Rose Bay Bowling Club 1920-2000
This was the first bowling club in the municipality and was established in 1920. The Club appears to have acquired the site on Kent Road in 1922 and the club house built in 1923.
The first President was James McIntyre. At its peak, the club had three greens and parking space for 100 cars. It was untroubled by water restrictions as it possessed its own pumping system capable of delivering 2,600 gallons per hour from a depth of 26 feet.
The Rose Bay bowling club merged with Double Bay bowling club on 4 October 2000.
In 2001, Cranbrook School purchased the land for a reported $7 million with the intention to build on it as a ‘community facility”. Despite opposition from Woollahra Council, permission was granted by the Court of Appeal.
The Bowling Clubhouse was demolished in 2008 and a Junior School subsequently built on the land.
Additional information available at Woollahra Library; Local History Research Files
The first President was James McIntyre. At its peak, the club had three greens and parking space for 100 cars. It was untroubled by water restrictions as it possessed its own pumping system capable of delivering 2,600 gallons per hour from a depth of 26 feet.
The Rose Bay bowling club merged with Double Bay bowling club on 4 October 2000.
In 2001, Cranbrook School purchased the land for a reported $7 million with the intention to build on it as a ‘community facility”. Despite opposition from Woollahra Council, permission was granted by the Court of Appeal.
The Bowling Clubhouse was demolished in 2008 and a Junior School subsequently built on the land.
Additional information available at Woollahra Library; Local History Research Files
Image of Rose Bay Bowling Club, before its demolition in 2008. Image by Jean- François Lanzarone. Collection: Powerhouse Museum.
Bellevue Hill Bowling Club 1951-1980
A mayoral minute of 24 September 1948 suggested that two bowling greens should be laid down on a portion of Cooper Park formerly used as a tip for the ash from an incinerator.
Council agreed and a vote was passed to carry out the scheme. The construction of the greens began early in 1950, and play commenced on them on January 1952. The Bellevue Hill Bowling Club was formed in 1951 and the Council agreed to lease it the greens from February 1952.
The Bellevue Hill Bowling Club initially leased the land from Council before purchasing the land in 1964.
On New Year’s Eve, 1975 the clubhouse was badly damaged by fire. Firemen from five stations attended but their work was hampered by lack of water pressure and the cars of spectators.
The Bellevue Hill Bowling Club sold the land to Water Polo Complex Constructions Pty Ltd (WPCC) in 1980. On the 28 July 1980, the bowling club wound up and transferred all remaining assets to the Rose Bay bowling club.
WPCC intended to build a water polo complex on the site but did not proceed and sold the land to The Scots College in 1983.
Following unsuccessful attempts to establish a preparatory school, the parcel of land of 9 Cooper Park Road, was rezoned in December 1992 from Special Uses (School) to part Residential and part Open Space under Woollahra Local Environmental Plan No.64. Concurrent with this, the land was subdivided to create 17 Cooper Park Road that was developed by Sunlord for townhouses, and 9A Cooper Park Road that was transferred to Council for open space.
Woollahra Council subsequently chose to sell 9a to Parker Logan Property in 2014 that then built 27 units on the land, called The Acre.
Opening the new Bellevue Hill Bowling Club clubhouse 1954
State Library of NSW CALL NUMBER: Australian Photographic Agency – 42463 IE NUMBER:IE3399646 FILE NUMBER: FL3399652
State Library of NSW CALL NUMBER: Australian Photographic Agency – 42463 IE NUMBER:IE3399646 FILE NUMBER: FL3399652
Double Bay Bowling Club 1940 - current
The three greens used by the bowling club were first constructed by the Council on land acquired from the Water board in 1940. Two greens were built in 1941 and the third in 1945.
The club was incorporated 13 February 1942 and officially opened on 4 July 1942.
In 1948 the Council sold the land to the bowling club with the three greens and the clubhouse in a cottage fronting Glendon Road for 8,525 pounds, placing this sum in a reserve which was later applied to the construction of the Bellevue Hill Bowling greens.
In 1954, the club constructed a clubhouse at a cost of 22,000 pounds and restored the cottage formerly used as a clubroom to be used as a residence for its greenkeeper.
In 1979, Council approved the rezoning of the piece of land at the southern end of the property. A developer was paid $540,000 for the land to build 12 townhouses.
