Freedom Boat Club signs new Melbourne franchise

Freedom Boat Club has signed a new franchise agreement for Central Melbourne, with operations expected to begin before 1 December 2026. Announced on 14 October, the planned opening will extend the Brunswick Corporation business’s Australian presence through a membership model offering access to boats rather than boat ownership.

Three operators behind the Melbourne launch

Scott Page, Nic Armstrong and Rich Skilton will own and operate the new franchise. Freedom Boat Club describes the three as experienced boating enthusiasts and entrepreneurs who will introduce its membership offering to the Central Melbourne location.

The agreement is a confirmed step towards the opening, but the waterfront address is not yet settled. At the time of the announcement, final marina arrangements were still being completed. The proposed start before 1 December should therefore be understood as an expected operating date, rather than confirmation that the club is already welcoming members onto its boats.

For Australia’s franchise community, the announcement is a new leisure-service opening built around shared access to a fleet. The local owners will operate under an established international brand, with the Melbourne club also forming part of Freedom Boat Club’s reciprocal membership network.

Initial fleet spans cruising and fishing

The club’s initial fleet is expected to feature Sea Ray, Bayliner and Trophy boats. The models named in the announcement are the Sea Ray SPX 230, Bayliner 705 Weekender, Trophy 24 and Bayliner C21.

Freedom Boat Club says that mix will provide options for cruising, entertaining, watersports and fishing. It is a planned selection rather than a confirmed delivery list: the announcement describes the fleet as expected, and does not give a total number of boats for the Melbourne opening.

That distinction matters when assessing the scale of the launch. Four named models establish the intended range of boating options, but do not necessarily mean the club will open with exactly four vessels. The confirmed news is the franchise agreement and the proposed fleet line-up, with the marina arrangements still being finalised.

For prospective members, the eventual marina location and available fleet will be practical details to check as the opening approaches. Those details will help them assess whether the service suits the outings they have in mind.

Membership replaces individual ownership

The Melbourne operation will use Freedom Boat Club’s established membership-based approach. Under that model, members receive access to boats alongside training, maintenance, storage and support, rather than taking on those responsibilities through individual boat ownership.

The company says Melbourne members will have unlimited access to their local fleet and reciprocal access to hundreds of other Freedom Boat Club locations worldwide. Its network includes locations across North America, Europe and Australia, giving the planned Melbourne franchise a connection to boating destinations beyond its home market.

Founded in 1989, Freedom Boat Club is a business of Brunswick Corporation. The Melbourne announcement represents a further Australian expansion for that existing network, rather than the launch of a standalone boat-hire brand.

The distinction between membership and ownership is central to the offer. Customers are being offered access to a managed boating service, with the associated training and upkeep included within the model. Anyone considering joining should still confirm the membership terms and how local and reciprocal access work before committing.

What to watch before opening

The next practical milestones are completion of the marina arrangements and confirmation of when operations will begin. The expected fleet also remains an important part of the launch to follow, particularly for customers interested in specific boating activities.

For the franchise community, the opening offers a concrete example of an international membership brand expanding through locally owned operations. Its immediate focus is a single Central Melbourne club run by three named owners, not a newly announced national rollout.

Practical takeaway: Prospective members should check the final marina address, opening date, fleet availability and membership conditions directly with the club before making plans around the Melbourne launch.