World Gym Australia passes 200,000 members, targets 100 clubs

World Gym Australia has reported more than 200,000 members for the 2025/26 financial year, following nine club openings that took its Australian network beyond 60 locations. The fitness franchise is now targeting 100 clubs by 2028, with its latest expansion bringing the brand into Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra for the first time.

Nine openings extend the Australian footprint

The nine clubs opened during 2025/26 represent a substantial addition to World Gym Australia’s network. Alongside the membership milestone, the move into three capital cities gives the brand a broader geographical presence as it works towards its next growth target.

Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra were all first-time markets for the franchise during the financial year. Those entries are an important distinction in the expansion story: the network was not simply adding locations within its established footprint, but taking the brand into additional metropolitan markets.

For Australia’s franchise community, the figures provide a snapshot of one fitness brand’s development rather than a measure of the wider market. The membership total and opening numbers relate specifically to World Gym Australia, and should be read as company-reported results.

The network’s stated ambition is to reach 100 Australian clubs by 2028. That remains a forward-looking target, separate from the more than 60 locations reported at the end of its latest expansion year.

Turnover and pro shops add commercial context

World Gym Australia reported group turnover of more than $230 million for the financial year. It also reported record sales of $32 million through its club-based pro shops, adding a retail dimension to the membership and location figures.

The pro-shop result is notable because it shows the scale of sales taking place within the clubs beyond the headline membership count. However, the group turnover and retail sales figures are measures of revenue, not evidence of individual franchisee profitability.

That distinction matters for prospective franchise partners assessing a growing network. A national membership milestone can establish scale, while group turnover can indicate the size of the business. Neither, on its own, establishes what a particular club earns after its operating costs.

Anyone considering a location should therefore assess the relevant club-level financial information separately. The practical questions include how membership income and retail sales contribute to the local business, and how those revenues compare with the costs of running that club.

Expansion follows Viva Leisure investment

The expansion follows ASX-listed Viva Leisure’s acquisition of a 25% interest in World Gym Australia. The minority investment provides an ownership milestone alongside the brand’s latest operating results.

The year also coincides with two anniversaries: 50 years for World Gym internationally and 20 years in Australia under founders Jon Davie and Mike Nysten. These place the current growth programme within a longer history, both for the global brand and its Australian operation.

The investment, anniversaries and network growth are distinct developments. The reported results do not, by themselves, establish how much of the expansion is attributable to the Viva Leisure transaction. What they do show is an Australian franchise moving towards a larger footprint after two decades of local operation.

A 100-club target puts future delivery in focus

World Gym Australia has also reported increasing franchise enquiries. It expects its opening rate to exceed a previous network record of 10 clubs in one year as it pursues the 2028 target.

Enquiries are an indication of interest, rather than completed franchise agreements or operational clubs. Similarly, the planned pace of openings should be distinguished from the nine locations actually opened during 2025/26.

The next test will be the delivery of further clubs against that stated ambition. For prospective operators, the relevant opportunity is not simply participation in a larger network, but whether a proposed location has a credible commercial case.

Practical takeaway: World Gym Australia’s reported growth makes it a network to watch. Prospective franchisees should separate national scale from local performance and examine club-level costs, revenue assumptions and opening support before committing.