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Anzac Unease Grows in Rose Bay as Veterans Question Club Revamp

Club Rose Bay was once relied on by veterans and older locals for a drink, a catch-up and Anzac commemorations, but it has become the centre of disagreement within the community, with long-time members saying the revamped venue no longer feels built for the people it was meant to serve.

The dispute has flared in the lead-up to Anzac Day, when Rose Bay’s RSL sub-Branch is preparing its annual service and community gathering. On its own public schedule, the sub-Branch lists an ANZAC Sunday Service for April 19, 2026, while Merivale is promoting Anzac Day trading and two-up at Club Rose Bay on April 25.

The overlap has sharpened a local question: can the new-look venue still meet the expectations many veterans and older members have of an RSL at the most important time of the year?

Rose Bay’s Anzac Focus Meets a New Club Identity

Club Rose Bay was brought back from administration after members voted 147 to one in January 2025 to proceed with a Merivale management deal. Reports at the time described the club as being under major financial strain, with the site having closed in 2024 before the rescue package was backed by members. The vote gave Merivale, led by Justin Hemmes, control of food and beverage operations, while the club itself continued as a registered club.

Since then, the venue has been repositioned as Club Rose Bay and reopened after a year-long refurbishment in December 2025. Merivale and design coverage around the reopening described a broad remake of the site, presenting it as a renewed local destination with hospitality, outdoor trading and updated social spaces. Lifestyle coverage also cast the project as the venue’s biggest refresh in decades.

This fresh start has not landed the same way with everyone. The central complaint from critics is not simply that the club looks different, but that its role in community life has shifted. Veterans and older members argued the atmosphere now feels more suited to younger patrons arriving for food, drinks and entertainment than to ex-service people wanting the familiar club culture associated with an RSL, especially ahead of Anzac Day.

A Club Saved for Some, But Harder to Use for Others

The strongest concern is practical as much as symbolic. The loss of the car park and the move toward a busier outdoor venue had made the site harder for older patrons to use. Old-time patrons pointed to parking pressure, access issues and long waits for service as signs the club’s daily rhythm had changed.

For older veterans, it’s more than just comfort. Rose Bay RSL describes its Anzac service as one of the most significant events organized by the sub-Branch each year. This means that concerns about queues, noise, access, and crowd mix are not just practical issues. These concerns reflect a belief that a place linked to service and memory is changing too quickly for them to keep up with.

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Supporters of the revamp make a different case. Their argument begins with the fact that the club was in serious trouble before the Merivale deal. Seen through that lens, the new Club Rose Bay is not a takeover of a healthy institution but an attempt to stop one from failing.

The debate around Club Rose Bay is no longer just about outdoor trading, crowd noise or planning rules. At the centre of that divide is a simple question: who is the club really for?

Published 16-April-2026

Club Rose Bay Installs 4-Metre Noise Wall Amidst Community Concerns

Photo Credit: Merivale

Club Rose Bay has built a 4-metre-high noise control wall around part of its outdoor area, as the revived Rose Bay venue tries to respond to community concerns about sound from late-night crowds, pickleball and basketball in the former car park space.

A Local Venue Back in Use

The former Rose Bay RSL reopened late 2025 after a major refurbishment led by Merivale. The club had served veterans and local residents for decades, and its return was seen by many as a chance to restore activity to an important local meeting place after financial strain and voluntary administration.

Renovation in 2025
Photo Credit: Club Rose Bay/Facebook

The redevelopment brought new kitchens, redesigned indoor spaces and an upgraded sports bar. Outside, the former car park was turned into a large open-air area with dining tables, drinking spaces, a full-size pickleball court, a half basketball court and an Airstream bar. The outdoor section quickly became one of the venue’s main drawcards.

Noise Becomes the Main Issue

As crowds grew, so did concern from people living nearby. Residents complained about the sound of pickleballs and basketballs carrying into the evening, along with noise from patrons using the outdoor area. Some complaints referred to activity stretching close to midnight, while police were also called to alcohol-related incidents.

The noise wall indicates that the venue aims to reduce the impact on nearby homes. Made of sound-control panels, it lines part of the outdoor area involved in the dispute.

Planning Questions Still Unresolved

While the wall addresses one part of the problem, it does not settle the planning dispute around the outdoor area.

Woollahra Council has stated that the space requires development consent before it can be used for outdoor dining and drinking. Council became aware in November 2025 that the venue planned to use the area without first obtaining that approval.

The club believed that the space could operate under an exemption in NSW planning rules but Council disagreed and later issued a formal notice requiring the venue to stop using the area for outdoor dining and drinking. The warning period expired in early February, leaving the matter open to further compliance action.

Complications and Debates

This has kept the outdoor section in a state of uncertainty. The venue continues to attract attention and trade, but the long-term future of that part of the site remains under review.

One reason the issue has become more complex is the status of the land itself. Reports have said the disputed area is on Crown land, which means the process does not sit neatly within a normal planning pathway.

Merivale has argued that this changes how approval should be handled, while Council has continued to push its own position.

With no final resolution yet announced, the venue has remained caught between community concern, pressure, and a wider review of how the site should be managed. Liquor authorities are reviewing complaints linked to the venue, adding another layer of pressure. This will have implications on the decision about the outdoor area, as it could also affect licensing issues.

The new noise wall may help ease some of the frustration felt by nearby residents, but it does not remove the larger questions hanging over the club.

Published 8-April-2026

Rose Bay RSL Saved by Merivale Takeover

Members of the Rose Bay RSL club have voted overwhelmingly in favour of Merivale taking over the operation of their beloved club after its sudden closure last year.

RSL club have voted overwhelmingly in favour of Merivale taking over the operation of their beloved club after its sudden closure last year. The club, a vital part of the Rose Bay community, closed its doors in August 2024 and left staff without jobs after going into receivership with significant debt.

A Community Rallies

The Rose Bay RSL’s closure shocked many, especially after the recent launch of its new bistro, Villagio. However, the community has shown strong support for the club’s revival. An extraordinary general meeting on Saturday, 18 January, saw a massive turnout of members eager to secure the club’s future. The vote to bring in Merivale, the hospitality group led by Justin Hemmes, passed with 147 votes in favour and only one against. Club Rose Bay president John Bax said the high attendance demonstrated the importance of the club to the local community.

Merivale Steps In

The club’s board, administrators, and creditors carefully considered partnering with Merivale. Merivale will become a service provider, managing the food and beverage operations, but it will not own any of the club’s assets or have control over its governance. Memberships, discounts, and the role of the board will remain unchanged.

Mr Bax stated that Merivale’s success in providing affordable, high-quality food and beverages at venues like the SCG and Allianz Stadium made it a top choice to revitalise the Rose Bay club. He expressed his excitement about reopening the club in the coming months and strengthening its ties with the community and sporting clubs.

Honouring the Past, Securing the Future

Justin Hemmes emphasised Merivale’s commitment to supporting the Rose Bay RSL sub-branch and its members. He stated that Merivale would preserve and enhance the club’s rich history and war memorial, ensuring it remains a vital part of the community for future generations. The plan includes refurbishing the RSL and improving its war legacy displays.

The final hurdle is regulatory approval, which is expected in the coming weeks. If granted, this will be the first RSL club in Merivale’s portfolio of over 70 venues. Importantly for members, prices at the club are expected to remain in line with those of other RSLs in the area.

Published Date 20-Jan-2025