When the Rose Bay bowling club wound up and amalgamated with Double Bay, it brought with them $7 million dollars making Double Bay financially secure.
Double Bay Bowling Club, undated, Double Bay Bowling Club website 2019
DOVER HEIGHTS 1956-1992
In 1955 Waverley Council decided to approve the establishment of a bowling club at Loombah Reserve, Dover Heights. The Dover Heights Bowling Club that had been formed was invited by Council to accept a lease of the area and assume responsibility for the establishment of the greens and clubhouse.
Additional land was acquired by the Council, the cost of which was a matter for reimbursement by the Club to Council. Construction of the greens commenced in November,1956 and the Club was incorporated on December 6, 1956.
The first green was opened for play on January 11, 1958 by the President, Dr. B. Williams. The clubhouse was built at the intersection of Military Road and Loombah Road.
By the late 1980’s the club was in decline and went on to amalgamate with the Rose Bay Bowling Club in the early 1990’s. The Dover Heights Bowling Club with sweeping views over Bondi was largely redeveloped for residential use.
In November 1998 the small remaining parcel of land was renamed as the Warren Zine Reserve.
Additional information available at Waverley Library; Local Studies: Vertical File. Shelf Location VF DOVE
DOVER HEIGHTS 1956-1992
In 1955 Waverley Council decided to approve the establishment of a bowling club at Loombah Reserve, Dover Heights. The Dover Heights Bowling Club that had been formed was invited by Council to accept a lease of the area and assume responsibility for the establishment of the greens and clubhouse.
Additional land was acquired by the Council, the cost of which was a matter for reimbursement by the Club to Council. Construction of the greens commenced in November,1956 and the Club was incorporated on December 6, 1956.
The first green was opened for play on January 11, 1958 by the President, Dr. B. Williams. The clubhouse was built at the intersection of Military Road and Loombah Road.
By the late 1980’s the club was in decline and went on to amalgamate with the Rose Bay Bowling Club in the early 1990’s. The Dover Heights Bowling Club with sweeping views over Bondi was largely redeveloped for residential use.
In November 1998 the small remaining parcel of land was renamed as the Warren Zine Reserve.
Additional information available at Waverley Library; Local Studies: Vertical File. Shelf Location VF DOVE
Wooden scoring board for Dover Heights Bowling Club showing the winners of the 1991 international gala day competition. The outside of the boards is decorated with the flags of thirty eight countries representing the background of the players. The rules of play are described on the board as well as when refreshments occur.
Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences https://collection.maas.museum/object/319583
Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences https://collection.maas.museum/object/319583
Paddington Bowling Club 1955- 2017
Paddington Bowling Club Ltd was registered in 1955 and had occupied the Crown land located at 2 Quarry Street in Paddington (also known as Lots 3 and 5 in Deposited Plan 1156846) under a Perpetual Lease since the 1960’s. The grounds comprised two bowling greens and a clubhouse.
By 1999 the bowling club was having difficulty maintaining its membership and began to struggle financially. After what was to be an ill-fated decision to enter into an arrangement with Sports Marketing Limited, the club ended up in dire financial straits and placed into administration in 2003.
In 2006 the Department of Lands (as it was known then) was asked to consider an application to purchase the land then leased by the bowling club. The Department declined.
The land was then subject to a number of transactions between 2009 and 2013 including the surrender of the Perpetual Lease by the bowling club and the grant of a fifty year lease that was transferred to a property development company, CSKS Holdings Pty Ltd who planned to build a child care centre. The Friends of Quarry Street and Woollahra Council raised concerns in relation to the transactions.
After breaches of noise complaints and gaming regulations, debts mounted and receivers were appointed in 2015.
There remains an ongoing battle over what will become of the land.
Wendy Bacon, a journalist and activist has created a site that details the politics around the land from 2014 -2016.
View across Paddington Bowling Club to Goodwin Village, caption says Bourke and Gipps houses are on the left and Macquarie Towers on right.
Woollahra Council Local History Digital Archive
Woollahra Council Local History Digital Archive
DIAMOND BAY 1959 - Current
In 1959, there was no community centre or club around Diamond Bay, and a group of men thought it would be a good idea to create the Diamond Bay Bowling Club.
Negotiations were entered into with the Department of Lands, and a Perpetual Lease was granted to the Club.
