Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden

The Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden stands as a versatile hub in the heart of Phillip, Australian Capital Territory, where modern casual dining meets a long-standing community spirit. Established as part of the larger not-for-profit Canberra Southern Cross Club group in 1972, the Woden venue has evolved into a go-to destination for families, friends, and colleagues seeking everything from a hearty meal and live entertainment to dedicated event spaces. Located at 92-96 Corinna Street, it offers a relaxed, contemporary setting that equally welcomes a casual weeknight dinner, a celebratory function, or a relaxed weekend catch-up over woodfired pizza.

As a membership-based club, the Woden venue prioritises value and experience, reflected in its diverse food and drink offerings, family-friendly amenities, and a packed calendar of promotions and entertainment. The club operates with a clear set of values centred on community, service excellence, commitment, and a collaborative culture. It is part of a proud network of five licensed premises that collectively employ over 600 people and serve more than 80,000 members across the Canberra region. Whether you are a long-time member or a first-time guest signed in by a friend, the club aims to create good times and good memories, a philosophy embedded in its community-centric model that has returned over $14 million to local organisations in the past decade alone.

Menu Highlights at Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden

Dining at the Woden venue is not a single experience but a choice of distinct spaces, each with its own menu and atmosphere. The Woden Central Clubhouse & Bar anchors the venue with a casual dining menu centred around woodfired pizza and a gourmet burger range that has earned regular praise from guests. The space itself is designed for comfort and connection, featuring cosy couches around a fireplace, raised bench seating, and plenty of large screens for sports enthusiasts. Wine on tap and craft beers complement the menu, and the beverage list has been curated to offer excellent value, particularly for members who enjoy discounted pricing. Breakfast is available from 8:45am to 11am daily, with lunch and dinner service running from 11am until 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights, and until 9pm Sunday through Thursday.

For families, Henry's Family Restaurant is a stand-out feature that sets the venue apart from typical club dining. The children's play area is visible from the dining space, allowing parents to relax and enjoy their meal while keeping an eye on little ones. The Henry's menu carefully balances healthy, nutritionally balanced meals with tasty treats and thoughtfully caters to a range of allergies and intolerances. This inclusive approach means families dealing with dietary restrictions can dine out with confidence. For older kids, an array of arcade games provides additional entertainment, making the whole experience feel like a genuine family outing rather than simply a meal. Henry's serves every day from 11am until 8:45pm, making it a reliable option for early dinners with young children or casual weekend lunches.

Those seeking a more formal or intimate dining experience gravitate to The Patio, which has been thoughtfully designed to provide a distinct upgrade in atmosphere. With lush greenery creating natural partitions, cosy nooks, booth seating, and full table service during the evening, The Patio delivers a dining experience that feels special without being overly formal. The kitchens operate for lunch and dinner, with a specific set menu available for dinner that showcases seasonal ingredients and more refined dishes. Operating hours mirror the Clubhouse, with service from 11am to 10pm on Friday and Saturday, and 11am to 9pm Sunday through Thursday. Other dining options include the Woden Central Café, a convenient and welcoming spot offering sandwiches, tarts, flans, cheesecakes, tortes, gelati, ice cream, and barista-made coffee from 8:45am to 9pm daily. It is perfect for a quick bite between appointments, a sweet afternoon treat, or a lovely finish to a meal in one of the other dining areas.

Entertainment and Events Calendar

The club's atmosphere is frequently described by guests as lively yet cosy, a balance that appeals to a broad demographic. The Clubhouse hums with sports fans and casual diners, Henry's buzzes with family energy, and The Patio provides a quieter, more refined setting. This thoughtful segmentation of spaces ensures the venue adapts effortlessly to different occasions throughout the day and week, accommodating everyone from a solo coffee drinker in the morning to a large group celebrating a milestone birthday at night.

Beyond dining, Woden is a genuine entertainment venue with a calendar that rivals dedicated live music halls and event spaces. The program includes regular trivia nights, themed dining events such as the ever-popular Indian Buffet nights, and headline live music acts. The venue has hosted major Australian artists including The Angels and Casey Donovan, with Donovan bringing her Massive 2026 National Tour "THIS IS ME" to the Woden stage. For families, kids' entertainment is a priority, with events like The Magical World of Crazy Science running across multiple dates during school holiday periods. Monday night bingo is a staple that draws a loyal crowd, and Ladies Day Luncheons scheduled for June 2026 offer another example of the diverse, targeted programming that keeps different segments of the community engaged. Regular promotions, giveaways including a Suzuki Swift Sport and a trip to Japan (running at the broader club level), and meat raffles at sister venues demonstrate a group-wide commitment to delivering value and excitement to members.

Function Spaces and Event Hosting

The Woden venue houses an impressive array of function spaces that cater to events of all scales, from intimate board meetings to grand wedding receptions. The Corinna Ballroom is the flagship space, an immense pillarless room that lends itself to spectacular setups. It features a concert stage with a separate audio-visual room and a green room, making it suitable for large productions, gala dinners, and wedding receptions of significant scale. Adjacent to this are Corinna 1 and Corinna 2, the largest and second-largest ballroom spaces respectively, with Corinna 2 enjoying private bar facilities. For smaller gatherings, Corinna 3 provides a light, spacious, and distraction-free environment perfect for team building days, staff meetings, or board sessions, while Corinna 4 offers an intimate setting seating up to 20 people for meetings, interviews, or small private events.

