A membership vote at the Forestville RSL has backed plans for a new clubhouse and 52 independent living units, as community views remain divided about the project’s size and impact.
Forestville RSL Club members have voted to push ahead with a $108 million redevelopment to rebuild the clubhouse and add 52 independent living units for seniors on the club’s site in Melwood Avenue, Forestville.
The vote was held at a special general meeting in December 2025, with 71 per cent of the 316 members in attendance supporting the plan. The project includes a retirement living component branded as “Garraway” and has been promoted by the club as a way to secure new income beyond gaming.
The club has had planning approval since August 2025 to build 52 independent living units for seniors. Official planning records for the staged redevelopment are also available through the NSW Planning Portal (DA2024/1303). Further approvals may still be required for later stages of the redevelopment, depending on council assessment and the project’s staged approach.
What the Redevelopment Includes
The proposal involves a two-stage development application lodged with Northern Beaches Council, and the full mix of buildings and units depends on approvals linked to that staging.
Under the plan described, the rebuilt clubhouse would be a single-level venue located on the ground floor of a three-storey building. The club spaces would include indoor and outdoor gaming areas, dining options including an Asian restaurant, a café, a bistro, a sports bar, function areas, lounge spaces, outdoor eating areas, and a children’s play area.
The seniors housing component would include 52 independent living units, while 16 apartments would be located on two floors above the clubhouse. The remaining two- and three-bedroom units would be spread across three nearby apartment blocks. Some units would be provided for people living with disabilities, and the apartments would have a separate lobby and entry, separate from the clubhouse.
Why the Club Needs Redevelopment
Club management has said the redevelopment is designed to strengthen the club’s long-term financial position and support its future operations. The club has told members the project is aimed at building income streams that reduce reliance on gaming.
Following the vote, the club’s chief executive said the result showed that members wanted the club to remain successful and active for future generations.
Community Concerns
Not everyone in Forestville agrees with the project’s direction. A petition effort under the “Save Forestville RSL” banner argued that the redevelopment could change the venue’s and the suburb’s character.
Those who oppose have raised concerns that the redevelopment could be dominated by retirement housing, with a smaller club component within the larger complex. One concern raised by opponents is the loss of outdoor space used by families, with petition organisers saying the community could lose a well-used open area where parents gather and children play.
Some residents have also raised concerns about the scale of the buildings and whether the development would stand out strongly in the surrounding streetscape.
From Bowl Greens to Housing
A key part of the redevelopment footprint is land that was previously used for lawn bowls. The new development would use space taken up by two former bowls greens on the southern side of the site, after the club ended lawn bowls in October 2023.
The change has become part of the wider debate about how the site should be used and what the club’s future should look like. Critics have argued that the shift reduces outdoor space and changes what the venue offers families and regular visitors.
The project is expected to continue drawing community attention to building scale, traffic and access, and how retirement living would sit alongside day-to-day club operations. In Forestville, the debate has remained active because the site is a well-used local venue, and residents are watching closely to see how the redevelopment changes the space over time.
Published 26-Jan-2026
