Joseph Zawartko, 89, a life member, was one of 23 people in a meeting at an Acton guest house in 1951 who decided it was time for a Polish organisation.

The desire for a social connection grew into a deep commitment to the White Eagle Club building in Turner, badly damaged by fire in January last year.

"Polish people are all very friendly to each other and if we didn't have this particular house we have now, we haven't got a roof over our head - this is our home, our house," he said.

"That is why we're so suffering because of what happened to the house."

The distinctive red-roofed building in David Street - blessed on the day of its official opening in 1973 by Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who five years later became Pope John Paul II - was not the first building the club called its own.

A mix of money from the Canberra Polish community and the ACT branch of the Polish Ex-Servicemen's Association led to the 1960 opening of the White Eagle House in Moore Street, and the beginning of six decades of social activities.

A regular lunch venue after a Sunday Catholic service, club secretary Wanda Horky said the David Street home had also seen its share of music and celebration.

"Dances were organised once a month and they were always full," she said.

"There were some wild nights here."

The deliberately lit fire 14 months ago badly damaged the building and hit hard the seven Polish associations and four general community organisations which were based at the club. Repairs nearly completed, an official opening and return to full operation is expected in early May.

And while the peak membership figure of 400 in 1995 has lowered to about 250, vice-president Andrew Bajkowski said demographics were now on the club's side.

"With more people living in the inner city ... there's such a great demand now on these existing premises, and that brings in a whole new generation of club participants," he said.