The future of Talus Street tennis courts in Naremburn has been big news with several celebrities speaking up on the topic, now another well-known personality is in the mix…
The Talus St tennis courts have been part of Lower North Shore life for almost 50 years, with tennis established on the site in 1978.
Northern Suburbs Tennis Association (NSTA) has been the long-term leaseholder, while Love’n Deuce has operated the centre under arrangements with NSTA for more than 40 years, providing coaching, court hire, competitions and school holiday programs.
But all that is set to change at the end of this month.
The change follows a long-running dispute around the site’s lease and use, including a 2016 Supreme Court decision. An Aboriginal land claim was approved in 2022, with ownership transferring from the Crown to MLALC in July 2025.
Recently, news that the MLALC had served NSTA and Love’n Deuce with an eviction notice sent shockwaves throughout the community – and a petition to save them has garnered over 4,300 signatures in weeks.
“The news that Love’n Deuce will no longer provide its invaluable services after its scheduled eviction by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC) on 30th September 2026 is disheartening and deeply concerning for all who rely on the vibrant community hub it has created,” says Love’n Deuce.
A Star-Studded Affair
The battle for tennis to remain at the site has been notably supported by some well-known personalities such as former world No. 1 tennis player John Newcombe, former Today show host Steven Leibmann, TV journalist Ray Martin and radio host Ben Fordham.
Now the MLALC has selected a new provider for the site – Racquet Club, and somewhat bizarrely it’s owned and was founded by yet another celebrity, TV host and actor Darren McMullen.
Known as “Australia’s premier Padel and Pickleball destination” Racquet Club already has venues at Moore Park in Sydney, plus one in Canberra and one on the Gold Coast.
Darren tells us that Racquet Club plans to invest around $500,000 in the first stage at Talus St, including new furniture, flooring, decking and paint, plus a cafe and restaurant, ice baths, saunas and other upgrades.
Six of the existing eight courts will remain dedicated to tennis, while two will become four padel courts. There are also longer-term plans for pickleball courts on currently unused land, subject to approvals.
Darren is also talking with existing coaches about staying on and continuing their programs, saying the aim is to build on what already works.
“We want Racquet Club to be the place that people come with their families, they stay all day, they might have lunch, they go play some tennis, then they come back, they have dinner, maybe watch some of the nighttime tennis matches,” he says.
While Pickleball has already become incredibly popular on the North Shore, Padel is relatively new. It’s described as a combination of tennis and squash and is played on an enclosed court that is about one-third the size of a standard tennis court, surrounded by glass walls and metal mesh. Racquet Club describes both as “two of the fastest-growing, most addictive sports on the planet.”
A Sad Farewell to Love’n Deuce
For Love’n Deuce founder Paul Francis, the change has been difficult. Although there had been some discussions, he says he expected a formal tender process to determine the future operator and was shocked to receive an eviction notice.
He is still fighting to retain the operatorship and is concerned that converting two tennis courts could be the start of tennis being squeezed out of the site.
Love’n Deuce has been a significant part of the Lower North Shore sporting community for decades, and its departure will be felt by many regular players.
For NSTA president Wayne Pascoe, the priority is ensuring the association can continue its role supporting tennis across the Lower North Shore.
“Our charter is to provide, to support and build tennis in the Lower North Shore and to help people play tennis and help people experience the joy of tennis,” he says.
NSTA is expected to remain involved at Talus Street, although exactly what that will look like is still being worked through. Pascoe says financial viability as a not-for-profit volunteer organisation will be challenging.
“We’ve got to adapt, we’ve got to change, we’ve got to move forward, and we’ve got to be positive,” he says.
As it stands now, Racquet Club will be at Talus Street from October 1.
“I’ll be there all day, as will our whole team,” says Darren. “You can come down and you can talk to us face-to-face and we’ll answer any questions you have.”
Story: Elissa Bramley