For those requiring a sophisticated setting for corporate functions, the recently renovated Executive Boardroom delivers a professional yet stylish environment for important meetings. The Orion Room is another elegant option, flooded with natural light and complete with its own private bar, making it versatile for both daytime workshops and evening cocktail events. The Top of the Cross space has been newly renovated with warm timber finishes and a neutral palette, creating a character-filled room that adapts beautifully to social celebrations. The Private Dining Room offers an elegant option for more intimate meals, with the ability to open onto the Top of the Cross space for larger flows. Collectively, these spaces serve weddings, conferences, kids' parties, celebrations of life, special occasions, and graduations. The venue also offers external catering services, extending its hospitality beyond the club walls, and a dedicated events team is available to coordinate every detail from initial planning through to execution.

Community Commitment and Values

As a not-for-profit organisation that opened its doors in August 1972, the Canberra Southern Cross Club has a deeply embedded philosophy of giving back. Over the past decade, the group has contributed over $14 million to the Canberra community across a multitude of organisations. In the current financial year alone, the club will provide sporting clubs, social clubs, and community groups with over $1.3 million in funding, a figure that exceeds the required community contribution amount and demonstrates a genuine commitment that goes beyond mere obligation. The club proudly supports initiatives like Cans for Cancer Relief and maintains a Community Rewards Program that has spotlighted groups including the Louisa Domestic Violence Service, Canberra Harmony Chorus, Koala Playschool, and the Australian Breastfeeding Association, among many others.

The club's vision is built around being trusted for excellence, care, and a progressive mindset. Its stated values form the "CSCC Way," a framework that prioritises community by caring for people and the environment; service by striving for excellence and creating good times and good memories; commitment through accountability, integrity, and respect; and culture through collaboration, compassion, and inclusion. These values are not merely words on a page—they are reflected in employment of over 600 people across the group, in the operation of health and wellness initiatives including Anytime Fitness franchises and the Stellar Canberra centre, and in the respectful acknowledgement of the Ngunnawal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the club stands. The club also maintains a strong reciprocal clubs network, allowing members to access similar venues across Australia.

Practical Information, Hours and Location

Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden is centrally located at 92-96 Corinna Street, Phillip ACT 2606, right in the heart of the Woden Valley. The venue is easily accessible by car and public transport, with parking available Monday to Sunday from 8am to 8pm. Parking for up to two hours is free, and stays exceeding two hours are also free provided a minimum spend of $10 is met within the club. If the minimum spend is not met, a parking fee of $20 applies, and validation of the ticket with proof of spend can be completed at reception. This parking model makes it practical for both quick coffee stops and extended evening visits.

The club operates with generous hours, opening every day from 9:00am until 4:00am, a schedule that accommodates early breakfasts through to late-night entertainment. The main dining kitchens generally run from breakfast at 8:45am through to 9pm or 10pm depending on the day and venue, while bar service and some facilities continue into the early morning. Henry's Family Restaurant operates from 11am to 8:45pm daily, and the Woden Central Café is available from 8:45am to 9pm every day, bridging the gap for those who want a lighter offering outside main meal service hours. As a membership-based club, all ACT residents must be a member or be signed in by a member to dine and use facilities. Membership unlocks significant value, including discounted food and beverage prices, access to Star Rewards, and the ability to sign in guests. The club encourages reservations for dining, and bookings can be made via the website or by calling 02 6283 7200. Email inquiries are welcomed at reception.woden@cscc.com.au. With a dress code in place and a responsible service of alcohol policy strictly upheld, the venue maintains a welcoming and safe environment for all patrons. The club is also transparent about its gaming statement and policies, with all relevant information available on the website.

Why Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden Stands Out

What truly distinguishes this venue from other clubs and family restaurants in Canberra is the seamless integration of multiple dining concepts, genuine entertainment, and community purpose under one roof. Guests frequently comment on the range of experiences available within a single visit—perhaps starting with a barista-made coffee and pastry at the café, moving into Henry's for a family meal where the kids are happily occupied, and then settling into the Clubhouse for live music or a trivia session. The recent renovations and ongoing investment in spaces like The Patio and the Clubhouse demonstrate a management team that listens to member feedback and continually improves facilities.

Reviews from the community consistently highlight the fantastic food, generous portions, and warm service. One recent guest noted the "fantastic" restaurant food and very generous kids' meals, while another praised the "delicious" Portuguese octopus and date pudding. A third reviewer described the experience as "really lovely," appreciating the "great atmosphere—lively, yet still cosy enough to lean back, relax," and specifically commending the friendly service. Long-time members often point to the exceptional value offered on food and beverages, particularly the burger range and craft beers when purchased with a membership discount. The club's responsiveness to feedback, evidenced by management replies to online reviews thanking guests and taking comments on board, reinforces a culture of continuous improvement.

For families, the combination of a visible children's play area, allergy-aware menus, arcade games, and dedicated kids' entertainment events makes the Woden venue a rare find that genuinely caters to parents and children simultaneously. For couples and groups of friends, the range of dining environments means a casual pizza night can easily become a more formal Patio dinner on a whim, without leaving the building. For the community, the club's not-for-profit status and multi-million-dollar contribution record mean that every meal, drink, or function booking directly supports local sporting clubs, social groups, and charitable organisations. This virtuous circle—where patronage fuels community grants—creates a compelling reason for Canberrans to choose Southern Cross Club Woden as their regular meeting place.

The events program further elevates the experience, turning what could be a simple dining venue into a destination for national touring acts, themed culinary evenings, and regular social fixtures like bingo and trivia. The availability of sophisticated function spaces, supported by a professional events team and external catering capability, positions the club as a serious player in the Canberra events market alongside dedicated conference centres and hotels, but with the added warmth and personality of a member-owned institution. In an era where consumers increasingly seek experiences over transactions, Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden delivers layers of experience that reward repeat visits and foster genuine loyalty. Whether you are seeking a quick lunch, a family dinner, a night of live music, or a venue for a landmark celebration, this Phillip institution continues to deliver on its founding promise of creating good times and good memories for the Canberra community.