About us
Welcome to the award winning Buckleys, located at 54 Fellmongers Road Breakwater, Geelong.
We are proud of our Club and the welcoming environment created amongst all our Members, Guests and Staff.
Our renovated facilities are among the best in the region and feature stylish furnishings, exciting colours and comfortable decor.
Our facilities include three bars, a bistro, alfresco dining, a fully equipped function room seating 300 guests, conference rooms, children’s room, TAB and ample car parking.
Buckleys is known for hosting great Functions, Weddings, Seminars, providing tasty food & friendly service.
Buckleys RSG Code of Conduct
History
Opening in October 1993, Buckleys in Breakwater Geelong has grown into one of the largest and most popular Clubs in Victoria.
Situated in Breakwater about 5 minutes from the city centre, Buckleys was developed to assist local football leagues and football clubs. Buckleys opened with a 140 seat Bistro, TAB., Bar Lounge and a Gaming Room. Through a large Membership base, a friendly ‘Club‘ atmosphere and diverse marketing strategies, Buckleys soon became the entertainment hub in Geelong with staff levels growing from 20 people in 1993 to over 90 currently.
Buckleys official name is The Geelong Combined Leagues Club Ltd. as it is proudly owned by the three local football leagues - Geelong Football League (GFL), Bellarine Football League (BFL), and Geelong & District Football League (GDFL) as well as the Geelong Football Umpires League (GFUL).
Buckleys is able to distribute money each year to the 38 local clubs, based on the success of our business. As well as additional sponsorship each year to the 3 leagues and junior football.
Buckleys also prides itself on assisting various Community groups, charities, sporting clubs and donating goods and services to many local schools and businesses.
Buckley’s was built as an entertainment and dining Club and has developed into a real success story in the region. From small beginnings the Club has added a 300 seat auditorium in 1997, with more renovations in late 2004 extending the Club further ahead of its competition. From 2009-2016 the Club underwent even more renovations and transformations, with the inclusion of another alfresco dining area, renovations to our entrance and reception area as well as other facilities such as the toilets. In June 2016 Buckleys introduced a new Private Dining area in addition to our Bistro, complete with private booth seating and touch screen TV's. Also included is a private party area seating up to 22 people, perfect for special occasions and Birthday Diners.
Uncle Buck's Ice-Creamery was a game changer, and added something extra to Buckleys that isn't available at other venues within the area. During the lockdown period in 2020 Buckleys did a full refurbishment of the main bar, gaming bar, gaming lounge and foyer. The huge projector of creating Uncle Buck's Play Parlour was also completed, adding yet another significant and well built/designed feature for locals and visitors to enjoy!
Buckleys prides itself on its continuing improvements and innovations of what is already a great Club, so that both members and visitors have a comfortable and modern venue that they too can feel proud of.
In 2013 Buckleys ventured out and purchased a 61 room motel in Warrnambool, the Mid City Motel Warrnambool. With extensive renovations and refurbishment made to all rooms, bar and restaurant area as well as reception, the motel has been transformed into a modem day stylish organisation. This was part of the Buckleys Group portfolio until late 2018 when it was sold to make available other growth opportunities.
Community
June 2011
Local Football Clubs and Umpires are now equipped to save lives in the event of a cardiac arrest, thanks to a commitment worth more than $ 100,000.00 by Buckley's Entertainment Centre.
Buckleys distributed 38 live-saving defibrillator machines at a special function on June 30 in partnership with the "Defib Your Club For Life" campaign, which aims to place a defibrillator at every local sporting club in Victoria.
Chairman of Directors Dick Philpott said; Buckleys, which is owned by the local football clubs and umpires association, was thrilled to join the campaign which was in line with its commitment to give back to local sporting clubs. "We are proud we have taken the initiative: he said.
Every year young footballers and/or spectators succumbed to heart problems. Buckleys donation means, there is now a defibrillator at each of the Geelong region's 36 football clubs, as well as one at the Geelong Umpires League and two at Buckley's Entertainment Centre in Breakwater.
June 2011
Buckley's Entertainment Centre chairman Robert Foster announced a $ 2,500.00 handout to all local football clubs and umpires - 35 handouts in all. That's $70.000.00 injected into our great game of football at this level. Buckleys this year so far has now put more than $140,000.00 into local football, and it doesn't stop there. 'We have also put more than $20,000.00 into local community needs through sponsorship,' Mr. Foster said." This is on top of the $1 Million the Centre has spent in upgrading and renovating the venue for the betterment of the public and those who use it.'
Buckleys is well known for the support and sponsorship the club provides throughout the Geelong and Bellarine Regions.
