March 1 - 31, 2026: Issue 652

 

Warriewood Community Centre Opening Worth smiling about

Warriewood Community Centre. Photo: Arthur Vay from Sydney Site Photography and Belmadar
On Monday March 23 2026 the official opening of the new Warriewood Community Centre on the Nelson Heather site took place.

Hunkered down into the landscape, with exterior pavilions open to the sky and breeze, the new centre has been sustainably designed, features four multi-purpose halls including a dance studio and large function space with caterer’s kitchen, two adaptable meeting rooms, and a welcoming entry lobby.

Mayor Sue Heins welcomed the opening of this incredibly versatile space, stating in her Address to those gathered:

''This new facility has been a long time in the pipeline, with extensive community engagement over the years regarding a new expanded facility to replace the Nelson Heather Seniors Centre as it came to the end of its life, and to provide expanded community space for the incoming Warriewood Valley residents and the broader community.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognise and thank the Warriewood Residents Association. Not only has this group championed the development of a new community centre on this site for many years, but they have also generously donated the digital information screen in the foyer. This will keep our community connected to new activities, events and with each other.''

Mayor Heins with Warriewood Residents Association members at the opening. Photo: Michael Mannington OAM

''I’m pleased to say that Nelson Heather’s contribution through his active involvement in several community organisations and the building of the original centre here will be memorialised through recognition of the history of the site in the foyer.

I encourage you to take a look and learn about Nelson Heather’s contribution. 

This building has been designed around a series of flexible halls and functional spaces — places that can adapt to whatever our community needs, from daily activities to major events.

At the heart of it all is what we call the community living room. This is more than just a foyer. It’s an inclusive place where everyone naturally comes together for connection, with the design encouraging our community to make new friends as they use the central kitchen area or spend time in the booths as they await their ‘tiny dancers’, dance or bridge club friends.

One of the key design principles was to place the building gently amongst the existing trees. The single-storey layout means the Centre sits comfortably in the landscape, at a human scale, making it easy to navigate and inviting rather than imposing.

Inside, overlapping timber beams form a distinctive pattern above the living room, and skylights break through the ceiling in a way that feels a bit like standing under a canopy of branches. Warm timber linings give the space a natural feel, improve acoustics, and contribute to its environmental performance.

Meanwhile, the exterior has deliberately been kept simple and economical, designed to visually recede as the landscape around it grows and matures.'' Mayor Heins said

''Sustainability has been a major driver for us. The building uses mass timber construction - including Cross Laminated Timber panels and Glulam beams — all made here in Australia from plantation pine and spotted gum.

This approach dramatically reduces embodied carbon and represents one of the earliest uses of this technology in a public building in New South Wales.

On the roof, a 100-kilowatt solar array powers the building now and is future-proofed for batteries and electric vehicle technologies. We’ve also included 24,000 litres of rainwater storage to supply toilet flushing and irrigation.

Resilience has been equally important. This building is not just a community centre — it’s been designed as a true multipurpose asset for the beaches. In times of natural disaster or emergency, it can operate as a 24-hour Recovery Centre, with the ability to serve as a refuge or evacuation point for the community.

Every material and structural decision was made with future climate challenges in mind — from stronger winds to more extreme heat.

Every room in this Centre has been thoughtfully designed to support the many activities our community enjoys today, and will enjoy in the future.

We have a specialised dance studio, complete with a parquetry floor, mirrors, sound system and barres—perfect for dancers of all ages.

We are currently standing in the large multifunction room ideal for big events, presentation nights and private functions, equipped with integrated sound, a commercial‑sized kitchen and yes, even some disco lights.

We’re also proud to offer a state‑of‑the‑art players hall for the Peninsula Bridge Club, a flexible space that can be divided into two areas and accommodate a significant number of activities.

A medium‑sized hall provides space for meetings, seminars and activities, including table tennis for the Narrabeen Seniors Club and others.

Two fully equipped meeting rooms offer modern flatscreens for presentations and workshops

And throughout the Centre, you’ll find generous storage, accessible amenities and a dedicated family amenities room.

In short, this Centre is about community, connection, sustainability and resilience. It’s designed for everyday life, but also to stand strong and serve us in moments when we need it most.'' 

The building includes lots of sustainable features being powered by 100% renewable electricity and features a 100kW solar system, 24,000 litres of rainwater storage, LED lighting and infrastructure to enable electric vehicle charging stations — future proofing it against changing climate conditions.

“I look forward to seeing this new Centre support the growing and diverse needs of the community for generations to come.” Mayor Heins said.

The build has been partially funded by developer contributions from the Warriewood Valley contributions plan. 

Features of the new centre include:

  • flexible multi-purpose halls to accommodate a variety of recreational, cultural and community activities
  • 2 versatile meeting rooms suitable for workshops, programs and small events
  • a dedicated community space designed to be safe, inclusive and accessible for all
  • generous covered outdoor areas
  • modern, fully accessible amenities
  • multiple adaptable kitchen facilities to support events and group activities
  • to serve as an Emergency and Recovery Centre for the community in times of crisis.

