Club Rose Bay
In its first transformation since 1979, Club Rose Bay has undergone a year-long upgrade, with interior design and architecture by Akin Atelier and styling by Merivale Design Studio, led by CEO Justin Hemmes.
Merivale design director Nasim Köerting says, “We really enjoyed working closely with the club to thoughtfully incorporate their memorabilia into the space. Together, we explored their archives, uncovering pieces and stories that bring the club’s history to life for visitors to experience.” With enhanced facilities and hospitality offerings, including new dining and bar areas, alongside redesigned interiors and landscaping, the club maintains a strong connection to its legacy.
“We drew inspiration from the nostalgia of the classic Australian RSL – a space of warmth and sense of community.”
Akin Atelier brings together classic and contemporary elements, acknowledging the club’s 75-year history of serving veterans and the Rose Bay community. “We drew inspiration from the nostalgia of the classic Australian RSL – a space of warmth and sense of community,” says Kelvin Ho, founder of Akin Atelier. Marking the site’s significance as Australia’s first international airport, Mr Pop – a jet-age-inspired cocktail and record bar – is conceived as a 1950s airport lounge. Plush carpeted walls, corduroy banquettes, low lighting and cherry wood speakers adorn the interiors, while patterned glass lightboxes cast a soft peach glow.
The landscape extends the club’s character outdoors. A dog-friendly courtyard featuring a full-size pickleball court, half basketball court, alfresco dining and an outdoor Airstream bar draws on the nostalgia of classic RSLs. Breezeblocks surrounding the alfresco dining reference original blocks uncovered during construction, while limewashed planters double as informal seating. Together, the layered spaces at Club Rose Bay reinforce its role as a vibrant hub for generations to come.
While preserving the building’s existing language of timber, brick and textured glass, Akin Atelier’s contemporary reinterpretation keeps the club inclusive and true to its long-standing spirit. In Notti’s dining area, cherry-stained timber partitions and amber-tinted hammered glass complement the natural light, while the original corbelled brickwork of the building’s facade is echoed in the new pizza oven bar. The focal point of the restoration, the new memorabilia hall is lined with custom-milled timber and integrated curiosity cabinets displaying photographs and artefacts from the club’s extensive history, creating a space for reflection. The warmth, tactility and familiarity of the materials reflect the club’s legacy and memories, as well as the way spaces continue to be used.
“Working closely with the club, we have designed the venue to capture the nostalgia of classic RSLs while introducing contemporary elements to preserve its heritage and futureproof it for many generations to come,” Hemmes says. Recalling a time when clubs were places to gather and linger, this renewed version of Club Rose Bay affirms its enduring place in the life of the local community.
