Hakoah target: Pesach 2027
In an update at today’s AGM, Hakoah’s president Steven Lowy told members that the target for the long-awaited opening of the new Sydney club is now Passover, 2027.
George Farkas and Steven Lowy at the AGM
After 18 months of inactivity at the White City site due to the termination of the contract with the initial building company, the new proposed building company, Richard Crookes, is now on site, preparing for the next stage of construction.
The company has a $6 million contract for this preparatory work, while Steven Lowy has told the membership, “Our expectation is to secure a fixed-price contract with the builder ahead of the Christmas break.”
In the interim, the original plans have been upscaled, resulting in a redesigned column-free event centre which will now be able to accommodate theatre seating of over 500 or a venue for family milestone events catering for 280 guests, including a dance floor, together with an enhanced club lounge and restaurant/bar overlooking the grandstand and sports field.
The $64,000 question is the cost of the project, and it comes with a $150 million answer.
The 18-month delay has led to the original estimate growing from $93 million in 2023.
Steven Lowy told the AGM: “Funding this cost increase has necessitated a substantial increase in donations from existing major donors as well as the generosity of new major donors. Initially, we raised $53 million plus $5 million in memberships for a total of $58 million from the community. Major donors have recently pledged an additional $37 million, bringing total donations from them and memberships to a record $95 million. This is a huge source of confidence and recognition of the importance of this project to the community.”
Both the NSW and Federal governments have granted funds totalling $22.5 million.
Regarding the community, Hakoah has coined two slogans to accompany the project. “We need this now, more than ever” and “Life’s better together”.
The slogans reflect the negative events that rocked the world’s Jewry following October 7, with Sydney not being an exception.
Memberships now total 3,200 with the official membership drives to be launched early next year. Steven told J-Wire: I would expect that through a membership drive, our objective would be probably 8 to 10,000 members. After we’ve opened, we’ll probably have a second campaign because some people need to be there to feel the benefit if the club.”
The Hall St club had a 25% non-Jewish membership. Many of those have already taken out membership for the new club. He said: “There are a lot of people in the local Paddington community who would be very welcome.” He predicts that following the membership drives within the Jewish community, there will be a push to invite locals to join.
Steven Lowy announced that well-known Sydney eatery Shuk has “to provide a real community food experience”.
Longtime directors George Farkas and Greg Einfeld stepped down from the board due to “constitutional term limits”.
In an earlier term, George Farkas was a member of the board when the club in Hall St opened in 1975.
Anthony Ritch and Rebecca Finkelstein have been appointed as new directors.
In his own words, Steven Lowy declared that Hakoah is “a new hub for Sydney’s Jewish community, a place of safety, joy, and belonging, a true home away from home for all generations.”