For some years running, Buckleys has become a major sponsor of 'Relay For Life', a community based 24 hour walkathon, raising much needed funds for cancer research.
In addition to this, Buckleys list of clubs and organisations to which support and sponsorship is provided are as follows:
Educational Organisations
Leopold Primary School, Gordon Institute of Tafe, Grovedale East Kindergarten, Newcomb Park Primary School, Grovedale College, Corio West Primary School, Tate Street Primary School, Inverleigh Primary School, Breakwater Preschool, City Learning and Care, St Mary's Primary School, Thomson Kindergarten, Ocean Grove Primary School, Christ The King School, Teesdale Primary School, Fyans Park Primary School, Moriac Primary School, Clairvaux Catholic School, Barwon Heads Primary School, Little River Playgroup, Portarlington Primary School, Whittington Primary School, Grovedale Primary School, Fyans Park Kindergarten, Oberon Primary School, Belmont Community Kindergarten, Ukrainian Community School.
Football and Crickets Clubs
Newcomb Football Club, Ocean Grove Football Club, Newtown Football Club, Geelong Amateurs Football Club, Anglesea Football Club, Barwon Heads Football Club, Drysdale Football Club, Modewarre Football Club, Portarlington Football Club, Queenscliff Football Club, Torquay Football Club, Anakie Football Club, Bannockburn Football Club, Belmont Lions Football Club, Bell Post Hill Football Club, Corio Sports Club, East Geelong Football Club, Geelong West Sporting Club, North Geelong Football Club, Thomson Football Club, Inverleigh Football Club, Werribee Football Club, Winchelsea Football Club, Bell Park Football Club, Colac Football Club, Geelong West St Peters Football Club, Grovedale Football Club, South Barwon Football Club, St Mary's Football Club, North Shore Football Club, Lara Football Club, Leopold Football Club, St Albans Football Club, St Josephs Football Club, Geelong & District Football League, Football Geelong BFL & GFL, Geelong Football Umpires League Inc, Geelong Junior Football, Geelong & District Coaches Association, Geelong Falcons, Geelong Auskick,...
Other Clubs & Organisations
Bellarine & District Netball Association, Parish of Newcomb/Whittington, Express Promotions, Knights of Southern Cross, Bluey Day, Quota International, Retired Police Association, Bareena Bowling Club, Geelong Caravan Club, Whittington Senior Citizens Club, Barwon Police and Patrons Golf, Belmont Probus, Bone Marrow Donor Institution, New Century Lions Club, Barwon Pediatric Bereavement Program, Grace McKellar Centre, Geelong Athletics, Geelong Senior Citizens, Barwon Health, Newcomb Tennis Club, St. Mary's Parish, City of Greater Geelong, Leopold Lions Club, Corio Bay Lions Club, Geelong & District Riding Club, Geelong Flyers Netball, CFA Firefighters, Geelong Calisthenics Club, Belmont Combined Probus.
Awards
Our hard work and attention to detail has been recognized with receiving the following awards.
2019/2020 Club Manager of the Year - Michael Tonks
2019/2020 Best Club Refurbishment
2018 Best Hospitality Team
2018 Best Regional Club with Gaming
2018 Finalist - Best Bistro
2018 Finalist - Best Family Club
2017 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner - The Chairman's Award of Excellence for Uncle Buck’s Ice-Creamery.
2016 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner - Best Regional Club of the Year
2016 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner - Best Family Club
2016 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner - Assistant Manager of the Year - Zoe Symons
2015 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner- Best Regional Family Club
2015 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner - Best Keno Club
2014 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner- Best Club Function Room
2014 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner - Best Large Club
2013 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner - Club of the Year
2013 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner - Best Club Website
2012 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner - Best Club Website
2012 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner - Best Regional Club Bistro
2012 Community Clubs Association of Victoria
Winner - Best Family Club
Congratulations to Michael & Paul for winning the 2011 CMA Australia Awards!
2011 Clubs Victoria
Winner - Best Redeveloped Club
2011 Club Manager Association Australia
Community Club Manager of the Year - Michael Tonks
2011 Club Manager Association Australia
Assistant Manager of the Year - Paul Kelly
2009 Entertainment Book
Finalist - Best Family Dining
2008 Clubs Managers Association
Finalist - Club Manager of the Year
2007 Tabcorp
Winner - Regional Clubs Category A
2007 Clubs Managers Association
Winner - Club Manager of the Year
2007 Clubs Victoria
Winner - Best Presented Beer
2006 Clubs Managers Association
Finalist - Club Manager of the Year
2005 Clubs Victoria
Winner - Best Gaming Venue
Having a great Function, Wedding or Seminar?
Call our reception team on +61 3 5248 4866