Balaklava Croquet Clubrooms 

As many in our school community may be aware, Balaklava High School currently holds the lease for the Balaklava Croquet Clubrooms. We are actively working with Wakefield Regional Council to extend this lease into the future to support a broader community vision.

In collaboration with the Balaklava High School Governing Council, we have recently submitted a Community Grant Application to the Wakefield Regional Council. This grant aims to support the redevelopment of the Croquet Clubrooms into a vibrant community hub that fosters learning, connection, and participation across our region.

Our vision for the space includes:

1. The redevelopment of the clubrooms into a welcoming, multi-purpose venue suitable for community groups to meet, run small activities, and build local networks.
2. The installation of a fully equipped kitchen, enabling the space to be used for community functions such as birthday parties and social gatherings. It will also allow the school to run training and development courses, and student-led pop-up cafés, with links to our market garden program.

Should the grant be successful in any capacity, we will undertake wider community consultation to gather feedback on how the space can best serve the community and to inform the final concept plans.

A short summary of the application and draft concept plans is included below. We look forward to working together to bring this exciting vision to life

Brief description of the project: 

The Balaklava High School Governing Council is applying for funding to redevelop the Balaklava Croquet Clubroom into a vibrant, multi-purpose community hub. This transformation will revitalise an underutilised facility to increase community engagement, strengthen social connections, and support a range of educational and training programs. The project will involve essential internal building and infrastructure upgrades (kitchen upgrade, new flooring, painting, new window/doors, new furniture and appliances) and external improvements (painting/paving/new furniture) to create a welcoming, functional space suitable for community gatherings, events, and learning activities. In addition to enhancing local amenities, the redevelopment will foster stronger partnerships between the school and the broader community, reinforcing Balaklava High School's role as a central contributor to the region's social and educational development.

How will this project benefit the Wakefield community?

The proposed redevelopment of the Balaklava Croquet Clubroom into a vibrant community hub presents a unique opportunity to enrich the Wakefield region both socially and economically. By transforming an underutilised facility into a welcoming, multi-functional space, the project will foster community connection, support youth development through school-led training programs, and provide an accessible venue for local events and social gatherings. The inclusion of a quality kitchen and the integration of school and community-led initiatives directly align with the goals of Wakefield 2030 — enhancing liveability, supporting economic growth through local enterprise and procurement, and promoting community wellbeing. Importantly, the redeveloped facility will directly complement and promote increased use of the adjacent nature playground, a fantastic space for families, by offering a nearby place for refreshments, gatherings, and family-friendly activities. This initiative not only addresses current community needs but also creates a lasting asset that will serve residents of all ages, strengthening Wakefield as a place where people belong, participate, and thrive.