Welcome to the Spring 2026 edition of The Sports House Bulletin, the newsletter for Varsity Lakes Community Limited and Sports House at Varsity Lakes.

As the weather warms up and our lake comes alive with activity, there has never been a better time to connect with your community. Sports House continues to be a hub for water sports, wellness, corporate events, and community gatherings — bringing together over 110,000 visitors each year on the shores of Lake Orr.

In this edition you'll find details on our upcoming events including the VLCL Robina Varsity Golf Day, the Men Matter wellbeing event, and a breathwork session to reset your capacity. We also feature our regular activities, the water sports clubs that call Sports House home, our valued tenants, and information on hiring our meeting spaces.

Our mission at VLCL is simple: Ensuring Community Prosperity. We hope this newsletter helps you stay connected with everything happening at Sports House this season.

A community event focused on men's wellbeing — bringing people together for an honest, supportive conversation about mental and physical health.

Start your day with a guided breathwork wellness session designed to help you reset, recharge, and build resilience. A powerful morning practice at Sports House.

Our major fundraising and community event of the year. Join 180 players and sponsors for a great day of golf, networking, and giving back to the community.

The Pan Pacific Masters Games 2026 is coming to the Gold Coast, and dragon boat racing will be hosted right here on Lake Orr at the Gold Coast Dragon Boat Club precinct — Sports House, Varsity Lakes. Teams from across Australia and the Pacific will compete in 200m, 500m and Round the Island races on our home water.

Dragon boat teams from across the Pan Pacific region will descend on Lake Orr for an exciting program of 200m sprint races, 500m races, and the Round the Island challenge. Spectators are welcome — come down to Sports House and cheer on the teams from the shoreline.

Crystal Bowl Sound Bath sessions also available. Find your serenity at Sports House and let the sound restore your balance.

Sports House is home to over 18 clubs and organisations. Here are some of the water sports clubs that train and compete on Lake Orr.

A proud paddling club based at Sports House, offering programs for all skill levels on Lake Orr. With a strong focus on community participation, fitness and fun on the water, Currumbin Creek Paddlers welcome paddlers from juniors through to experienced competitors. Whether you're picking up a paddle for the first time or chasing your next race, you'll find a welcoming and supportive group ready to get you on the water.

Established 1991, competing at local, national and international levels.

Founded 2004, based at Sports House since 2009. Rowing for competition, fitness, and health.

Formed 1989, affiliated with Queensland & Australian Canoeing Associations. Members from juniors (12yrs) to 70+ years.

An inclusive community empowering youth through rowing.

Olympic & Paralympic high-performance training on Lake Orr. Home to world championship and Olympic athletes. Active licensee through 2029.

Looking for a professional space with a view? Our meeting rooms overlook Lake Orr and are perfect for corporate events, workshops, and community gatherings.

Bond University  •  Varsity College + P&C  •  Sports Gold Coast

Proudly working together to support community sport and recreation on the Gold Coast.

Construction on Varsity Lakes' first residential village began in December 1999, carved from a neglected former pine plantation. Few imagined the sophisticated, cosmopolitan community that would emerge from those bulldozed roads.

In just 12 short years, Varsity Lakes became a model urban community, setting new standards in masterplanned development. The vision was driven by Delfin Lend Lease under the leadership of Carl Bruhn, whose team reimagined the site as a place where people could live, work, learn, and play — not just a residential address, but a dynamic hub for commerce, technology, and community life.

The master plan prioritised expansive open spaces, endless waterfront boardwalks, and unparalleled education facilities — creating a place where residents feel a genuine sense of belonging. It is a story of innovation, persistence, and hard work that deserves to be told.

Sports House itself was established in 2011 as a $4.5 million initiative by Delfin Lend Lease in partnership with Gold Coast City Council — a lasting community legacy born from the same visionary approach that built Varsity Lakes itself.

Sports House has punched above its weight. As we plan for the future, we look at a case not based on aspiration alone — but one which rests on a working model already observed, tested and enjoyed by the local community over the last fifteen years.

A Council-owned, community-operated facility on the shores of Lake Orr — the physical and financial platform through which VLCL has delivered fifteen years of community, sporting, business and civic value. Today it houses 18+ thriving clubs and organisations, including Paddle Australia's national office.

Sports House is a mature proof-of-concept for a distinctive form of community infrastructure: a Council-owned asset operated by an independent, professional, community-governed not-for-profit that blends commercial tenancy, community access, grassroots sport, disability participation, elite and para sport, events and external funding on one site. This was not accidental — the 2011 management model expressly contemplated commercial income supporting community objectives, without dependence on poker machines, alcohol sales or a café. Fifteen years on, the operating record broadly validates that design.

Sports House is where Gold Coast beginners become lifelong participants. Our clubs run school programs, junior development pathways, and beginner sessions alongside elite training — all on the same stretch of water. Varsity Paddlers Club welcomes members from 12 years to 70+, the Gold Coast Dragons introduce dragon boating to new paddlers every season, and both rowing clubs offer come-and-try sessions for complete beginners.

Our weekly parkrun draws over 10,780 annual attendances, making Sports House one of the most active community sport sites on the Gold Coast. This is grassroots sport at its most accessible — free, weekly, and open to every age and ability.

Over 15 years, VLCL has built a proven track record of delivering major community events that put Varsity Lakes on the map. These have included events such as Symphony by the Lake (average 4,000 attendees), the Varsity Street Festival (average 8,000 attendees), the Winterfest series, the World Food & Entertainment Festival, and Varsity Against Violence — which variously ran locally for over the last 15 years.

We currently host two Community & Corporate Golf Days per year (180 players and sponsors), Business Forums, and support a diverse calendar of events that serve families, businesses, and the broader Gold Coast community.

The community benefit at Sports House is real and measurable. VLCL has foregone at least $243,765+ in commercial rent over just the last 7 years — passing that value to clubs and community groups rather than charging market rates. Volunteer Board governance contributes an estimated $324k–$540k in nominal value over 15 years, given freely by our Non-Executive Board of Directors comprising community-minded professionals.

Robina Lions exchanges volunteer effort for space, Motherhood Village provides perinatal mental health peer support at no cost to families, and our disability access, including pontoon ensures all members can access our facilities and reach the water. Gold Coast Recreation & Sport runs disability programs five days a week, and QAS Para canoe/kayak trains six days a week — making Sports House one of the most inclusive sport facilities in the region.

Since its beginning, VLCL has secured approximately $499,730 in external grants and project funding, including $156,000 in 2011 State funding that helped establish Sports House. These grants have amplified every dollar of community benefit and kept our events accessible to the public.

Our unique model works. Over 9 years (2016–2025), Sports House generated approximately $2.185 million in income — a self-sustaining community facility. Income rose approximately 57% from 2016-17 to 2024-25, demonstrating growing demand and sound financial management.

Crucially, this is achieved without poker machines, alcohol sales, or a café — commercial tenancy income directly supports community sport objectives.

We welcome all visitors and encourage locals to check out our clubs, so come on down — get active and healthy, and enjoy the very best of what Sports House and Varsity Lakes has to offer.

www.sportshouse.com.au

Kind Regards,

Nic