Media Release

Midlands-Ballarat RSL Sports and Services Club is revelling in a new lease of life as a $7 million upgrade financed by Villawood’s Drew’s Paddock drives new members to the venue and its golf and bowls facilities, and focuses community attention on Ballarat’s north.

The past year has seen a flood of newcomers to the Invermay Park club with its meals and hospitality areas receiving a new al fresco bistro expansion, with a new bar and outdoor areas, as well as extra office space plus a kids’ playground.

The al fresco, with its180-degree vista of the golf course, is set to drive more open-air events. The dining-entertainment area also boasts views to the course and will spill out to the open area.

Midlands club chairman Darren Bandy says the upgrade, presently under way, has resurrected the club and thrown a new focus on the area, drawing visitors from not just locally but across the broad Ballarat region.

“We now have 1200 golf club members, 120 bowlers and 4000 social club members,” Mr Bandy said.

“It’s been growing strongly and delivering really well on the strategy we adopted six years ago.”

That strategy saw the club partner with Villawood Properties to develop an 11-hectare site overlooking the club’s 14^th fairway as the 113-lot Drew’s Paddock estate.

“Back then, our finances were tight and our prospects were, in all honesty, a bit grim. But we bit the bullet and we’re very glad we did.

“The development has been a huge success for us. It’s sold really well, there’s only two dozen lots left and they’ll get snapped up because buyers love it there and the value of their homes has appreciated strongly.

“What that’s allowed us to do is expand and improve the club’s facilities, invigorate our membership and provide a really solid community hub.”

Mr Bandy said enhanced meeting rooms for conferences, an additional bowls rink and a growing juniors membership, the hospitality overhaul, together with the club’s attractive existing course, had elevated Midlands into a strong community hub.

“A lot of people don’t automatically look to Ballarat’s north but it’s becoming a drawcard with facilities like this,” Mr Bandy.

“And if you’re in the market for a new home, we’ve got something good to offer on that front, too. But you’ll need to act quickly to secure one of the final lots.”

Drew’s Paddock enjoys easy access to Ballarat’s premier sporting facilities and is located just a stone’s throw from the Western Highway, providing ready access to Melbourne while just 4.8 kilometres from the Ballarat’s CBD.

Limited lots are still available for sale.

Hear Darren Bandy with 3BA’s Brett Macdonald here

Learn more about Drew’s Paddock here