Bronte Surf Life Saving Club Archives

Funding Secured for Bronte Surf Life Saving Club Modernisation

Bronte Surf Life Saving Club is set to undergo a significant transformation, with $5 million in funding committed to upgrading its ageing facilities and supporting its vital role in the local community.

Read: Bronte Surf Life Saving Club and Community Facilities Upgrade Planned

The planned investment will help modernise the club’s infrastructure, providing safer and more inclusive spaces for its volunteers, members, and the thousands of beachgoers who visit Bronte each year. Established in 1903, the club is one of Australia’s oldest surf life saving institutions and a central part of life in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

Local surf life saving representatives said the funding would allow the club to better support its lifesaving operations and community programs. They described the project as a long-awaited step forward that recognises the club’s importance not just for its members but for the broader public who rely on the beach and park facilities.

Club President Basil Scaffidi noted the club’s daily presence on the sand and in the community, saying the upgrade would ensure Bronte SLSC could continue its work for decades to come.

“A big step forward for our club, the beach, and the whole community. It is all systems go, and we will start to roll out the plan in the coming weeks,” the club announced on social media.

Photo credit: Glenn Hargreaves/Google Maps

Waverley Mayor Cr Will Nemesh also welcomed the funding, highlighting the value of the club to local families and visitors and the benefits of upgrading essential community infrastructure.

Read: Off-Duty Heroes Rescue Swimmers from Bronte Beach Rip

The funding is part of a broader initiative to strengthen surf life saving facilities across the region, with similar improvements also planned for neighbouring clubs.

Once complete, the club’s upgrade is expected to enhance safety, accessibility, and community engagement—ensuring that this iconic institution remains a beacon of service and connection on Sydney’s coastline.

Published 23-May-2025

Bronte Surf Life Saving Club and Community Facilities Upgrade Planned

After being deemed “no longer fit for its purpose,” the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club community facilities may soon be up for redevelopment.

The proposed upgrade marks a new milestone as the plan enters the Development Application stage, following Council’s decision to endorse the final concept design (Option 4) for assessment by the Sydney Eastern Planning Panel.

The Club is now seeking to redevelop the site to include a balance of female and male facilities, family change rooms and accessible amenities, adequate facilities for more than 200 lifesaver trainees per year, fit-for-purpose lifeguard and lifesaving facilities, among other improvements.

Proposed Building-Site Plan of Bronte Surf Life Saving Club and Community Facilities upgrade| Photo credit: Waverley Council / epwgate.waverley.nsw.gov.au

The Club has also decided not to proceed with the original concept designs, opting to use one of the alternate designs instead, based on numerous community feedback that pointed out several flaws in the original design. These include the amenity block being too far from the water and the excessive size and height of the originally planned building.

Alternative design concepts were proposed which incorporated several changes including a raised floor for storm and flood mitigation, the addition of a northern courtyard, enhancing the accessibility of its entrances, accessible cube designs, and improved lifeguard and council facilities layout.

Proposed Building-Axonometric View | Photo credit: Waverley Council / epwgate.waverley.nsw.gov.au

Council also increased its funding contribution to the Club by $2.9 million, upping its total contribution to $7.5 million, successfully negotiating an updated Heads of Agreement to effect this change.

View from Beach Area | Photo credit: Waverley Council / epwgate.waverley.nsw.gov.au

“We acknowledge the hard work the club has put into developing their own concept designs which it presented to stakeholders and the community in April this year for feedback,” Waverley Mayor, Paula Masselos, said.

“The concept design endorsed by Council responds to the feedback we received about the designs initially presented to the community, and we invite the community to provide formal feedback about the DA.”

Visit this page to view the application.

Bronte Surf Life Saving Club Set for $9 Million Redevelopment in Mid-2020

Construction of a new state-of-the-art facility for the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club is expected to be underway by mid-2020. Waverley Council has confirmed that it has received $9 million in funding to redevelop the site, which Bronte locals have enjoyed since 1903.

The existing clubhouse will be demolished and replaced with a sustainable building that can fill the demands of a growing community. Currently, Bronte Surf Life Saving Club has over 1,900 members, staff and lifeguards.

Among the proposed new features that will be incorporated in the new clubhouse include lifeguard and first aid facilities, family and accessible public amenities, function rooms, kiosk, gymnasium, and administrative offices. In addition to a new building, the promenade and surrounding areas by the beach will be upgraded to be more accessible and useful to locals enjoying the Bronte Beach.

Council has pledged $4.625 million for the redevelopment whilst Bronte Surf Life Saving Club members have pooled over $2.03 million in donations. The rest of the funds will come from the state and federal governments.

*Photo Credit: Bronte Surf Life Saving Club/Facebook*

“A Council/Club joint project control team will oversee the project to ensure all necessary financial and probity measures are in place. The project will result in significant improvements to amenities, provide better lifeguard facilities, improve workplace health and safety (WHS) requirements and will ensure the service the Club provides to the community will continue into the future,” Mayor John Wakefield said in a press statement.

Consultations have begun for the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club redevelopment. Club members and residents are enjoined to let their ideas and opinions be heard as feedback will shape the design and features of the new clubhouse.

A development application will be submitted once the community’s inputs have been integrated into the project.