Hakoah’s new home at White City

SYDNEY’S Jewish community has a new 22,000 square-metre home, after the Hakoah Club this week splashed out $13.5 million to buy White City in Rushcutters Bay.

It comes two-and-a-half years after the controversial $19 million sale of the club’s Hall Street site. Since that time, members have expressed concern at the failure to find new premises.

However, Hakoah president Phil Filler insisted it was well worth the wait. “This has been the dream since June 2005,” he said.

“This is one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to the community. It is a milestone and the realisation of a dream.”

As of 2pm on Monday afternoon, Hakoah took ownership of the site, but considerable work needs to be completed, including demolition, rebuilding and renovating.

Filler said the club expects to spend up to two years developing a state-of-the-art sporting and social centre that could include a gymnasium, function rooms, bars, lounges, a swimming complex, the existing tennis courts and more.

“I believe the entire community will see the benefits and will be excited by this. This dream will need to be developed with the community and we hope the community wants to be a part of this project.

“What this is worth to the community cannot be put in financial terms because this is an incredible gift.”

Jewish Communal Appeal president David Balkin said there has never been anything like this in our community before.

“This is a country club, a social centre, a function centre and an administration centre, all wrapped into one at the one site,” he said.

“There is nowhere else this would be possible because 90 per cent of our community lives in the Eastern, South-Eastern or Northern Suburbs of Sydney, and this site is equidistance from all three areas. Hakoah has shown enormous vision and courage by stepping up to this opportunity for the entire community.”

Hakoah patron Frank Lowy, who is in South Africa for the FIFA World Cup, said this is an amazing moment for the community.

“I am very excited at the opportunity that this will create in establishing a new Hakoah Club, which will incorporate many amenities that current and future members will enjoy.”

JOSHUA LEVI

PHOTO: Sydney’s old White City Tennis Club will be redeveloped as the new home of the Hakoah Club. Photo: Henry Benjamin