Broadbeach’s Kurrawa Surf Club shines after fancy new upgrade

IT’S bigger and better and for the first time in almost 60 years it can fit hundreds of surf boards in the basement.

But if there is one thing that hasn’t changed at the new and improved Kurrawa Surf Club, which officially opened yesterday, is the good ol’ parmy.

Club president Michael McSweeney said the new surf club was 15 years in the making and well thought out, right down to the carpet.

“We are stoked with the space and the size. It is going to give the club the room to grow even bigger,” Mr McSweeney said.

“We are the only surf club on the Gold Coast with a basement this large and it is a huge difference from what we were working with in the past.

“We used to have boards spilling out of a little shed but now everything and everyone fits.”

After 13 months of construction, the Broadbeach favourite is now ready. The club is designed to attract more families and children with a new Nipper coach recruited.

“We’ve got Rhett Collie coming on as the full-time Nipper coach which is really exciting,” Mr McSweeney said.

A super gym with equipment for rowers including a isometric trainer and a sled track for running. The new gym will cost about $60,000 and is yet to be finished.

“It’s the last thing to do on the list,” Mr McSweeney said.

“The whole thing is a dream come true.”

With 22 drinks on tap including wine and dining for more than 400 people, the club has had a well-needed upgrade according to operations manager Geoff Toussiant-Hayes.

“We even have a charcoal oven which will be used to serve up authentic charred rib fillet, twice cooked pork belly and Portuguese style BBQ chicken,” he said.

Locals and visitors can make the most of the expansive open plan dining area with capacity to seat more than 400 patrons, including bar seating, with the bistro open seven days a week for lunch and dinner as well as a buffet breakfast on weekends.

Lifelong members Ken Coulston and Lesley Benson became members 47 years ago and have come to the club everyday since.

“The new club is magnificent and it was about time because we had done renovations upon renovations in the old club next door,” Mr Coulston said.

“Lesley and I met at Kurrawa Surf Club 20 years ago and we’ve been friends ever since.”

The new club features a modern design incorporating improved Surf Lifesaving training rooms and amenities, an expansive dining area and bar with 230-degree views of Kurrawa Beach and an all club multipurpose area on an upper level.

Building Committee Chairman, Stewart Palmer, said it was a milestone project the whole community could be proud of.

“The Broadbeach precinct is a key destination for residents and visitors to the Gold Coast and Kurrawa Surf Club will continue to play a key role in providing a quality hospitality venue for its guests as well as continuing our long and rewarding history as a successful Surf Life Saving Club in a state-of-the-art facility” he said.

The project design and construction was managed by club and hospitality specialists, Paynter Dixon Queensland (PDQ), who worked side-by-side with the Kurrawa team from inception through to delivery of this project.

Construction of the project took approximately 13 months, with PDQ’s Head of Hospitality, Entertainment and Leisure, Paul Coory, thrilled with the team’s progress.

“PDQ are incredibly proud of our longstanding relationship with Kurrawa, and we are delighted to see the club’s vision finally become a reality,” said Mr Coory.