeted.
The NSW government says they are going to compulsorily acquire the property to use it as a tunnelling site for the Western Harbour Tunnel, but “for two years they have not acted while refusing to allow the owner to demolish the building”, Byrne wrote.
The site of the fire has been vacant since 2010 when the NSW government announced plans to build a metro station in the area and the Balmain Leagues Club relocated to temporary venues in Homebush and Five Dock.
Transport for NSW said it “would be supportive of any steps the owners of the former Balmain Leagues Club site wish to undertake to ensure it is safe and secure while NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW conduct their inquiries”.
Plans for a $400 million development including a rebuilt leagues club, 167 apartments, a town square and supermarket were approved in 2020 but have since been delayed after Transport for NSW acquired the majority of the site last year on a seven-year lease to use as a dirt dump during the construction of the Western Harbour Tunnel.
However, Transport for NSW has not taken possession of the leased land from the owners as an agreed payment has yet to be determined by the NSW Valuer General.
Anyone who witnessed the fire, or who has dashcam footage from the nearby area, is urged to contact Leichhardt police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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A side note to the clubs .. the Club at Flemington markets is not named the Tigers club anymore it has a different name .
Do not know if the Wests group still own it or have sold it !
Did Balmain make any money from the Rozelle site or has it gone into the ether. A shame that the rebuild has dragged out and now become ruins.
A side note to the clubs .. the Club at Flemington markets is not named the Tigers club anymore it has a different name .
Do not know if the Wests group still own it or have sold it !
Still in the family I believe https://westsashfield.com.au/marketsclub/
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Did Balmain make any money from the Rozelle site or has it gone into the ether. A shame that the rebuild has dragged out and now become ruins.
The site was sold for the consortium picking up the clubs debt at the time.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
