NOMAD Bouldering Gladesville
Sydney, Australia
Specs: NOMAD Bouldering Gladesville opened on September 21st, 2024, founded and owned by Emma Horan. According to Elio Lowry, Social Media Manager at NOMAD Bouldering, “Emma first stepped into a climbing gym at just seven years old and never looked back.” Lowry noted what started as “a childhood fascination” became something that would change the course of her life, shaping her values and friendships. Climbing brought Horan to World Cups as both an athlete and routesetter, giving her “a deep understanding of the sport’s essence,” Lowry said. That connection to climbing is what eventually led Horan to open Nomad Bouldering in Annadale, Australia, in February 2017. Lowry described the Annadale gym as a place where climbers of all abilities could find a sense of belonging.
Seven and a half years after the first location opened, NOMAD opened its second location, a bouldering gym in Gladesville, Australia. “We decided some years back that NOMAD was ready to expand and broaden our community,” Lowry said. “This was just before the COVID-19 outbreak began, which obviously delayed the process. But in 2022 the planning began again, and by September 2024 the Gladesville gym was open.” The team chose to expand in Gladesville in part because, compared to the Inner West of Sydney, Gladesville is a fairly underserved area, Lowry said. Additionally, the area is family-focused according to Lowry, “which aligns with NOMAD’s ethos in training up the next generation of climbers,” they added. “It made perfect sense to open a NOMAD in Gladesville.” The team found a pre-existing building in a growing part of town, which already came with air conditioning. The facility features a yoga studio, workout gym and café, in addition to the 650 square meters (6,997 square feet) of climbing wall surface on walls reaching 4.5 meters (14.8 feet), including a Tension Board 2.
According to Lowry, throughout the expansion it has been essential for NOMAD to “have a clear vision of what climbing and our business represent.” Furthermore, they noted “staying true to that decision has helped guide every decision, even when it wasn’t the most economical choice. Prioritizing the climbing community has always felt like the right approach, and it’s something that has shaped our journey.” At both NOMAD locations, for instance, the business runs a Neighbor Initiative Membership Program, which is “designed to provide lower cost membership to members of our community who consistently face financial hardship that makes holding a gym membership difficult,” according to the NOMAD website. The two gyms also host a variety of classes and groups, such as monthly Queer Nights, Crag Clean Up days, and monthly KINSA initiative workshops organized to “create a safe, supportive and encouraging environment for women and gender-diverse climbers.”
Walls: Walltopia
Flooring: Owner/Contractor
CRM Software: MindBody
Website: www.nomadbouldering.com.au/locations/gladesville
Instagram: @NOMADBoulderingSyd
In Their Words: “From the thoughtfully designed floor plan to the carefully considered wall angles and custom murals, our owner Emma brought over 20 years of industry experience to create a space that feels open, vibrant and welcoming. The large roller doors at our café open up to stunning sunsets and swaying palm trees—an unexpected but perfect touch. It seamlessly blends functionality with warm, thoughtful details that make it clear this gym was designed by a climber, for climbers.” – Elio Lowry, Social Media Manager at NOMAD Bouldering
