HISTORY OF BOWLS CLUBS Table of Contents 1864 .......................................................................................................................................................3 Melbourne Bowls Club - Vic (oldest existing bowling club in Australia) .....................................................3 1886 .......................................................................................................................................................5 Richmond Union Bowling Club - Vic .........................................................................................................5 1884 .......................................................................................................................................................6 Ararat Bowls Club - Vic............................................................................................................................6 1898 .......................................................................................................................................................7 The Elsternwick Club - Vic ........................................................................................................................7 1902 .......................................................................................................................................................8 Mentone Bowling Club - Vic ....................................................................................................................8 1910 .......................................................................................................................................................9 Aberfeldie Bowling Club - Vic ..................................................................................................................9 1915 ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Cohuna Bowls Club - Vic ........................................................................................................................ 10 1918 ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 City of Echuca Bowling Club - Vic ........................................................................................................... 13 1919 ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 Kilmore Bowling Club - Vic .................................................................................................................... 14 1930 ..................................................................................................................................................... 15 Casterton Bowling Club ......................................................................................................................... 15 1934 ..................................................................................................................................................... 16 The Bassendean Bowls Club – W.A. ....................................................................................................... 16 1938 ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 Maitland City Women’s Bowling Club – NSW......................................................................................... 18 1940 ..................................................................................................................................................... 19 Tantitha Ladies Bowling Club ................................................................................................................ 19 1948 ..................................................................................................................................................... 20 Marian Bowls Club – SA ........................................................................................................................ 20 1952 ..................................................................................................................................................... 21 Marion Women’s Bowling Club – SA ...................................................................................................... 21 1952 ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 Ocean Grove Bowling Club - Vic............................................................................................................. 22 1953 ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 Ocean Grove Ladies Bowling Club – Vic ................................................................................................. 23 1957 ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 Kempsey Heights Bowling Club - NSW ................................................................................................... 25 1958 ..................................................................................................................................................... 28 Memorial Bowling Club – Alice Springs - NT........................................................................................... 28 1959 ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 Skipton Golf Bowing Club – NSW ........................................................................................................... 30 1964 ..................................................................................................................................................... 31 Valentine Women’s Bowling Club - NSW ............................................................................................... 31 1966 ..................................................................................................................................................... 36 Eaton Bowling and Social Club .............................................................................................................. 36 1967 ..................................................................................................................................................... 39 Macarthur Bowls Club Inc. – Vic ............................................................................................................ 39 1972 ..................................................................................................................................................... 42 Branxholm Bowling Club – Vic ............................................................................................................... 42 1978 ..................................................................................................................................................... 43 Mingara Women’s Bowling Club - NSW ................................................................................................. 43 1988 ..................................................................................................................................................... 44 Reynella Bowling Club - S.A ................................................................................................................... 44 1992 ..................................................................................................................................................... 45 Greensborough Bowling Club – Vic ........................................................................................................ 45 2012 ..................................................................................................................................................... 46 City of Geelong Bowls Club Inc - VIC ...................................................................................................... 46 2013 ..................................................................................................................................................... 47 Palm Lake Resort Truganina Bowls Club - VIC ........................................................................................ 47 1864 Melbourne Bowls Club - Vic (oldest existing bowling club in Australia) • Foundation Date: 11th March 1864 • Affiliation Date: 23 July 1880 (Founding Member of the Victorian Bowling Association) • First President: Honourable Matthew Hervey M.L.C. • First Secretary: John Campbell 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 building is painted deep gold. The original building had upper and lower verandas with ornate iron-lace work, which were later removed during renovations. A neighbouring house was incorporated into the extension to provide a gaming room which was entered directly from