Australia’s largest gym network, Anytime Fitness, has reached a milestone with the opening of its 600th club in Bundall on the Gold Coast - marking another major step in the brand’s mission to make health and wellness accessible to more Australians.
Founded by Justin McDonell and Richard Peil and operated under the Collective Wellness Group, Anytime Fitness has grown to more than 720,000 members nationwide, with over half of its franchisees now multi-site owners. What began in 2008 as a regional-first strategy has evolved into a national success story, representing almost a quarter (24.1%*) of Australia’s fitness market.
“Reaching 600 clubs is an incredible milestone – but it’s also just the beginning,” said McDonell and Peil. “From day one, we set out to redefine fitness through a franchise-first, member-focused model built on health-conscious, committed owners and an unwavering dedication to creating exceptional member experiences.
Carl Travers, one of the first franchisees and co-owner of 20 Anytime Fitness clubs, reflected on his 15 years in the business, stating: “Since joining the business in 2010, I’ve experienced continued support from Justin, Rich and the Anytime Fitness network.
Building on their success McDonell and Peil are now applying the same successful franchise strategy internationally with their recent acquisition of the Anytime Fitness UK and Ireland Master Franchise.
“We’ve built a strong values-driven business and are invested in scaling and exceeding our club standards to drive profitability and continued member acquisition and retention for our franchisees. Our primary focus is to inspire even more Australians to achieve their fitness goals,” said McDonell and Peil.
Earlier this month, Anytime Fitness Australia was named International Market of the Year 2025 by parent company Purpose Brands - an accolade recognising exceptional franchise territory sales, elevated club experiences, strong franchise profitability, and outstanding member and employee satisfaction.
