THE Bowral Bowling Club celebrates 100 years of lawn bowls this year.

A book recounting the Club's history written by member Yvonne Chapman was launched recently at a Centenary dinner and is available for purchase from the Club. From it, extracts continue here.

The first club, officially opened on 17 August 1914, was located in Corbett Gardens. With Patron Sir William Vicars and President John Holmes as the guiding influences, interest and membership increased.

A Ladies Auxiliary was formed and for many years attended to catering needs and social activities.

On occasions the Ladies were invited to a social game of bowls.

Their keenness and interest in the sport led to them being admitted to Associate Membership in 1939.

Twelve ladies became foundation members. Officers were nominated and elected, the Club named "Bowral Ladies Bowling Club" and rules governing its activities adopted.

Patriotic and fundraising activities connected with World War II were enormous and the amount raised was beyond all expectations.

After the war years, combined Club membership exceeded 150 members by 1951 and further greens were desperately needed.

Bowral Municipal Council decided in 1954 to develop Stephens' Paddock, fronting Merrigang Street, and leased to the Bowling Club sufficient land for two greens, which the council constructed - these were named North Green and Springett Green.

In 1955 the Club bought adjoining land fronting Shepherd Street and the following year purchased a nearby cottage for a manager's residence.

The rest of the added space was for a clubhouse and parking area.

Eventually a tender was accepted for a very fine clubhouse (that now exists), and the work was financed by overdraft and members' debentures.

The official opening of the greens and clubhouse (also of nearby Venables Park, so named in honour of former Alderman H F Venables) was performed on October 6, 1956.

THE Four Mails newspaper carried a lengthy report that included the following:

"History was made in Bowral when His Excellency General Sir John Northcott opened a park in Una Street to be known as Venables Park and the new greens and clubhouse of the Bowral Bowling Club. He was accompanied by Captain Mitchell of the Coldstream Guards.

Rain fell throughout most of the morning, but prior to the arrival of his Excellency, it ceased. There was a good attendance of the public at the function.

Accompanied by the Mayor (Ald R H Springett), His Excellency, after entering Venables Park, was met by Eric Bunter, President of Bowral Returned Servicemen's League. A guard of honour was drawn up on either side of the entrance and at the request of His Excellency he was introduced to the Ex-servicemen forming it.

At the opening ceremony for Venables Park, the Mayor read an address. In part he stated that the building of a modern clubhouse by the Bowral Bowling Club on land adjoining Venables Park is an indication of the co-operative spirit which exists between the Council and sporting bodies of this area.

Then, from the Club verandah, Sir John said it gave him great pleasure to declare the new bowling greens and Club officially open. He congratulated the President and members of the Bowling Club on the splendid effort made in conjunction with the Council to get the greens and clubhouse.

The greens were set in a magnificent setting and there was nowhere he knew where there were such surroundings. He was sure they were going to enjoy the greens and the clubhouse."

Membership steadily grew and in 1959 the club had a third green constructed, named the Homann Green.

In 1963 a nearby cottage was bought by the club and removed elsewhere, to make room for more parking space and possible future clubhouse extensions.

By 1970 the kitchen was extended and re-equipped, the clubhouse renovated, the verandah enclosed and the women's facilities enlarged.

Weddings, Scottish dances, birthdays and formal balls were enjoyed in the Bowling Club Auditorium for many years until it was made into a restaurant, where meals are enjoyed to this day.

In 2009 the Board of Directors of Club Bowral decided that the members of the Men's Bowling Club should manage and conduct their own game of bowls.

The Men's Club has been very good to its members. Manager of Queensland Bank, Chris Benton, a bowls member, has sponsored the uniforms for a number of years.

More new members are required to carry the Club into the future and see it prosper for another 100 years.

To continue the celebrations, the Club is currently holding a Centenary bowling carnival.

This article compiled by PHILIP MORTON is sourced from the archives of Berrima District Historical & Family History Society, Bowral Rd, Mittagong. Phone 4872 2169.

Email bdhsarchives@gmail.com.

Web: berrimadistricthistoricalsociety.org.au