Vision for Abandoned ACT Bowls Club Revealed

A former bowls club in the ACT is being reimagined as a hotel and mixed-use development with a health and wellness orientation. 

Canberra developer Bulum Group has submitted plans to develop the vacant site at 21 Elder Street into the Braddon Bowls Hotel. 

The proposals, with an estimated cost of $37.1 million, comprises two buildings between three and six storeys. 

They would contain 59 residential units and a 73-key hotel across a mix of one bedroom and studio apartments, for a total gross floor area of 10,974 square metres.

Of that, 553sq m would be allocated to public retail, as well as a bar, function space and a gallery or performance space. There would also be two levels of basement parking for 128 spots.

The site was formerly the Braddon Bowls Club, which was forced to disband after a planned move by the 90-year-old bowling club to a Gungahlin site fell apart.

The site was purchased by Bulum Group in 2015. CoreLogic’s RP Data said it was acquired for $4.2 million at the time.

Since then, the site has been vacant and “not contributing positively to the local character”, according to the development application.

“This proposal seeks to provide a lively and accessible leisure, entertainment and recreation destination close to the City”, the application said. 

It has being designed by architects Turco & Associates.

“The concept behind the architecture of the proposal is the experience and sense of discovery that resembles the spatial characteristics of a natural canyon or gorge,” it said.

The site is within walking distance of the CBD and “well connected”, it said. 

The development application was filed this month and is now on exhibition.

Bowls and other sporting clubs across Australia have had to take an “adapt or die” approach, with many teaming up with seniors living or hotel developers to avoid the fate of the Braddon Bowls Club. 

In the Hunter Valley plans were filed this year for a 16-storey hotel while the Hills District Bowling Club is pushing through plans for a senior living project.

Meanwhile, a former bowls club in Queensland has been earmarked for a mixed-use development.