Sydney’s largest Jewish community development in decades has reached a major construction milestone, with the Hakoah White City precinct celebrating its topping out ahead of its planned opening in April 2027.
The topping out marks completion of the precinct’s structural framework, a key stage before facade works begin this month.
Government representatives, donors, community leaders and project partners gathered at the new Paddington campus on Friday to mark the milestone.
The $150 million-plus development at 30 Alma Street, Paddington, is being built on the historic White City site, 17 years after Hakoah sold its former Hall Street, Bondi home.
Hakoah says the precinct will become Sydney’s most significant Jewish community, sport and lifestyle centre, bringing together sport, health and wellness, dining, events and community facilities on one campus.
Designed by Cottee Parker Architects and built by Richard Crookes Constructions, the 30,000-square-metre precinct will include a floodlit football pitch, indoor multi-sport courts, two swimming pools, nine tennis courts, a 1,600-square-metre gym, event spaces, dining venues, children’s play areas and landscaped outdoor areas.
The redevelopment will also preserve the White City heritage arches, southern grandstand trusses and roofline.
Hakoah president Steven Lowy said the milestone reflected years of commitment by the Jewish community.
“The former Hakoah site in Bondi closed in 2009 and today marks the result of 17 years of determination, generosity, and an unshakeable belief in what this community can achieve together,” he said.
Lowy said a Norfolk Pine had been planted at the site as a living memorial to those affected by the Bondi attack during Chanukah on December 14, 2025.
“This tree will stand for generations as a reminder of those we lost and of a community that continues to grow,” he said.
Lowy said that while Hakoah remained proudly rooted in the Jewish community, the new precinct would welcome people of all backgrounds.
The project has been funded through major community fundraising together with Commonwealth and NSW government grants totalling $54.5 million and support from the Australian Sports Foundation.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state government was pleased to support Hakoah’s new campus.
“The NSW Government is pleased to support the Hakoah Club’s new campus which has been driven by the investment and a long-term commitment of the Jewish community,” he said.
“Today marks a step closer to seeing what will be a vibrant and welcoming space for the community come to fruition.”
Federal Member for Kingsford Smith Matt Thistlethwaite said the project reflected “the strength, resilience and contribution of the Jewish community”.
NSW Minister for Sport and Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said the new facility would be “a central sporting and cultural hub for the Jewish and wider community”.
Richard Crookes Constructions managing director Jamie Crookes said more than 174,000 hours of work had gone into reaching structural completion, with facade works due to begin this month.
Hakoah has 3,409 Foundation Members and is aiming for 8,000 by opening. The precinct’s partner organisations include Maccabi NSW, Shalom Collective and JCA.