The council is seeking approval to demolish the old surf club. Picture by Murray Trembath

Update

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The heritage listing has been lifted from the 76-year-old North Cronulla surf club building, allowing the $30 million knock-down rebuild to be accelerated.

The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure on Friday formally advised Sutherland Shire Council the heritage status applying to portions of the building had been removed.

The decision followed an assessment by independent heritage consultants, who concluded retention was not feasible, and council advocacy.

"The council will now pursue an accelerated program for demolition, including a potential partnership with NSW Public Works to assist with the demolition Development Application, procurement, and project management," a council statement said.

Mayor Jack Boyd said the decision would be welcome news for surf club members and the wider community.

"This is a major step forward for the future of the North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club, allowing Council to commission the demolition of existing structures and make way for the delivery of new built for purpose facilities," he said.

"Council can now progress the demolition of the two buildings on site which were assessed as being riddled with structural deficiencies."

Club president Geoff Budd said, "We are extremely grateful for the work of Council staff in identifying this as a pathway towards completing the redevelopment of NCSLSC, which allows for progress on this project to pick up pace".

Official opening of the building in 1950. Picture Sutherland Shire Libraries

Earlier - April 7, 2026

Sutherland Shire Council believes demolition of the 76-year-old North Cronulla Surf Club building can be fast-tracked following an assessment by independent heritage consultants.

The council decided in December 2025 to demolish both the old and partly-constructed new buildings and start afresh with a new surf club estimated to cost $25 million.

This requires removing the heritage listing of the old building, which was built in 1950, from the Local Environmental Plan (LEP).

An update provided to the March 2026 council meeting said the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act provided a mechanism for targeted amendments to an LEP, allowing the Minister for Planning to make the change without requiring a full planning proposal process.

"This pathway offers a more expedited approval process, providing clarity and certainty for both council and the department, and enabling the redevelopment to proceed in a timely manner," the report said.

North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club in 1968. Picture Sutherland Shire Libraries

"The recommendation to pursue [this course] is informed by the findings of independent heritage consultants, who have assessed the structural and heritage conditions of the existing buildings and concluded that retention is not feasible.

"This approach ensures the redevelopment can progress efficiently while maintaining compliance with planning legislation and giving effect to council's resolution.

"Considering the expedited planning pathway, officers are exploring an accelerated program for demolition."

The report said, under this pathway, the council would be able to partner with the NSW Public Works, which would prepare documentation, select and procure a demolition contractor and manage the work.

The council unanimously agreed to begin the formal process of seeking to have the heritage listing revoked by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure amending the Sutherland Shire Local Environmental Plan 2015.

At the same time, a preliminary business case for the proposed redevelopment will be submitted to the Office of Local Government.

To alleviate the cost, the council will continue to pursue both federal and state government funding opportunities.

The old building is looking increasingly dilapidated, with steel supports supporting the balcony where photos taken in 1950 show official guests seated at the official opening.

A report presented to the December 2025 meeting confirmed piles supporting the partly-built new building were seriously defective and the structure was unsound, while the existing heritage building had "significant structural deficiencies and was at the end of its useful life".

The existing clubhouse is the club's fourth, and was built using building materials salvaged from the third.

The club initially planned to incorporate the old clubhouse with a new building, until engineers advised both were defective.

A heritage report, which was included in the 2017 development application (DA), said the council had provided a Statement of Significance, which said, "the 1950 clubhouse evidences a continuing commitment of the local government to surf and beach culture within the austerity of the immediate post-war years".

"The surf club is significant as a good example of post-war Functional architecture. Through its siting, scale, form and massing, the surf club is a landmark feature of the coastline."

In 1950, the new building was described as "palatial" in a report on the opening by The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Of three storeys, lavishly equipped and costing 18,000 pounds, the clubhouse will also have the best life saving equipment in the world," the report said.

"Accommodation is provided for 400 members in the main clubroom."

The Herald report said the executive room would be furnished by the parents of club captain Major James "Jim" Peryman, who lost his life earlier that year in the rescue of a 16-year-old girl.