60 Years of Rugby & Community
From a rough hillside in Belrose — built by families, run by volunteers, and loved by everyone who's ever pulled on the jersey.
"It is beyond my comprehension that a group of dedicated fathers would sit at a table and put together a plan to ask the Council to let them have a piece of waste ground, overrun with rampant vegetation, and turn it into a sporting field complete with facilities. These people were not involved in developing real estate — they had full time occupations. But they had a wonderful vision."
— Noel Martin, Life Member & Club Historian
How It All Began
In 1966, a group of Belrose and Frenchs Forest families formed the club to give their children somewhere to play. They called it the Belrose Junior Rugby Football Club — three teams, $2 membership, borrowed fields at Lionel Watts Oval shared with the rugby league competition next door.
Within a year, they renamed it Wakehurst Rugby Club — removing "Junior" so senior teams could be fielded, and removing "Belrose" so the club could serve the whole Northern Beaches community. By the second season, 130 boys were registered.
In 1970, President John Mackaness wrote to Warringah Shire Council seeking a lease over six acres of Crown Land at Forest Way and Waldon Road. The land was an overgrown hillside, infested with noxious weeds, notified for public recreation since 1950 but never developed. After five years of negotiations, the lease was signed on 1 August 1975.
What followed was one of the most extraordinary volunteer projects on the Northern Beaches. Over 140,000 cubic yards of fill were moved, drained, compacted and seeded by club members — weekend after weekend, for nearly a decade. Wakehurst Rugby Park opened in 1983. It did not cost the council or ratepayers a single cent.
The two-storey clubhouse — built with personal bank guarantees from five committee members, a hard-won $27,630 government grant, and an enormous volume of donated labour — was officially opened on 13 October 1985 by the State Minister and Sir Nicholas Shehadie, President of the Australian Rugby Union. The upstairs room is named the Mike Harley Room in honour of Michael Harley's leadership through the build.
The Ones Who Built It
Every great club has people who gave more than anyone could reasonably expect.
John Mackaness
Club President who initiated the Crown Land lease negotiations in 1970, writing the first letter to Warringah Council that set the next decade in motion.
John Reed
President through the tortuous Council negotiations. Drove the lease to its 1975 conclusion through years of correspondence and dogged persistence.
Michael Harley
Led the clubhouse build. Provided a personal bank guarantee of $4,000 alongside four other committee members to finance construction. The upstairs room bears his name.
Cr Julie Sutton
Warringah Councillor from 1980 and eventual Mayor. Instrumental in securing government support for the club — secured a $70,000 ex-gratia windfall that funded drainage and lighting.
Maurice Robinson
Life member and plumber who designed and personally installed five kilometres of drainage pipe in 1999 — saving the club $40,000 over contractor quotes.
Noel Martin
Life member and club historian who documented sixty years of volunteer effort so it would never be forgotten. His foreword for the club history is one of the finest things written about community sport.
Club Timeline
Key moments from six decades of rugby in Belrose.
Founded as Belrose Junior Rugby Football Club by local families in Belrose and Frenchs Forest. Three teams. Membership fee: $2 per season. Played at Lionel Watts Oval and Bambara Oval, shared with Belrose Rugby League.
Renamed Wakehurst Rugby Club — removing 'Junior' to allow senior teams, and 'Belrose' to prevent localisation. Membership doubles to 130 boys in the second year.
President John Mackaness writes to Warringah Shire Council seeking a lease over six acres of Crown Land at Forest Way and Waldon Road — then an overgrown, weed-choked hillside.
Premierships in Under 8, Under 9A, Under 12A (sixth consecutive) and Under 13A. Club wins the Thomas Shield as best club in Warringah Junior Rugby Union.
Club incorporated as Wakehurst Rugby Club Limited. After five years of negotiation, the 20-year Crown lease signed 1 August. Ground construction begins — over 140,000 cubic yards of fill coordinated entirely by volunteers.
First Annual General Meeting as an incorporated company, 4 November. Site cleared; fence and gates erected. Fill operations begin in earnest.
First ground seeded. October — the field takes shape for the first time after seven years of earthworks and volunteer effort.
Wakehurst Rugby Park officially opens for the season. One full-sized oval and two mini fields — built entirely by community volunteers, at no cost to Council or ratepayers.
After four consecutive rejected grant applications, the NSW Government approves $27,630 for Stage 1 of the amenities building. Foundation stone laid 16 September by Cr Paul Couvret, Warringah Shire Council.
Clubhouse officially opened 13 October by the Hon. Michael Cleary (State Minister) and Sir Nicholas Shehadie OBE (President, Australian Rugby Union). The Mike Harley Room is named in honour of Michael Harley's leadership in the build. First match on opening day: Wakehurst Under 9s v Newport — Wakehurst won.
Aussat Pty Limited (satellite company in Belrose) donates $2,000 for the club's first proper goal posts.
25th Anniversary celebrated in the clubhouse. Packed attendance — a gathering of every generation that had worn the Wakehurst jersey.
Subbies win the Walker Cup. Cr Julie Sutton, who had championed the club's interests on Council for 15 years, recognised as a driving force behind the ground's development.
Drainage system designed and installed by life member Maurice Robinson — five kilometres of ag-pipe, saving ~$40,000 over contractor quotes. Floodlighting system designed by Don Miller and installed, enabling Friday night football. Combined savings: $40,000.
Clubhouse interior renovation funded by Terrey Hills Golf Club fundraisers. Kitchen donated and installed at zero cost by Rawson Homes. New furniture, carpet, and fresh coat of paint throughout.
Council development application approved. Department of Sport grant secured. Concrete apron and driveway completed.
Ground levelled and re-turfed during off-season — $60,000 Department of Sport & Recreation grant. Best playing surface in the club's history.
Forest Way end reclaimed — local earthmover provides machinery and labour. Playing area extended for younger age groups.
Boundary fencing completed around the full perimeter of Wakehurst Rugby Park.
The Village Hub — a 24m timber-framed social terrace — built on the home sideline by community partners. 60th Anniversary season. The best chapters are still being written.
The Story Continues
As the club approaches its 60th anniversary, Wakehurst Rugby continues to grow — serving hundreds of families across Belrose, Frenchs Forest, Davidson and beyond. The best chapters are still being written.
Life Members
Awarded for extraordinary and sustained service to Wakehurst Rugby Club. As at 31 December 2021.
The Photo Archive
We're digitising 60 years of photos — match days, presentation nights, club legends, and moments that made Wakehurst what it is. Every image will be searchable by player name, year, and team.
Find every photo you're in across 6 decades
Explore any season from 1966 to today
Recognise someone? Help build the archive
Were You a Wakehurst Player?
Past players, coaches and committee members — we'd love to hear from you. Share your memories, photos, and help us tell the full story of 60 years of Wakehurst Rugby.