Former Olympic swimmer Elka Whalan has shared how she balances fitness and recovery at the new Virgin Active Social Wellness Club inside Westfield Bondi Junction, praising the 2500 square metre facility for its recovery technology, Pilates classes and convenience for eastern suburbs families juggling work, children and training.
Whalan, who competed at the Sydney and Athens Olympics and now lives in the eastern suburbs with her husband Thomas Whalan, a former Olympic water polo player, and their four children, says the Bondi Junction facility allows her to combine shopping with workouts while accessing recovery tools she describes as unexpected inside a shopping centre. The club features an infrared sauna, cold plunge pool, heated marble recovery slab and hydrotherapy spa, alongside specialised Reformer Pilates Towers and Lift Club strength training classes.
The two-time Olympian, formerly known as Elka Graham before her marriage, has six Olympics appearances between her and her husband and describes recovery as just as important as exercise when raising four children while staying active and fit. She says the body needs the best engine, the best fuel and the best care possible, and the Bondi Junction facility delivers recovery technology she would not expect to find in a Westfield shopping centre.
Recovery Focus and Early Morning Classes
Whalan attends 5:30am classes at the Bondi Junction club, maintaining discipline and focus despite no longer training at Olympic level. She describes the flexibility of being able to work out hard while ensuring her body, brain and muscles recover properly as essential for keeping up with children and maintaining fitness around work and family commitments.
The Virgin Active Bondi Junction club opened on 24 July 2025 as the brand’s first Social Wellness Club globally, replacing the former David Jones Food Hall on Level 1 of Westfield Bondi Junction at 500 Oxford Street. The facility operates as an all-day luxury social wellness destination, combining fitness, recovery, nutrition and social experiences under one roof with membership including access to co-working spaces, a health food café and luxury changing rooms fitted with Grown Alchemist toiletries and Dyson hair styling tools.
The launch event, hosted by television presenter Laura Csortan, featured appearances by Bondi Rescue lifeguards Hoppo and Deano, actor and model Jodi Gordon, television presenter Sally Obermeder, and a message from Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson. Virgin Active Global CEO Dean Kowarski described the space as designed to meet the realities of modern life, bringing together movement, recovery, productivity and connection to address what he characterised as a loneliness pandemic by creating spaces where people can socialise, make friends and form real communities.
Eastern Suburbs Fitness Culture Attracts High-Profile Members
Bondi Beach and Sydney’s eastern suburbs have built a reputation around health and fitness, with elite athletes and recognisable personalities living and training in the area. The lifestyle continues to shape demand for premium training spaces in Bondi Junction.
Virgin Active Bondi Junction has drawn influencers, reality television figures and professional sportspeople with its central location and range of facilities. Members track muscle mass, hydration and body fat through body composition scanning, and train on TechnoGym’s Artis range and Eleiko strength equipment. Programs include Reformer Pilates Towers and Lift Club, a structured six-week strength training block led by coaches.
Recovery Facilities and Member Access
Recovery plays a key role in the club’s offering. Members use Finnish and infrared saunas, a cold plunge pool, hydrotherapy spa and a heated marble slab designed for stretching and relaxation. Semi-private suites provide access to percussion therapy devices and compression boots.
The club also includes a business lounge for members balancing work commitments and an on-site café serving post-workout meals. It operates Monday to Thursday from 5:30am to 10pm, 5:30am to 9pm on Fridays, and 6:30am to 7pm on weekends, with public holidays generally following weekend hours. Introductory membership starts at $99 per week, with access to both the new facility and Virgin Active’s existing Bondi Junction club on Bronte Road, which opened in December 2019. More information is available here.
Published 22-February-2026.
