Dale Barnett, owner of Up Climbing, is one of the newest additions to the record books along William Street. The $1.5 million space, which opened just four weeks ago, features more than 500 square meters of climbing walls.
Mr Barnett said William Street was unique in Port Phillip as it was zoned for industrial use, making it an attractive location for gyms that needed large open spaces.
Fitness First will soon open its newest location on William Street. Credit: Joe Armao
“It’s kind of funny that we’re all on this street. I don’t think most streets in Melbourne can support six gyms, but if you have six unique gyms on a small street… “It doesn’t undermine it,” he said.
“I think this is a positive thing for us, all the other gyms are good from our perspective.
It brings young, active people to town, and people who go to Fitness First or Anytime Fitness will walk by and say, “Oh, climbing, that’s cool.” You can try that. ”
City of Port Phillip CEO Chris Carroll said fitness options along William Street added to the vibrancy of the area.
“As with other inner-Melbourne councils, there is an increasing demand for parking in this region. To ensure that as many people as possible have access to parking spaces, we are implementing parking restrictions and increasing turnover. “We also carry out regular enforcement patrols of residential permit areas to deter gym users from parking there,” he said.
Up Climbing is the newest bouldering gym to open in Melbourne. Credit: Joe Armao
With Balaclava Station nearby and tram options along Carlisle Street, a lack of parking is unlikely to hold back your health and wellness business. There appears to be synergy between William Street’s tenants, and Barnett said it’s all about creating a unique sense of community within each business.
“One of the things you might notice is how much space there is outside of the climbing wall. We made sure there was enough space, rather than cramming into the climbing wall, because people just gathered together. They don’t just come, climb as fast as they can and leave. They like to hang out for a couple of hours and have a coffee and chill with friends,” he says.
The team at Up Climbing want to provide bouldering space to serve the inner south following the recent closure of the Prahran boulder project, with remaining options primarily in Melbourne’s inner north. What’s on offer is a six-week trial for $19 a week with unlimited climbing and shoe rental.
“A lot of people climb once and that’s it. A six-week trial will mean people come back, try it a few times and realize there’s more depth to the sport.” said Barnett.
“For many gyms, the path to growth is to open more facilities. Since it’s our first time, we still have a lot to learn, such as finding space, but we want to make it a great space for our members. I’ll open a new gym, but I also have a lot of debt to pay off now.”
Hustle Wellness Club was one of the first gyms to open on William Street in 2020. Owner Ricky Smith said he was also attracted to the area because of the availability of industrial space.
Hustle has 450 square meters of 24-hour open floor space and also features dedicated group classrooms, two infrared saunas and a range of personal trainers. Smith said startup costs ranged from $800,000 to $1 million, and membership prices were higher than traditional franchise gym chains.
Levi Cox is one of six personal trainers working at Hustle Wellness Club. Credit: Joe Armao
“We’re a niche market and our target audience is different. I try to create a space for members and community, not just membership, and that’s what the big chains are pushing. That’s the thing,” he said.
Mr Smith said there was no shortage of options along William Street, but there was still a desire for more and Hussle was now looking elsewhere beyond its location. spoke.
“We’re probably looking at building another gym in Carnegie, maybe double the space or maybe a little bit bigger,” he said.
