Council considers Hall St history

Waverley Council is set to celebrate the historic significance of the former Hakoah Club by creating a plaque or community room.

Located at Bondi Beach, the Hall St building is currently undergoing extensive reconstruction with plans to create a new hotel and retail space, ‘Boheme’, in place of the old Jewish community sports hub.

At last Tuesday’s Council meeting, Greens Councillor Dominic Kanak motioned for developers Toga Group Pty Ltd to recognise the iconic significance of the Hakoah Club, which has occupied the site for the last 38 years.

“The site has a long-term contribution to the social history of Waverley,” Mr Kanak said.

“I think [they] should at least pay homage [with] a plaque that gives the community information about the history, [or] naming rooms that remind the public of the Hakoah Club that was on the site where the new luxury development will stand.”

Toga Group acquired the property for $18 million in July 2007, with the $89 million development commencing in 2010. Despite Waverley Council unanimously rejecting the proposal, it was approved by the NSW Planning Assessment Commission with minor amendments aimed at reducing the “height, bulk and scale” of the operation.

The project was met with strong opposition from local residents, as plans for a community space were not addressed in the final development approval.

Bondi Junction resident Natasha Tchernobryvko said she was disappointed with the development plans because the Hakoah Club provided a great community space for its patrons.

“I used to take my daughters there all the time,” she said. “It was a shame to see it go.”

Council is looking to liaise closely with the Toga Group to see what progress has been made and what is still left to be done, with the project expected to finish in six months. Once completed, there will be an arcade between Hall St and O’Brien St, with Boheme set to become a booming economic hub for the Bondi Beach precinct.

Waverley Liberal Councillor Joy Clayton said despite the protracted development process, increased levels of commercial activity will be of great benefit to the Bondi economy.

“As soon as it’s finished, the better for Bondi,” she said.

Mr Kanak said Waverley Council will work to recognise Toga Group as a new business partner, yet remained cautious about the implications of increased commercial operations for local residents.

“Council [acts as] a mediator between the impacts of the Toga development and our community so that any adverse impacts can be properly discussed,” he said.

“If they are ameliorated through that partnership, there will be a better return for our residents.”