Source: Anon. 1968. "$3m sports centre soon". The Daily Mirror, July 2: 59.
When Cronulla entered the NSW Rugby League Competition in 1967, they played the first one and a half seasons at Sutherland Oval, Sutherland before relocating to Endeavour Field, Woolooware in mid 1968 (Currently known as PointsBet Stadium).
In 1968, plans were unveiled for a $3 million development of the site which promised:
- A Football Stadium seating 25 000 people.
- "Ultra Modern" Leagues Club
The leagues club was to be built to the west, where the Woolooware Bay Development stands today.
The current leagues club commenced construction in 1973 and Stage One was opened in 1977. It's construction coincided with the club falling into financial difficulties. The Leagues club is currently being redeveloped at a cost of $20 million as part of the broader redevelopment of its land including apartment towers and a retail complex.
As for Endeavour field itself, the capacity eventuated at around 20 000, but compared with other football grounds, the model appears to show the ground to be ahead of the times with tiered seating around the stadium. Consider this against what fans at Kogarah Oval, Cumberland Oval (Parramatta) or the Sydney Sports Ground had to contend with at the time.
It was such an ambitious plan that didn't get to see the light of day. If it had gone ahead, Cronulla Leagues Club could have likely become the "Taj Mahal" of Sydney Clubs, dethroning its neighbours at St George Leagues (In its glory days) and even with redevelopments etc, being a leading club in Sydney today.
I think too, the redevelopment of the land in more recent times, would have had a different outcome, with a likely hotel development also included. The hotel itself may have even included in a future expansion in the 1980's or 1990's for instance. As for a retail complex on its land, still possible at its eastern end.
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