In Phillip stands a five-storey building dedicated to the health and wellbeing of Canberrans.
On the ground floor, aqua aerobics and learn-to-swim classes take place in a pool heated to about 32 degrees, along with a cafe.
One floor up, Anytime Fitness Stellar gym admits its members 24/7, giving them 360-degree views over Woden as they work out, whenever it suits them.
On the second floor, boutique studios offer aerobics and dance classes, and a dedicated Cycle Studio offers spin classes – just a few of more than 100 classes that take place in this building.
On the third floor, The Healthy Eating Clinic, Heart Support Australia, Capital Rehabilitation Professionals, Active Recovery and the Hair Health Clinic guide clients through their holistic healthcare needs.
This is Stellar Canberra. Part of the Canberra Southern Cross Club, members here cherry-pick which facilities they wish to access or choose to bundle them together.
“If you simply want to improve your fitness, you can join Anytime Fitness or the women’s gym,” Stellar manager Kasie Nugent says.
“But if you would like to use the pool, it’s not a big financial stretch to bundle that in.
“And if you think you might benefit from our classes, again, it’s not a big leap to get full membership and access as much of these services as you want, when you want.”
The comprehensive group exercise program offers everything from yoga and Pilates to loaded classes (weights).
Beyond fitness, Kasie says there’s a benefit to having allied health professionals housed under the same roof.
“These days it’s not only about your physical fitness – people know it’s important we take care of ourselves in mind, body and spirit,” she says.
“It’s convenient having our allied health professionals, gyms, group exercise classes and pool all rolled into one building.”
Anytime Fitness Stellar manager Greg Chamberlain says while it’s unusual for an Anytime Fitness to be housed in such proximity to such a wide range of services, he’s pleased with the arrangement.
“The various providers in Stellar work closely together as a sort of collective,” he says.
“The aim is to provide members with as broad a range of services as possible so we’re in the best position to meet their health and fitness goals.”
Already billed as “the best workout in Canberra”, from 14 March, Anytime Fitness Stellar will close its doors for a short period while the facilities are refreshed.
“It will represent a significant investment on the part of Canberra Southern Cross Club,” Greg says.
“They’re spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to transform the gym with a fresh look and new equipment.
“Our equipment is already state-of-the-art and we have many items here you don’t find everywhere, so staff and members are excited to see what will come from this.”
Kasie says maintaining the entire building to remain in top-notch condition is one of the reasons Stellar can confidently offer no-lock-in contracts and a no-joining-fee membership policy.
“Many of our members have been with us since the beginning,” she says.
“We’re kind of a one-stop shop for their health and fitness and a really positive thing in their lives.”
Marking its fifth year, Stellar is currently offering a birthday deal – the first five weeks of a group exercise or women’s gym membership for $5 in March or April.
For more information, visit Stellar Canberra.