1954 - 2007

Between 1954 and 2007, the Hakoah Club was the social headquarters of Sydney’s Jewish community and home to one of Australia’s best soccer teams. It was originally known as the Sydney Hakoah Football Club, eventually as Sydney City and finally as Hakoah Sydney City East Football Club.

Hakoah is a Hebrew word that means ‘strength’, and the original Hakoah club, Hakoah Wien, was founded in Vienna, Austria in 1909 to promote sporting prowess among Jewish men.

The Bondi club was founded in 1939 by Jewish migrants. The club’s activities were first held at rented premises in Penkivil Street, Bondi, and social events were hosted at various eastern-suburbs venues.

In 1968, a few of the soccer team’s staunch supporters purchased the old Bondi Beach Kings Theatre, on Campbell Parade, and six nearby shops in Roscoe Street, and leased them to the club. The renovations included a snack bar, small social room, bar, dining room, sauna, games room and coffee bar. The club thrived and in late 1970 had full membership and a waiting list of hopefuls.

In 1972, the club purchased land at 61–67 Hall Street, Bondi and announced a $1 million fundraiser to build brand-new, purpose-built premises. The soccer team continued to excel, and the new, architect-designed club was opened in November 1975. It comprised function rooms, a gymnasium, a sauna, a swimming pool, restaurants, a coffee lounge, a rooftop barbecue terrace and five kitchens.

In the 1980s and ’90s, Hakoah was Waverley’s most famous social club. In 1981, the team won the Premier Soccer League for the third time and two top-four championships, but in 1987, it was withdrawn from national competition because of escalating costs, poor game attendance and difficulty finding sponsors.

From 1988 onwards, the club was promoted as a venue at which all Sydneysiders could enjoy social, cultural, religious and educational activities. Its membership grew but its revenue declined, and the building was closed in 2009.

The site is now the Bondi Boheme apartment block.