History of Roseville Bowling Club

The club had its gestation when on 13th September 1948 a special meeting was called to form the East Roseville Bowling Club. A committee was elected and negotiations stated with Ku-Ring-Gai council on a suitable site. On 30th May 1951 the Council approved a 'measure' of finance to assist in the construction of bowling greens. After much searching the present site at Warrane Road was selected and the Council took over an option to purchase the land and a weatherboard cottage on what is now No1 green. On 17th April 1951 a tender for 7,902 pounds and 3 shillings was accepted from Mr A.W. Brown of Wahroonga to build 2 greens.

It was decided to form the club into a body corporate and in June 1951 a Limited company was set up with an entrance fee of 10 pounds and annual subscription of 10 pounds. It was also agreed in principle to permit the Ladies to form a bowling club, but more on that drama later. In August 1952, Mr E Beech was appointed Greenkeeper at a remuneration of 14.10.0 pounds a week to work under the direction of the Greens Director. Today's arrangement is at a rather different remuneration. In September 1952 the assets and liabilities of the Club were transferred to the East Roseville Bowling Club Limited and it was agreed to grant approval for the formation of a Ladies bowling club although this still didn't get them on the greens.

Around this time members were asked to form a working bee for the removal of weeds from No1 green. A large number of members responded to the call, many of whom were meeting for the first time. Amongst those present was the then Deputy Commissioner for Taxation for NSW who was working alongside another member who told him of a great scheme he had evolved to trick the taxation office! Ever since members have been very careful. It is wonderful to note that that Taxation Deputy, Warren Mathews, now in his 90s is still a member but the records do not show what happened to the other chap.

In November 1952 another landmark date was the letting of a contract to T. R Lloyd and sons for the building of the club house for 9,730 pounds plus a 1000 pounds debenture to be paid for by club members.

The first major event for the club occurred on 13th December 1952 when No1 green was opened for play. On the site of the old weatherboard cottage which had been moved to allow the construction of the green was an old tin shed and this was to serve as the first clubhouse. There was no furniture and a dirt floor. Members assembled inside before the start of play where they were served Briton's beer and glasses were washed in an old tub full of cold water. The urinal was an old peach tree alongside the shed and it soon had the best crop of peaches that it had ever produced. Afternoon tea also served in the shed, consisted of unbuttered Sayo biscuits and more beer. History does not provide us with a breakdown of the before and after tea scores but beer drinking at tea has declined somewhat so perhaps we have the answer. Anyway in spite of the primitive conditions, the members all took it in good part and there was established a wonderful fellowship that has since been a feature of the club.

On the 7th of August 1953 the first Annual General Meeting of the Club was held in the Community Hall and also in August a license to occupy the Bowling Club was received from Ku-Ring-Gai Council. On the 14th of November another landmark in the Club’s history occurred when the Clubhouse was opened. This was quite an event. All the members assembled in the old tin shed and then marched behind the old glass washing tub to the new Clubhouse. Tin lockers had been purchased and members were now able to store their bowls and gear at the club. It is worth noting that a billiard table appears on photos, presumably for the wet days. Sadly it is no more.

In January 1954 the club won the John Young Shield. This was awarded to the club which had the highest score on any one rink in the first round of pennants. It might have made a difference if anybody had known of its existence as it came as a complete surprise to those playing on the day! The award has long since been discontinued.

Another trophy from the early days was the Eastern Valley trophy. The Northbridge, Willoughby Park and Lindfield clubs were formed around the same time as Roseville and the bowls Secretaries recommended that an annual competition be set up. The idea was that as many members as possible would take part and initially 96 players from each club were involved. Each club won the trophy once but then Lindfield became much stronger than the others and won it the next four years. Eventually clubs found it difficult to field such a large number of players and the competition was abandoned but it was a most successful event whilst it lasted.

In 1954 a full time steward was appointed at a salary of 15 pounds a week and the club also came into possession of the greenkeepers cottage which was rented to the steward for 15 shillings a week. It was not until 1957 that he vacated the cottage and the greenkeeper commenced occupancy.

.The club was officially opened on 26th June 1954 by the president of the NSWBA Mr Norman Ross Present were the Deputy Mayor, Town Clerk and representatives of Chatswood, Gordon, Hornsby Pymble, Northbridge, Willoughby Park, Lindfield, and Warrawee bowling Clubs plus representatives of Roseville Golf Club.

A liquor licence was applied for and granted in early 1955. One wonders what were the rules for all that beer served at Tea in the tin shed? 1995 also saw the sealing of the car parking area and the first Charity day which raised three hundred and six pounds one shilling and sixpence for crippled children at Turramurra.

We mentioned the Ladies attempts to get their club formed and in June 1953 following the 1952 'granting of approval' a meeting was held resolving that when a Ladies Club was formed, a charge be made of 2 guineas per annum plus a green fee of 1/- a player and that the ladies be permitted to play on one day a week only, preferably from 10.a.m to 5.30 p.m. This meeting was a bit fiery, some members being opposed to the formation of a ladies club at all, others wanting their play restricted to only one green one day a week. Apparently discussion got a bit heated but it was all resolved no doubt with a few members grumbling into their beer for weeks afterwards. Interesting to review the male attitude of the times.

Anyway towards the end of 1953 at the home of Mrs G Bretnall an announcement was made by the President of East Roseville Bowling Club that permission would be given for the formation of a women's bowling club. A meeting was held on December 7th at the clubhouse with the State President of the NSWWBA, Mrs Wolinski, 42 ladies and representatives of the Men's Club and it was unanimously decided to form the East Roseville Women's Bowling Club. The first bowl was delivered on March 4th which became the official birthday of the club. Blue and gold were chosen as the Club's colours. The badge was designed by Mr E Miller of ERBC and was in the form of a brooch with a rose and the initials ER. This was most appropriate as 1954 was the year of the first visit to Australia of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Affiliation with the NSWWBA was completed later in the year and the Official Opening took place on March 22nd 1955.

(If you think that was difficult wait until you read of the saga of Mixed Bowling!) 

TO BE CONTINUED