Giving the Bribie RSL a fresh new look

By Sheree Hoddinett  

The countdown is on at the Bribie Island RSL, as the community eagerly awaits the unveiling of a $15 million redevelopment which is currently in full swing. 

The club has remained fully open as the renovations have taken place, with the sports bar, reception area, bottle shop, gaming room and the external façade of the building all included in the project.  

Bribie RSL general manager Janelle Barraud and her team are watching closely as they anticipate the new areas to be open in time for Melbourne Cup celebrations in November.   

“This project is like open-heart surgery for us,” Janelle said. “We’re working on all of our key areas at once. You’re looking at somewhere between a third and a half of the footprint again, so it’s a big extension and it pushes our footprint out as far as the boundary will allow.”  

The renovation is the biggest the club has ever undertaken, eclipsing even the 2019 upgrade that opened just before Covid. That earlier project, which included Social Cafe, helped the club continue trading through pandemic restrictions, not missing a single day. 

This time, the focus is on space, comfort and flexibility, lessons learned from recent years and changing customer expectations. 

“Attitudes and behaviours have shifted since Covid,” Janelle said. “People want more room, so we’re creating spacious areas with higher ceilings, better airflow and more natural light. “In the gaming room, for example, we’re cutting back from 218 machines to 200 even though we’re licensed for 224, just to create a better experience.” 

One of the most exciting additions will be the new sports bar and entertainment lounge, designed to deliver the buzz of live sport without sacrificing comfort. Features include: 

• A 6m x 2.5m LED screen inside and another big screen outside. 

• An indoor–outdoor bar concept. 

• A separate TAB area with directional sound ceilings so race commentary stays in its zone. 

• A brick fireplace with a real wood-burning fire. 

“It’s inspired by what worked at Social,” marketing manager Cloe Einam explains, referring to the venue’s popular bar and dining space, “but it’s not a duplicate. This will be more of an adult sports and entertainment environment.” 

The goal is to have the venue ready by early November, ideally before the Melbourne Cup, so visitors can celebrate both the day itself and the new experience.  

“It’s the biggest sporting day of the year, perfect timing for us to show off the space,” Janelle said. “We’ll run a cup function in the new area and then a live band after-party. This year we’re forgoing our usual cup event at Social to see how our members use and react to the new space.” 

While the construction noise and occasional disruption are unavoidable, members have been overwhelmingly supportive as they await the official unveiling. 

“No one has complained, in fact, the closer it gets, the more excited people are,” Janelle said. “They know it’s their money being reinvested. We are here for them.” 

That sense of ownership runs deep. Many staff have been at the club for decades, Janelle now for 31 years and Cloe for 19 years. 

“We’re like a family,” Janelle said. “We value work–life balance, set hours that work for people and appreciate the fact that we can have great jobs right here on Bribie without battling Brisbane traffic.” 

Despite its size, the RSL has never shied away from neighbouring competition, instead focusing on how they can continue providing for the community they know and love. The club’s own calendar is busy with free live entertainment, smaller events and more than 50 community groups also using the venue.  

When complete, the redevelopment will deliver multiple new spaces, each with its own personality and purpose. While a name for the new area hasn’t been finalised, the approach will follow the successful branding of existing spaces like Social and Botanic, creating a feeling as much as a label. 

“We want to offer variety from loud, family-friendly areas to quieter, adult spaces. The sports bar will be more refined, without kids’ play zones, but still welcoming to families,” Cloe said.  

Another aspect of the renovations that will take on a new appearance, the foyer and entry/reception area will feature a grand ceiling, statement lighting and a refined memorabilia display which has been designed to be an immersive, dedicated space for quiet reflection and remembrance. It will also be home to Bob, a Queensland Bottle Tree that will take pride of place for everyone to see and admire.  

And while the official opening of the new areas of the RSL will likely stretch across months with multiple member events, Melbourne Cup Day remains the milestone.  

“We can’t think of a more fitting way to show off what we have built,” Janelle said.