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NEWS: CABRAVALE CLUB RESORT
A century in the making
From its humble post-war origins to an ambitious resort-style reimagining, the newly renamed Cabravale Club Resort marks 100 years of history with a bold new chapter.
IN 1925, 20 returned servicemen found more than comradeship in a weathered army hut. Unbeknownst to them, they planted the seeds of a community. What began as a modest gathering place for those seeking purpose after war has grown into one of Western Sydney’s most significant clubs. This year, that story entered a new chapter.
Formerly known as Cabra-Vale Diggers, the club has officially rebranded as Cabravale Club Resort. The name change coincides with the club’s 100-year anniversary, marked by a centenary gala on 16 July.
“Cabra-Vale Diggers has grown from a humble hut into one of the great pillars in Western Sydney,” said club president Walter Robinson.
“Over the decades, we’ve expanded, modernised and adapted, but what has never changed is our heart. We’ve been a place where people laugh, breathe, celebrate and support each other.
“We’ve hosted weddings, wakes, milestones and memories. Our walls have absorbed the voices of thousands who have gathered not just to eat, drink and play, but to belong.”
The rebrand accompanies a multi-million-dollar redevelopment, which will introduce a 140-room Novotel Hotel managed by Signature Hotel Management Group under the Accor brand, two destination dining venues led by culinary ambassador Dany Karam, and a suite of upgraded entertainment and business facilities.
But more than a name or a build, club CEO Boris Belevski said the centenary marked a renewal of purpose.
“It’s not just a rebrand,” he said. “It’s a renewed purpose putting care, connection and contribution at the heart of what we do.”
Honouring the past, embracing the future
The centenary gala held at the club’s function venue, The Space, was more than a celebration. It was an opportunity for reflection and a glimpse into the future. NSW Minister for Gaming David Harris, who attended the gala, praised the club for its enduring community role.
“This facility has been able to grow because it’s supported by the community. It’s been able to do the things that it does in the community because it actually understands its local community,” he said.
“That comes through the fact that those directors, not just the current ones, but previous ones, have listened to
their membership and have built what is an amazing club here now, which has got even more to open in the near future.”
During the evening, guests witnessed the launch of a new time capsule, sealed with messages and mementoes to be reopened in 2050.
A newly published historical book Heritage & Heart was also unveiled on the night. It documents the club’s rich legacy through stories and rare photographs.
“While we honour the past, we also embrace the future with optimism and open arms,” Robinson said.
The club also used its centenary celebration to launch Cabravale Community, a new initiative that builds on its long-running Cabra Diggers Cares program, which has contributed over $1.75 million to local causes.
Under the new banner, Cabravale has announced a headliner partnership with The Sebastian Foundation, which tackles youth mental health through its Open Parachute program and builds resilience and peer support skills in schools.
With its redevelopment set to deliver a new cinema, karaoke complex with private rooms, business, and modern sports bar, Cabravale Club Resort is repositioning itself as “Australia’s first integrated club resort”.
