Echuca Moama RSL and Citizens Club now better than paddling up a river!

In what some may consider as one of Australia's sleepy outback towns, something big was brewing. Echuca Moama RSL and Citizen Club recently completed the first stage of the clubs overall MasterPlan, this $7M refurbishment and extension was designed to show the big city 'boys' how it's done. The original building was stripped, refit and expanded, consistent with a longer term expansion strategy that will include a live entertainment centre, 400 seat function space, expanded war museum (something for which the RSL is already known for) and 48 holiday apartments. The new venue features expanded dining facilities (which can now comfortably accommodate 800 patrons), as well as larger gaming area, TAB, bar, cafe, and parking facilities. Echuca Moama RSL General Manager, Ron Stockdale couldn't be happier with the public's reception to the new operations: "We've had great response in all areas of our business. There's been a 30% increase in our dining about 15% in our TAB, and up to 20% in all the other areas of our business. We couldn't be happier"

Winning the Design and Construct tender was The Reed Group, Reed developed the MasterPlan that would take the RSL through the next 20 years. Taking on the design component was Sydney based Project TT, headed up by Theo Theol. After initial consultations it became apart to Theo that the design would have a mixture of the traditional RSL feel but also would need to appeal to families. "I wanted a design that echoed the materials and tradition of Echuca," said Theo Theol. "The bar was the bringing together of a number of ideas I've had buzzing around in my head for some time particularly the configuration of the roof over. One of the key elements of the bar was doing away with the overhead spirit dispensers which might be functional but they're very unsightly." Those dispensers restrict the overall design and openness of the bar. But it's the use of the timber and stone along with finishes and colours provide the connection with Echuca. The portholes behind the bar echo the paddle steamers on the river but also serve a very functional purpose that being the ability to view the bar from the back-of-house area. With plasmas and LCDs the products of the moment venues can no longer just bang up a 42 inch plasma and expect the crowds to flood through their doors on game days. Echuca Moama RSL and Citizens Club are fully aware of the importance for up-to-date audiovisual hardware and trying to stay ahead of the game to impress and entertain patrons. As a result, there's probably more LCD and plasmas including two 84 inch monsters in the Echuca club than any other club round Australia. It's all about the entertainment" noted Ron Stockdale. But the screens are far more useful than simply being a big telly. "We have LCD screens throughout that we use to display raffles, such that everyone in the club can see the numbers being drawn. Those screens can also be use to display our in-house promotions, and our bistro and cafe menus." Another advantage of the screens is they take care of our statutory signage obligations - the 'no underage drinking' and responsible gambling signs are now electronic, as are the club's service rules in the foyer." So these statutory signs needn't be displayed permanently, they can rotate along with other messages.

Overall the club's first stage of construction has set new standards for other RSL's and alike throughout the state and the nation this is only going to expand over the next stages for the MasterPlan. The club itself is now experiencing higher productivity and a stronger family culture with locals and travelers alike enjoy all the benefits of the new look and feel of the Echuca Moama RSL and Citizens Club.