History
From humble beginnings in 1971 and housed in two ex-Army Huts, Mingara Recreation Club Limited became a registered company on 19 December, 1978, with a membership of 250.
A liquor licence was granted in 1979, and by 1980 the membership had outgrown the Army huts. Finance was then obtained to build a new Club, which was opened on 30 June 1981.
In 1987 44.6 hectares of land was purchased on Wyong Road at Tumbi Umbi, the location of the existing Club. By July 1995, construction of the new complex had commenced. At that stage the Club’s membership had reached more than 20,000.
An integral part of the new development was the Mingara Leisure Centre. To establish this facility, the Club entered into a joint venture with Wyong Shire Council, who contributed $4 million to the 50 metre swimming pool. This business relationship with a “Council’ is the first of its kind in New South Wales.
The new complex opened on Monday 28 October 1996.
In 2000, construction was completed of the Gatorade Regional Athletics Centre, a world-class synthetic track and field athletics facility and national standard playing field. Since its official opening in November 2000, the Centre has received wide media exposure, which highlights both the unique funding partnership that evolved between Central Coast Athletics, Wyong Shire Council, Gosford City Council, the NSW Government and Mingara Recreation Club and the individual events that have been held at the centre to date.
In July 2002 Mingara embarked on a major expansion and refurbishment of the clubs facilities to include a new franchise restaurant, franchise café, expansion and relocation of the gaming lounge, expansion of the lounge and an upgrade of all bars.
In 2006, Mingara amalgamated with West Port Macquarie Bowling Club and after significant renovations to the gaming room, reception area and restaurant, the club was renamed ‘The Westport Club’ and successfully relaunched back into the Port Macquarie community.
Further renovations took place at Mingara in 2007 with the opening of 3 new restaurants, Indigo – Eats, Treats & Bar, Ming Dragon and Fortune Cookie, offering our members more dining choices.
In October 2008, construction of the new Mingara One Fitness Centre was completed, the project worth $5.5 million, has provided Mingara members and the Central Coast community with one of the finest fitness centres in Australia. Stage 2 of this project, due for completion in February 2009, will include Wellness practitioners, with this additional construction taking the bill to around $7.75 million.
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