FEATURE: REDEVELOPMENT

New century, new look

Belmont 16s Sailing Club’s Centenary Project is complete, transforming the Lake Macquarie club during its 100-year celebrations.

SET ON LAKE Macquarie in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Belmont 16s Sailing Club celebrated 100 years of operations in 2022. Besides anniversary celebrations, the club also kicked off the Centenary Project that year, upgrading all of the dining outlets, reconfiguring and enhancing the first-floor function facilities and adding a rooftop bar. A contemporary restaurant, was also added to anchor and elevate the club’s F&B offer.

To minimise disruption, the redevelopment was staged over 18 months, with all works on the project complete at the end of 2023. The $20m project was overseen by Altis Architecture, with construction by local construction firm Graph Building.

“It was important to us to use locally based contractors and subcontractors [for] our Club, [as] we recognise that reinjecting into the local business economy, where our member base works and lives is vital,” stated CEO Scott Williams.

Smooth sailing

Significant upgrades to the club’s sailing facilities mark a new era for its maritime excellence. The club now boasts state-of-the-art race control, training rooms, and regatta office space. These advancements reaffirm the club’s commitment to sailing excellence and its role as a beacon in the sailing community.

One of Belmont 16s Sailing Club’s ongoing commitments is the almost three decades of support to the Sailiablity organisation that enables people with physical and intellectual disabilities to enjoy the sport of sailing. Sailability operates adjacent to the club four days per week for 48 weeks of the year and provides a sense of achievement, satisfaction and respite to the many people who use this valuable and unique service. Belmont 16s Sailing Club has provided the necessary facilities and funding for this volunteer-run community program.

“Belmont 16s has always been a cornerstone of sailing and community spirit. The Centenary Project is not just a redevelopment; it’s a renaissance. It’s a tribute to our sailing heritage and a bold stride towards the future,” stated Williams.

“Our enhanced facilities and renewed brand reflect our commitment to excellence and our dedication to the community we so proudly serve.”

New branding

Besides the physical update, the Centenary Project also included a refresh of the club’s branding identity, including a return to the full name of Belmont 16s Sailing Club. Previously shortened version of the name had been used frequently.

The club’s logo was also redesigned logo to include a contemporary rendition of its original burgee flag, symbolising both the club’s proud sailing history and its progressive vision.

Belmont 16s Sailing Club’s new brand colours are inspired by the original palette from 1922 and are blended with the natural hues of the Lake Macquarie environment. This fusion of history and nature embodies the club’s essence and its deep connection to the local community and its surroundings.

The last step in the rebranding exercise was new uniforms for the club’s more than 200 employees, with a contemporary nautical feel.

Martha, Martha, Martha

At the heart of the redevelopment was the launch of Martha Drink and Dine, a sophisticated dining and cocktail experience on the club’s first level. This sophisticated space offers panoramic water views, melding modern luxury with the club’s nautical essence, with the name in honour of the vessel that first British vessel that entered Lake Macquarie in 1800.

The 120-seat venue features a restaurant, bar area, and outdoor terrace with breathtaking water views across the lake.

The contemporary coastal design of Martha and the club’s other spaces was overseen by Altis Architecture, with construction by local construction firm Graph Building.

These improvements have not only filled a crucial gap in our services but also raised the bar, quickly becoming a local dining destination.

-Scott Williams, CEO

Martha’s stylish yet casual interior pays homage to its lakeside setting with dawn pastel tones, sandy beige, and sage green, accented by timber elements. The pièce de résistance is Martha’s cocktail bar adorned in pink tiles.

Prior to opening, food and beverage manager Joel Simmons said: “Martha is set to be an incredible new dining destination on Lake Macquarie for locals and visitors to the region. Our front- and back-of-house teams are a bunch of seasoned hospitality professionals that are extremely passionate about service, and together will bring a seamless and memorable dining experience for our guests.”

Newly appointed Martha chef, Tyler Rolfe, is serving a Mediterranean-inspired menu that is centred around the restaurant’s state of the art European Mibrasa ovens - a unique culinary method that imparts subtle, smoky flavours from cooking over high temperatures and hot coals.

Entree highlights include: Cast iron cooked halloumi with pickled cumquat and honey drizzle; chargrilled split prawns with Pukara Estate lemon and dill olive oil; and coal-roasedt cooled beef carpaccio with pistachio tarator, goats feta, cranberry and toasted buckwheat.

Mains include: Riverina rack of lamb, and Great Southern Pinnacle pasture-fed scotch fillet; alongside desserts such as S’mores with toasted house-made marshmallow, belgian chocolate with honey cinnamon crackers.

The Centenary Project at Belmont 16s Sailing Clubs was completed in time for Lake Macquarie residents and visitors to enjoy the club over the summer, and Williams said that the all aspects have been well received, with Martha in particular being a new favourite spot in the revamped club.

“Following the rollout of our Club’s renovations, we’ve received exceptional feedback from members, especially regarding the upgrades to level one with the addition of Martha Drink and Dine. These improvements have not only filled a crucial gap in our services but also raised the bar, quickly becoming a local dining destination,” said Williams.

“The modernisation and upgrades completed with our Centenary Project have enhanced the overall experience and significantly boosted membership interest, particularly from demographics where our presence was previously softer.”