Virgin Active Bondi Westfield exterior signage at sunset, highlighting the entrance to the new Social Wellness Club inside Westfield Bondi Junction.

Virgin Active Bondi Westfield Evacuated After Roof Collapse

On Wednesday, 27 August 2025, Virgin Active’s new Social Wellness Club at Westfield Bondi Junction was evacuated after part of the roof collapsed.

What Happened

According to reports from the Daily Telegraph, and other sources, a water leak from a spa on the level above caused a partial roof collapse. Witnesses described “black water” pouring through the ceiling and said the scene quickly turned chaotic, with some members screaming as the water spread.

The gym was immediately evacuated, and no serious injuries have been reported. Members waited outside and in nearby cafés until they were able to collect their belongings. The area remains cordoned off while building teams investigate.

However, Fire and Rescue NSW later clarified to 9News that the incident was not a structural collapse. Superintendent Adam Dewberry explained:

"There's no structural collapse. It's the false ceiling or the cosmetic ceiling, the light panels that just cover the structure and the services such as water pipes, electricity, air conditioning ducts. So to speak, it's not a roof or ceiling collapse."

He added that what appeared to collapse was purely cosmetic and posed no danger to the building’s structural integrity:

"The ceiling that collapses is just literally just the cosmetic lightweight construction that is used to cover the essential services and the structure itself. It is all concrete, so it's not any danger to anyone."

Emergency services confirmed there was some damage but no reports of injuries to staff or patrons. Crews were released from the scene by 11.15am. Source: 9News

Virgin Active Responds (12:00pm 27 August)

Virgin Active Australia issued the following statement to members:

''IMPORTANT UPDATE

Dear members,

Bondi Westfield temporarily closed due to flooding.

The safety of our members and team is our top priority.

We’ll share an update on the reopening of the club as soon as possible.

We understand this may be frustrating and truly appreciate your patience while we work quickly to get the club open.

The Virgin Active Team.''

Further Update (6:16pm 27 August) — Re-opening

Virgin Active has confirmed that Bondi Westfield will reopen tomorrow, Thursday 28 August at 5:30am.

However, the wet recovery area — including the Spa, Cold Plunge, Heated Recovery Slab, and both Traditional and Infrared Saunas — will remain closed for repairs. All other areas of the club and classes will resume as normal.

Virgin Active has said it will provide further updates as more information becomes available.

Behind the Scenes: Engineering & Design

This was no ordinary gym build. Transforming 2,500 sqm inside Westfield Bondi Junction into Virgin Active’s Social Wellness Club required a major reimagining of the existing retail space. The redevelopment involved extensive planning and design to integrate premium wellness facilities — from spa and pool areas to fitness zones, recovery suites, and co-working lounges — all within a single, purpose-built environment.

This background highlights the scale and ambition of the project, which reshaped a conventional shopping centre footprint into a flagship destination for next-generation wellness.

About the Club

The Bondi Westfield location is Virgin Active’s newest flagship and the first Social Wellness Club of its kind globally. Opened in early August 2025, the 2,500 sqm space was designed as a luxury all-in-one destination — a place where fitness, recovery, work, and community converge.

Highlights include:

Infrared Sauna + Finnish Sauna — Detox, unwind, or just sweat like you mean it.
Cold Plunge Pool + Hydrotherapy Spa — Perfect after leg day. Or life.
Heated Recovery Slab — Lie down, switch off, melt.
Semi-Private Recovery Suite — Normatec compression boots, trigger point guns, all the gadgets — minus the sterile vibes.
Hyperice Percussive Therapy — Self-guided treatment for muscle tightness and tension release.
BodiTrax Scanning — Tracks fat mass, lean muscle, water levels, and metabolic age.
Reformer Pilates Tower — An evolved take on the classic bed.
Group Fitness Classes — From Lift Club and Yoga Flow to HIIT, Boxing, Cycle and Sound Bath.
State-of-the-art Gym Floor — World-class equipment with intelligent programming.
Luxury Change Rooms — Spa-grade amenities, flattering lighting.
Ü Health Café — Seasonal meals and smoothies.
Coworking Lounge — WiFi, desks, and ambiance to skip the office altogether.

The concept reflects a growing shift in the fitness industry towards integrated wellbeing spaces that go beyond workouts to offer full-body recovery and lifestyle balance.

What’s Next

At this stage, investigators are assessing the cause of the leak and the extent of damage. Virgin Active and Westfield are expected to release statements soon with updates on reopening.

For now, members are encouraged to keep an eye on Virgin Active’s official channels for the latest information.

BioHax Wellness will continue following the story and sharing official updates as they are released.

Article originally published: 27 August 2025, by Editor