With a location overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the southern end of Bondi Beach, the Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club is one of Australia’s most iconic venues.
A major multi‑stage renovation has seen the club and function spaces relaunched under a new identity – The Bergs.
Designed to support a broader mix of hospitality, events and live entertainment, the revitalised venue pairs upgraded interiors with a flexible AV system.
Delivered by integrator Showtime Production Services and MadisonAV, the system is rooted in Harman Professional’s JBL Professional, Crown and BSS solutions.
The Bergs was conceived as a venue capable of rapid changeovers and parallel programming, hosting events with entirely different technical requirements year‑round.
The upgrade has introduces new bars, expanded dining areas, upgraded amenities and dedicated function rooms, all supported by an AV infrastructure designed to adapt as programming demands evolve.
‘Running multiple functions’
Cassie O’Brien, general manager of Bondi Icebergs, says: “On a typical Friday or Saturday, we’re turning over spaces every couple of hours while running multiple functions.
“One area might be general trade with sport and background music, another a private function with images streamed to screens, and elsewhere a live band is performing. The upgrade allows us to create very different experiences within one venue.”
‘Flexible and intuitive’
The brief prioritised future‑proofing, operational simplicity and long‑term reliability. Scott Masters, director at Showtime Production Services, says: “The AV system needed to be flexible, intuitive for staff and designed so that the venue can expand or adapt without major rework. MadisonAV played a key role in helping us align the right technology to that goal.”
At the core of the installation is a distributed, multi-zone audio architecture built around BSS BLU signal processors, providing centralised control and flexible routing across all zones. This allows staff to isolate or combine spaces as needed.
JBL Control Series loudspeakers are deployed throughout the property to match the acoustic requirements of each space.
The reception and dining areas feature JBL Control 424 in-ceiling loudspeakers for consistent, low-profile coverage, while JBL Control 25AV surface-mount loudspeakers provide balanced audio across general zones.
In higher-energy areas, JBL Control 29AV loudspeakers deliver increased output, supported by a JBL ABS6112B subwoofer, which is used by DJs and for live performances to reinforce low-frequency response.
Amplification is provided by a combination of Crown CDi and CSA Series amplifiers, ensuring reliable power delivery and scalable performance across the multi-zone system.
Local audio inputs are routed through the BSS BLU-100 signal processor, allowing simple connections for background music, DJ set-ups or live sources, without adding operational complexity.
Nick Screen, vice-president and general manager of Harman Professional Solutions for the APAC region, says: “Modern hospitality venues need systems that deliver consistent sound quality across multiple zones while remaining easy to operate and robust enough for constant use.
“The JBL, Crown and BSS ecosystem used at Bondi Icebergs supports that balance, allowing venues to shift seamlessly between use cases without compromising the guest experience.”