The club was born from humble beginnings as an Army Hut in Chalmers St (in the current position), on the Swansea Channel for the Swansea RSL Sub-Branch around 1936.
Club History
SWANSEA RSL CLUB
The Start Of Swansea RSL
How We Started
ANZAC DAY
Flight Lieutenant Joe Noble
ANZAC day is a day of great significance for all Australians. It is one of the few public holidays that is celebrated on the same date throughout the country. It is treated with an amount of respect and reverence not given to many other occasions.
The club was for Sub-Branch members only and then later opened to social members with the Committee and staff all voluntary workers.
The first official Club Board was elected in 1947 with the first Secretary Manager appointed in 1974. The clubs development commenced around 1961 with a more modern brick building on one level situated in Chalmers St.
This then followed in 1987 with a two story building with the famous “Hole in the Floor” feature with gaming upstairs and the main auditorium.
There have been 3 further major developments, in 1997 saw the entry of the club changed to Bridge Street opening lounges areas and eateries to the water views of the Swansea Channel. With a land swap between the Memorial Hall Trust and the RSL Club saw the old 1932 Memorial Hall building demolished and the new Hall built in Bridge St for the general use of the community.
In 2002 the club purchased the land from the Memorial Park Trust, Built a new Memorial for the returned service personnel. Then in 2007 the club extensions continued with a new Administration, Tab and Outdoor Smoking areas as well as new refurbishment of the Lounge, Bar and Poker Machine areas.
That brings us to our current club being renovated in 2018 – 2019. With all new modern furnishing, an entire new kitchen, the opening of a second eatery – the Sea Level Café and two spectacular upstairs decks giving you some of the best views Lake Macquarie has to offer.
In 2006 the name of the club was changed from Swansea RSL Sub-Branch Club Ltd to Swansea RSL Club Ltd.
The club has 12500 members and employs 72 staff and is a large contributor to the community of Swansea and the surrounding communities in many ways. The club has sponsors and supports all the Surf Life Saving Clubs and many of the local sporting clubs.