ONE of the world’s oldest motor boat clubs is soon to undergo a $4 million overhaul in what will be the biggest current development on Williamstown’s shoreline.
Members of the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club have pitched in money and taken out a loan to build a two-storey clubhouse in Nelson Place.
Commodore Simon Mills said the development had been years in the making and was exciting for the club and community.
“The club is 109 years old,” he said. “It’s the oldest continually running motor yacht club in the world. The clubhouse has been up there since 1956 and it’s obviously come to the end of its life.’’
He said the new clubhouse would be set up as a place for members to gather and for members’ functions and other educational activities and seminars – all to do with boating and boating around the bay.
Mr Mills said a temporary clubhouse had been set up in the car park and builders were expected to take over the construction site on Tuesday.
Among the 270-odd members is veteran Melbourne Cup race caller Greg Miles.
“This redevelopment has been about 15 years in the planning,” he said. “The clubhouse is about 56 years old and there’s been additions and alterations made to it over the years.
“About 10 years ago, they commissioned a survey of the place, just to find out what they should do … it came back to say it really should be demolished because it had so many issues with decay and deterioration. I think it was infested with termites and it was just past its use-by.
“The members, we’ve scraped and saved quite a lot of money in the last few years and we’ve taken a loan as well, so the members will be responsible for servicing that.”
Mr Mills said the club expected to attract more members during the Melbourne International Tall Ships Festival to be held in Williamstown from September 6-14.
The club leases the land from Parks Victoria.
