Behind the downfall of trendy Melbourne 'gym to the stars'
EXCLUSIVE: Inside the downfall of Australia’s ‘gym to the stars’: Personal trainer behind the trendy ‘Cremorne Club’ opens up on shock collapse – as he reveals his next move with celebrity clients
- Trendy gym collapsed last month
- Former director broke his silence
- Do you know more? Email [email protected]
The former boss of Melbourne’s ‘gym to the stars’ has broken his silence – hitting out at the environment of his old business and revealing why he thinks it went bust.
Until last month personal trainer Andy Brand ran the Cremorne Club gym in Richmond in Melbourne’s inner-city, which was founded in 2021.
His clients included swimwear entrepreneur Erin Deering and Bondi Sands tanning products founder Shaun Wilson, along with models Tess Shanahan and Lulu Liberman, and Real Housewife of Melbourne star Lydia Schiavello.
The boutique gym, which charged premium clients $430-a-month, suddenly went into liquidation last month with few words of explanation.
But Mr Brand told Daily Mail Australia he has moved on, revealing he is striking out as an independent celebrity trainer.
The buff 44-year-old has also opened up about the gym’s chaotic final days, saying it ‘feels so good to be free’.
Until last month personal trainer Andy Brand (pictured at the gym) ran the Cremorne Club gym in Richmond in Melbourne’s inner-city, which was founded in 2021
Mr Brand (pictured with wife Renee) told Daily Mail Australia he has moved on, revealing he is striking out as an independent celebrity trainer
Mr Brand claimed there were broader challenges facing the business which he wasn’t made aware of prior to the gym’s collapse.
‘I was given full control of the business 10 days leading up to liquidation. I wasn’t in control before that,’ he explained.
‘Ultimately I got thrown under the bus’.
Mr Brand explained there were three partners behind the Cremorne Club business including himself, a colleague who ran the finances, and the building’s landlord.
‘There was a non-compete clause in my contract meaning I can’t contact my clients, the Cremorne Club members or work within 3km of the business,’ he explained.
‘Many have made contact and followed me… The Cremorne Club wouldn’t be the Cremorne Club without me.’
Bondi Sands tanning products founder Shaun Wilson (left) with former Cremorne Club Director Andy Brand (centre)
Former director and personal trainer Andy Brand told his Instagram followers it was ‘good to be free’
The Cremorne Club was once a celebrity hotspot before going bankrupt
Model Lulu Liberman gets active at the Cremorne Club gym, which has gone bust
Model Tess Shanahan was of the high-profile members of the Cremorne Club gym in Melbourne
Mr Brand declined to elaborate on which high profile clients have continued training with him.
Last month Cremorne Club members began receiving messages their memberships had been voided as the business plunged into receivership.
The exclusive facility advertised itself as ’boutique health club that provides a premium service’, providing gym-goers with towels, pre-workout drinks on arrival and protein shakes after their sessions.
The club had become known as the go-to training hub for Melbourne’s rich and famous, with the likes of Survivor star and real estate agent Fraser Lack and retired NRL legend Nate Myles, Rich Lister Deering and Wilson all training under Mr Brand.
The website for the Cremorne Club is now inactive with the content replaced by a message reading: ‘website coming soon’.
However, the company website still lists Mr Brand’s personal number as the sole point of contact in acquiring a membership at the gym.
Daily Mail Australia understands shopfitters Hector Ktori and John Theodoulou of K and K industries, who own the Cremorne building where the gym operates, are now in control of the business.
Millionaire swimwear entrepreneur co-founder of Triangl Erin Deering (centre) with Fraser Lack (right) at the Cremorne Club
On May 17, after a second meeting of creditors, corporate watchdog ASIC said the Cremorne Club was in liquidation and will be wound up.
The business went into administration on April 11.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Ktori, Mr Theodoulou and the third partner for comment.
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