Game Changer: Canberra Opens Massive Purpose-Built Pickleball & Padel Facility
What's the Score?
In a significant development for racquet sports in Australia, the Canberra Racquet Club has opened in Fyshwick. This large, 4,000-square-metre facility is purpose-built for pickleball and padel, offering dedicated, indoor courts and a focus on community, setting a new standard for recreational sports venues in the ACT.
Hit it deeper!
The opening of the Canberra Racquet Club marks a pivotal moment for the growing sports of pickleball and padel in the Australian Capital Territory. Located in Fyshwick, this impressive complex spans 4,000 square metres, providing a dedicated space for players that goes far beyond temporary setups.
The facility features six padel courts, enclosed by panoramic glass for both play and spectating, and four indoor pickleball courts. The emphasis on "purpose-built" is key, particularly for pickleball. As noted by Canberra Racquet Club Manager Sonja Balic, many existing pickleball players often play on adapted tennis courts (halved) or in multi-use halls. The dedicated indoor courts at the Canberra Racquet Club are built specifically for the game, featuring the proper dimensions required for both practice and tournaments, offering a premium and consistent playing experience. This distinction is expected to be particularly exciting for the local pickleball community, which is already quite large in Canberra.
Sonja Balic highlighted the accessibility, social nature, and fun aspects of both padel and pickleball, noting that their smaller court size compared to tennis makes them less demanding physically and encourages more social interaction due to close proximity between players. The club is actively fostering this community aspect. They are partnering with Pickleball Canberra to host Monday night social sessions and introductory programs starting April 28.
Beyond the courts, the Canberra Racquet Club is designed as a social hub. It includes a members' lounge, designed by Sally Hieatt, and is opening a fully stocked bar in May. The club also offers practical ways for players to connect and find games; Sonja mentioned the Playtomic app and a WhatsApp group where members can book courts and find others to play with, removing the barrier of needing to know opponents beforehand.
The facility is currently in a soft launch phase until Sunday, May 4, offering 30-minute weekday padel taster sessions and a 50 per cent discount on padel and pickleball court hire. They are also running a competition in May where the player with the most games will win a year of free court hire. With indoor facilities, the club positions itself as a place where Canberrans can play racquet sports year-round, regardless of weather.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The opening of the Canberra Racquet Club is a significant "game changer" for the racquet sports scene in the ACT and potentially Australia. The investment in a large, dedicated, purpose-built facility, especially with proper indoor pickleball courts, addresses a key need for players who are often relegated to less-than-ideal venues. This infrastructure development provides a solid foundation for the continued growth of both pickleball and padel in the region. Furthermore, the club's strong emphasis on community building and social aspects, alongside providing high-quality playing surfaces, positions it as more than just a place to play. It aims to become a central hub, fostering connections among players and potentially drawing new participants into these rapidly popular sports. This investment reflects the increasing demand and viability of dedicated facilities for modern, accessible racquet sports like pickleball.