After a two-year hiatus, the iconic Port Fitzroy Boat Club has reopened its doors just in time for the summer season, welcoming locals, visitors, and boaties back to a long-missed community hub. The north of the island now has a dedicated place to gather, eat, and socialise without making the long trek down to Claris or Tryphena.
The reopening is being led by a new and energetic committee of the North Barrier Residents and Ratepayers Association, which now owns and operates the club rather than leasing it out. The committee has taken on this project alongside maintaining the Port Fitzroy wharf and improving marine facilities—a major undertaking for a small community.
Beth Daly, a member of the committee, told Kathy Cumming that the effort has been enormous. “Since August, we’ve had about 70 volunteers give up about 1,200 hours of their time, which is massive, and each committee member is giving at least 10 to 20 hours a week at the moment.”
The club has long been a meeting place for the northern community, bringing locals together for socialising and connection. Daly said, “We’re really excited to have Freda Williams operating the kitchen and Juan behind the bar. Many of you may have seen Juan in a different capacity, working with the roadside arborists and the fire brigade. He’s from Spain, has a family history in hospitality, and everybody loves him.”
Initially, the club is open Fridays and Saturdays from 5 PM to 10 PM, with a series of special events to reconnect the community while awaiting full licensing. Daly explained, “It’s just to kind of go, hey, we’re nearly there. We know everybody’s keen. Everybody wants to get into their local club to socialise and we don’t have much else up here, so it’s a huge deal.”
The club had been closed for around two years, affected by COVID‑19 lockdowns and Caulerpa anchoring bans that disrupted operations, leaving the northern community without a regular social hub.
One casualty of the renewed focus on restoring the club is the reboot of the Kūtai and Kai (Mussel Fest). Daly said, “Alongside the Kūtai and Kai Festival committee, we decided that the club was not yet in a state that it was going to be able to offer what it needed to, to be able to give a really good festival. So we decided that focussing on 2027 was the way forward.”
Beyond the club, the Ratepayers Association is upgrading the wharf and marine facilities, improving safety for locals and visiting boaties. Daly said, “We are slowly improving wharf facilities with a focus on health and safety. There’s a lot going on, but we are ambitious and realistic at the same time.”
For updates on opening times and events, the North Barrier Residents and Ratepayers Association website and Facebook page provide the latest information.