While the top two greens (now the Jack Brandon green and the Basil Don green) were being developed, a rubber-ish mat was created for the playing green (the 3rd green) behind the current clubhouse; and a shed was built for the clubhouse. The two main greens (in front of the clubhouse) were ready in 1961; and the official opening was held in 1962.
In 1962 also, a women's bowling club was formed.
In the 60's and 70's, the Club was home to many community functions.
A number of years ago, the Club decided to sell its property (the 3rd green), and invest the money.
Diamond Bay Bowling Club, the women's club - 1961. Brian Downey, from Akron, Ohio USA.
Waverley Bowling Club 1983 - present
WAVERLEY BOWLING and RECREATION CLUB was founded in 1893 and was originally located in Hollywood Avenue Bondi Junction before relocating to Birrell Street in 1966. The Grace Bros department store and carpark were later constructed on the site, which in turn became Westfield Shopping Complex in 2003.
In September 1965 Waverley Bowling Club bought the property of St Gabriel’s Girls School at public auction for the amount of £227,000. St. Gabriel’s property was made up of the whole block between Langlee Avenue and Henrietta Street. Because of the lack of teaching sisters, the school closed. All the buildings on the site, including the houses ‘Preston’, ‘Glenbournie' and the chapel were demolished with all the large trees on the site, including an original very old Norfolk Pine.
The site was developed for the club featuring three bowling greens and a two-storey clubhouse, and has been home to Waverley Bowling Club since 1967.
Sydney’s second-oldest bowling club, had been long labouring to survive financially when members signed a deal with the Easts Group, the owners of the Sydney Roosters NRL team, in 2010. Easts committed to preserving the bowling greens and investing in the club on the prime piece of real estate as long as it remained profitable.
But in 2014, saying Waverley hadn’t turned a profit, Easts came up with a $100 million plan to redevelop the site into a Roosters training facility with two 45-metre residential towers.
An attempt in 2017 to move the 126-year-old club from its site on Birrell Street and merge it with the Bondi Golf & Diggers Club was thwarted.
The proposal, that was eventually agreed to, will keep the bowlers in place and will build a modern clubhouse with one championship bowling green and one synthetic green as well as underground parking for 149 cars. The club will own the facilities and 77 parking spaces. The renewal of the site will include 55 luxury apartments dispersed across four buildings for people aged 55 as well as extensive shared amenity exclusive to residents.
Further Reading
Waverley Bowling and Recreation Club Ltd Fifty Years of History, Johnson, W.L.
Published by Printed by A.R. Buck for the Waverley Bowling and Recreation Club no date (1947), Sydney, 1947
In September 1965 Waverley Bowling Club bought the property of St Gabriel’s Girls School at public auction for the amount of £227,000. St. Gabriel’s property was made up of the whole block between Langlee Avenue and Henrietta Street. Because of the lack of teaching sisters, the school closed. All the buildings on the site, including the houses ‘Preston’, ‘Glenbournie' and the chapel were demolished with all the large trees on the site, including an original very old Norfolk Pine.
The site was developed for the club featuring three bowling greens and a two-storey clubhouse, and has been home to Waverley Bowling Club since 1967.
Sydney’s second-oldest bowling club, had been long labouring to survive financially when members signed a deal with the Easts Group, the owners of the Sydney Roosters NRL team, in 2010. Easts committed to preserving the bowling greens and investing in the club on the prime piece of real estate as long as it remained profitable.
But in 2014, saying Waverley hadn’t turned a profit, Easts came up with a $100 million plan to redevelop the site into a Roosters training facility with two 45-metre residential towers.
An attempt in 2017 to move the 126-year-old club from its site on Birrell Street and merge it with the Bondi Golf & Diggers Club was thwarted.
The proposal, that was eventually agreed to, will keep the bowlers in place and will build a modern clubhouse with one championship bowling green and one synthetic green as well as underground parking for 149 cars. The club will own the facilities and 77 parking spaces. The renewal of the site will include 55 luxury apartments dispersed across four buildings for people aged 55 as well as extensive shared amenity exclusive to residents.
Further Reading
Waverley Bowling and Recreation Club Ltd Fifty Years of History, Johnson, W.L.
Published by Printed by A.R. Buck for the Waverley Bowling and Recreation Club no date (1947), Sydney, 1947
Waverley Bowling Club, Birrell Street, corner Henrietta Street, Waverley. Site of former St Gabriel's school, Marion Corry, 1987, Waverley Library