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HISTORY THE MELBOURNE BOWLING CLUB
1864
11 March, This day the Melbourne Bowling Club was founded by John
Campbell obtaining a lease of land at “Chapel Street (sic) from Mr Sayce, for
a period of ten Years of the annual rental of Twenty Pounds, payable half yearly
on 11 September and 11th March each year. (First entry in the records in the
handwriting of John Campbell). Thus making Melbourne the oldest bowling club in
Australia.
1864
Greens opened on 27 Oct. A bar was established occupied by John Campbell.
Quoits were available for those not playing bowls, whilst one portion of the
green was occupied by lady visitors pursuing the game of croquet.
1865
182 gentlemen enrolled. With a projected deficit for season 1865-66 of
three hundred pounds the entrance fee was increased to two guineas and the
annual subscription also to two guineas. Because of this increase a breakaway
group formed the Prahran Bowling Club. The green was open on 16th September 1865. The
entrance fee being 10/6d and the annual subscription 10/6d. It became known as
the Tradesmen’s Club but closed in 1871.
1866 A shelter to house the bar was built by John Campbell, this shelter was
known later as the ‘Verandah’.
1867
The painter S. T. Gill visited the Melbourne Bowling Club and pointed two
water-colours of a bowls match in progress, one of the summer green and one of
the winter green. (These paintings are on display at the Club).
1868 On 21 August, the Club became the possessor in fee simple of their Green.
And plans were mooted to build a pavilion. In the interim Mrs West was granted
the lease of the bar at 2 pounds, 18 shillings and 4 pence per month this sum
was later reduced to one pound per month.
1870
Tuesday 8th November, the keys to the new pavilion were
handed over by the contractor.
1873 The first Grand Bowling Tournament was played between six Melbourne
Clubs. This tournament became and annual event and after the formation of the
Victorian Bowling Association became the V.B.A. President’s Trophy.
1874
The Skittle Alley completed on August 8th. The alley was found
under the billiard room floor during recent renovations – has now been
concreted over.
1875
Gas light installed in the pavilion.
1880
14th April, first inter-colonial match played between a team
chosen from members of the various Melbourne clubs to be played in Sydney. The
formation of the NSW Bowling Association resulted from this match.
1880
23rd July, the
Victorian Bowling Association was formed
1923 15th September the foundation stone is laid for the
new
extensions to the Clubrooms
1950s
A successful period for Melbourne Bowling club when it won many
championships. Acquired surrounding
properties with the view to future extensions.
1964 Extension to the bar area
Melbourne Bowling
club was a Men’s club until 1998. Current
membership stands at 200 with fees of $154 (GST Incl) per year plus weekly competition
fees. Fifty percent of the
membership lives within 2 kms of the club.
DESCRIPTION
The Melbourne Bowling Club is
situated on a large corner block behind Chapel Street, Windsor; dwellings and
commercial properties surround the whole. The Clubhouse includes the original
double storey brick building in Georgian style with a long single storey
building added to the side in the 1923, the whole is painted deep gold.
The original building had upper and lower verandas with ornate iron-lace
work these were later removed. A neighbouring house was incorporated into the
extension to provide a Tabaret room which is entered directly from Union Street.
The original building house offices and the billiard tables while the
extension contains all the honour boards and a trophy cabinet. This cabinet contains the minute books dating from the
formation of the club and other trophies and gifts from visiting clubs.
The extension, is a long room with the bar on one side and large windows
on the other side which look onto the two greens, has a dated 1970s decor. The
two paintings by T.S. Gill of the club in 1867 hang in this room above the
trophy cabinet. The Club is
conscious of its standing as the oldest in Australia and much work has been done
to restore and renovate the Honour Boards and various pieces of furniture. The
greens comprise 7 rinks each and are separated by a concrete walkway with
covered seating at each end of the rinks. There
are two smaller greens to the side. The grounds include an attractive garden.
TheHistory of
the
Melbourne
Bowling Club
1864-1982
by
Murray S. Peden
Copies available contact the Club office
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