Warringah Shire Council's Minutes of Meetings from 1974 provide a glimpse into where the original name, the 'Nelson Heather Seniors Centre', stems from:

First Meeting for January 1974: 

SENIOR CITIZENS' CENTRE NARRABEEN CLUB NAMING OF NEW WING Letter, 11.1.1974, from the Club, advising:; Mr. Frank McAskill was present at our general meeting today, also Councillor Dawson, who told us that it was intended to call the proposed new wing of this centre 'The Nelson Heather Wing'. They asked me to tell you that our committee and members present all supported this idea;. Council: Noted;. (Crs. Sainsbery/Anderson) 

Meeting Held 21.1.1974:

WARRINGAH SENIOR CITIZENS' CENTRE SECTION 530A COMMITTEE 16.1.1974, advising that because of the recent death of Mr. Nelson Heather, it has become necessary for the Section 530A Committee to elect a new Honorary Secretary, and at the first meeting in 1974 held on 17.1.1974 Mr. C.W. Rivett-Carnac was elected to this position. Requesting Council to endorse this appointment. 78 Resolved that this appointment be endorsed. 

Meeting held 6.5.1974:

WARRINGAH SENIOR CITIZENS' CENTRE SECTION 530A COMMITTEE 29.4.1974 recommending that the Centre be known, as the 'Nelson Heather Senior Citizens' Centre'.. Council Resolved: That the-Senior Citizens' Centre; Jacksons Road, North-Narrabeen 'be now known as the 'Nelson Heather Senior Citizens' Centre'. (Daween/Little)

Minutes of Ordinary Meeting, 26.8.1974:

Precis of Miscellaneous Correspondence, - Nelson Heather Senior Citizens' Centre Section 530A Committee Letter 22.7.1974 from the Secretary referring to the renaming of the Centre and advising the Committee feels that an official opening under the new name should take place at a function on Saturday or Sunday, 2nd or 3rd November, 1974; suggesting that the Shire President perform the official opening and that a plaque worded 'Nelson Heather Senior Citizens' Centre' be affixed on the wall in the hallway, probably alongside the present plaques. Council Resolved; That the request be referred to the Council and brought forward again after the September elections. (Crs. Little/Sainsbery)

Either way, they got it done - Mr. Arthur 'Nelson' Burgoyne Heather, (August 4, 1894 in the Waikato N.Z. - December 17,1973), was honoured for his decades of service to the community, including serving in WWI and for Australia in WWII as a Captain in the VDC, and in the August 27, 1956 WSC Meeting: 

A. Nelson Heather, (letter of 30/7/56) requesting consideration of the question of a proposed Bowling Club at Griffith Park, Collaroy. Moved Cr. Corkery, seconded Cr. Simmonds; that Mr. Nelson be informed that Council will not agree to the alienation of any part of Griffith Park. An amendment was moved by Cr. Quinlan, seconded by Cr. Job, that Mr. Heather be requested to interview the Parks & Reserves Committee of this Council to place before it his proposals. The amendment was carried, and on becoming the motion, was again carried.

The main concern with the new facility residents have communicated is the Neville Wran tree planted on November 15 1979 by the then Premier of NSW has been retained in the central courtyard, but appears to be dying. 

Given Mr. Wran's connection to, and support of many of the environment saving causes raised by Narrabeen and Warriewood residents during this era, such as Jim Somerville, its loss would be felt deeply by those to whom it is important tree.

Mr. Wran, who had written to the council in January 1979 about the new 'Senior Citizen's Week' which he wanted all councils to support with events and activities - the major event in the WSC LGA being the gala that ran at the Nelson Heather Centre in March of that year and attracted thousands - visited during the Spring 1979 for a Seniors Picnic and community celebration and while there, made a speech and planted that tree.

Premier Neville Wran plants a tree at Jacksons Reserve, Warriewood, November 15, 1979. Photo: Council History Unit

Premier Neville Wran, with Warringah Shire Councillor Paul Couvret OAM (WSC Shire President from 1979 to 1983), MP for Warringah Tom Webster, and MP for Manly Alan Stewart, at Senior Citizens Centre picnic, Jackson's Road (called by then the 'Nelson Heather SC'), on 15 November 1979. Photo: Council History Unit

left: tree planted by Mr. Wran, March 18, 2026. Photo: Joe Mills

Tree on January 30 2026. Photo: Arthur Vay from Sydney Site Photography and Belmadar

Tree on March 23, 2026. Photo: Michael Mannington OAM

Other concerns are:

  • The connecting public footpath and cycleway between Boondah St and the Pittwater Rd bus stop is very wide and practical, but is sited close to the community hall buildings and could become a graffiti target by schoolchildren and graffiti artists continuously.  A Palisade fence down the full length may prevent this.
  • E-Bikes may also become a major problem, as this is a popular local route between the ovals, bus stop and Warriewood Square shops. In fact it could become a drag strip for the wheelies and speedsters.
  • Palisade fencing is also required along Pittwater Rd and Jacksons Rd, as these areas will be the access and targets for the graffiti.
  • The car parking is great, although the bitumen laying appears a bit rough.
  • The landscaping is very drab using sedge grasses as the theme.
  • The central courtyard is very bare and full of ground level tan bark /mulch. This flooded onto the public footpath after the heavy downpour on the night of March 17, and was scattered everywhere. This will be a continuing problem unless addressed.

Overall the new building looks stunning though and is a great achievement by all those involved. 

Residents can find out more information about the new Warriewood Community Centre, facility layouts and booking details on the council's website. 

Warriewood resident Joe Mills has generously been sending in regular updates during the course of the build, so you can see how they 'got it done' - again. Available in:

Photo Credits of building Interiors and a few Exteriors: Arthur Vay from Sydney Site Photography and Belmadar, and Exteriors (first lot below): Pittwater Online's Joe Mills. 

Mayor Heins with the Project Team - Belmadar (Builders) and Terroir (Architects)