This week sees the start of the construction of Manly Warringah Gymnastic Club’s (MWGC) $10 million dollar Centre of Excellence which is set to open in early 2027.
“Our commitment is for MWGC to be the place where every journey from cartwheels to the Olympics matters,” said MWGC CEO, David Krantz, at Monday’s Turning of the Sod event.
“The Centre of Excellence, here at Nolan Reserve, will allow that commitment to ring true for generations of athletes, young and old. This will be the place where Olympic dreams are held, nurtured and achieved.”
MWGC secured a 30-year lease arrangement with Council to construct, fund and operate a world class indoor gymnastics Centre of Excellence at Nolan Reserve (where the former North Manly Bowling Club once was).
“We are one of the largest and most decorated clubs, not only in NSW but in Australia,” MWGC Chairperson, Amanda Wyzenbeek, said.
“We have long held a vision to build our own purpose-built gymnastic facility, and more than ten years down the road from the first mention of that vision, we are taking a monumental step towards the realisation of that dream.
“This centre, which is being built on this site, will be the first and only fit for purpose women’s artist gymnastics elite training facility in NSW. It’s a big deal for us.”
Manly Observer has confirmed with Gymnastics NSW that while the Centre of Excellence will be a state-of-the-art facility, there are other fit-for-purpose elite women’s artistic gymnastics facilities in NSW, including on the Northern Beaches.
The event was attended by Federal Member for Warringah, Zali Steggall, who assisted in securing a $5.15 million grant under the Federal Government Thriving Suburbs Program.
“It will mean a lot to young people, who are looking to the 2028 and 2032 Olympics, to have such an incredible centre here on the Northern Beaches,” Ms Steggall said.
“This centre won’t be just for gymnastics; it will provide skills that are incredibly important across a number of sports.”
MWGC also secured a $5.15 million grant from NSW Office of Sport’s Centre of Excellence Grant Funding with the support of State Member for Manly, James Griffin, and Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan, who were both in attendance.
Northern Beaches Council Mayor, Sue Heins, said the Centre of Excellence would further enhance the area as a vibrant sporting hub for the community. Across the road, on the corner of Kentwell Road and Pittwater Road in North Manly, Council is constructing the Warringah Recreation Centre (WRC) which will see five new tennis courts and three (possibly five, if additional funding is secured) indoor squash courts. While Warringah Golf Club has started construction of a new clubhouse at the same location.
“There has been a lot of talk about the new Centre for a long time, imagining the opportunities we’d have being able to train in a world class elite gymnastic centre each day,” Chloe Muntz, international gymnast, told the crowd.
“There is nothing like walking into training and the physical setting, lifting your standard higher, allowing you to push yourself to your highest potential.”
Club captain, Lucy Stewart, said the current MWGC Cromer site didn’t have the equipment needed to reach the potential to be competitive on the world stage.
“We’re severely limited by the height of the roof and the crowded gym,” she explained.
“The Centre of Excellence will allow us to train harder and more efficiently. It will also help to advance the women’s high-performance program in New South Wales. We appreciate the support of everyone here today and thank you for making our dreams become a possibility.”
The Centre of Excellence was approved by Sydney North Planning Panel in August 2024. Demolition was completed in October 2025, with the Centre due to open in early 2027.
Find out what else is happening at Nolan Reserve:
