The Balmain Leagues Club saga has turned a pivotal corner with Heworth given the green light to create a $400 million mixed-use precinct at the site after the NSW Government announced it no longer requires the site for the Western Harbour Tunnel.
Property developer Heworth received approval for the Scott Carver-designed plans in 2020, but were initially put on hold to allow Transport for NSW to utilise the leagues club as a dirt dump site. With recent fires and calls for redevelopment growing stronger, the construction of a new Leagues Club, apartment complex, town square and arts studio is now due to begin midway through this year.
“Transport for NSW has today confirmed the land acquired for the Western Harbour Tunnel construction site will no longer be required and the former Balmain Leagues Club site will be returned to its owner,” a statement reads.
“Following discussions between Transport and Industry partners tendering for Stage 2 Western Harbour Tunnel works, it was confirmed that the site was no longer needed for the project.
“Transport understands the impact major projects have on communities and is always looking for ways to mitigate these impacts and deliver positive outcomes.”
The Inner West Council has long urged the NSW Government to shed light on what it plans to do with the site. Lord Mayor Darcy Byrne says the backflip by the government is bamboozling.
“It’s bizarre that the government has sat on the site for two years whilst multiple fires have taken place and are now reversing their position and handing the site back.”
The Wests Tigers have been the beneficiary of a suite of development in its catchment regions, with the Leagues Club’s approval coinciding with the expected announcement of a $50 million allocation towards the refurbishment of Leichhardt Oval, as well as the NRL club’s NSW Government-funded Centre of Excellence, which is due to open in the coming weeks.
The decision for the government to effectively move away from using the site for the West Harbour Tunnel is a win for the community, which has had to deal with the derelict site for over a decade. Construction is anticipated to finish in 2027.
https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/balmain-leagues-club-transport-nsw-inner-west#
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
There is a lot to be optimistic about. The state and local governments have put something like $120m to work to support Wests Tigers in the inner west (COE, LO and now tigers leagues). In the outer west we have a leagues club that doesn’t want to be affiliated with us and a council that has shown more support for the Bulls than the Tigers. Yet we want to move our club to be based in the south west?
There is a lot to be optimistic about. The state and local governments have put something like $120m to work to support Wests Tigers in the inner west (COE, LO and now tigers leagues). In the outer west we have a leagues club that doesn’t want to be affiliated with us and a council that has shown more support for the Bulls than the Tigers. Yet we want to move our club to be based in the south west?
And that’s only because Magpies had a (mostly) unsuccessful tilt at trying to get established out there, and never made a permanent move.
If Ashfield still owned Leumeah, and the Council was enthusiastic/supportive, it would be worth having a shot at it, as it stands we’re better off being the absolute best example of a slick, professional inner west team.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
There is a lot to be optimistic about. The state and local governments have put something like $120m to work to support Wests Tigers in the inner west (COE, LO and now tigers leagues). In the outer west we have a leagues club that doesn’t want to be affiliated with us and a council that has shown more support for the Bulls than the Tigers. Yet we want to move our club to be based in the south west?
And that’s only because Magpies had a (mostly) unsuccessful tilt at trying to get established out there, and never made a permanent move.
If Ashfield still owned Leumeah, and the Council was enthusiastic/supportive, it would be worth having a shot at it, as it stands we’re better off being the absolute best example of a slick, professional inner west team.
Still feels like we are destined for the purgatory of half inner, half outer West. That is our “identity” and it’s too hard/dangerous to make another decision under current ownership.
Police are reappealing for public information following a fire at a former leagues club in Rozelle last month.
Holman Barnes Group
Dear Members and Friends,
We’re excited to officially announce our plans for the new Balmain Leagues Club.
The Club will form part of the newly designed Rozelle Village by developer Heworth. The development will focus on a new Town Square, public plaza and major retail and hospitality podium connected by a series of laneways.
The new plans are going to considerably contribute to Rozelle and become a major community meeting place and destination.
With the former Balmain Leagues Club closing its doors in 2010, this redevelopment has been years in the making. We’re all very much looking forward to the delivery of a new state-of-the-art facility that our members can enjoy.
Construction is planned to commence in mid-2023 with completion due by 2025. We will continue to provide updates on the site progress in the interim.
I can’t say for sure but the Holman Barnes Group clubs are branded by the area they are in, so I think it will be Balmain Leagues Club.@mike is it going to be wests tigers branded?
From the press releases it looks like it is going to be Balmain League Club which is disappointing to me.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
@garry disappointing if branded balmain leagues club but on the other foot Magpies are still wests tigers reserve grade team.
I kind of understand the nostalgia back to balmain as a club and the appeal that leagues club might be. But it was a chance to have a wests tigers branded club
@garry disappointing if branded balmain leagues club but on the other foot Magpies are still wests tigers reserve grade team.
I kind of understand the nostalgia back to balmain as a club and the appeal that leagues club might be. But it was a chance to have a wests tigers branded club
Id like it to be the Holgate Barnes Memorial Club
To be honest I think Wests Ashfield are doing a good job trying to adopt the history of Balmain , now that they are in this position. I think the establishment of the Holman Barnes Group is a sign of this and having an overarching group like this responsible for the Leagues Clubs allows them to keep separate identities while becoming more unified.
I would though have loved for this club to be Wests Tigers branded and not Balmain but I think this is Wests Ashfield trying to recognise the importance of Balmain.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
To be honest I think Wests Ashfield are doing a good job trying to adopt the history of Balmain , now that they are in this position. I think the establishment of the Holman Barnes Group is a sign of this and having an overarching group like this responsible for the Leagues Clubs allows them to keep separate identities while becoming more unified.
I would though have loved for this club to be Wests Tigers branded and not Balmain but I think this is Wests Ashfield trying to recognise the importance of Balmain.
I guess you could also make the argument that using the names Balmain Leagues and Wests Ashfield also remove any possible confusion rather than calling everything ‘Wests Tigers’.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Naming the new leagues club “Wests Balmain” sounds like a better fit and a more modern branding. Balmain Leagues Club sounds old fashioned to me.
