Our history

Our History

On January 27 1948, an article appeared in The Toowoomba Chronicle stating:

“A sporting move instigated about six months ago has borne fruit. On January 27, a new bowling club, probably to be called The North Toowoomba Bowling Club, will be formed. The move was originally sponsored by the North and North East Progress Associations working in conjunction with other bowling clubs in the city. The need for more clubs has been apparent for many years. Toowoomba’s three other clubs are well past their membership capacities. The Chairman of the grounds and finance committee, Richard Thompson, reports that everything is now ready to go ahead with the formation of the new club and that ambitious plans have been laid to make the club one of the best in the district.”

On 3rd October 1949, the committee endorsed a move to form a Ladies Bowling Club to be known as North Toowoomba Ladies Bowling Club. On Monday 10th October 1949, the first muster of players was held.

On the first official day of bowls on the 5th November 1949 there were 56 players in attendance. Soon after nominations were called for the Club’s first championships in singles and pairs. The nomination fee was 2/6 per player per event.

One aspect of the Club’s operations was still to be attended to. Bert Crane, was our original Providore, and as we had no way of cooling our beer, he arranged with the caretaker of the Foundry Ground (now Heritage Oval) at the top of North Street, to keep our beer in their cold room. Before play started we would inspect the number of members present and decide whether we would need a 5 or 10 gallon keg and fetch it from the cold room. A cold wet bag was then the cooling system. At the end of the day we would have a discussion on how much beer remained in the keg and a bid was called for the remainder. Bert Crane generally called the right money and then he would put it on his truck and take it home. A couple of us would pay him a visit later that night and help him dispose of it.

In 1951 the Club made a decision to sell its land between Lemnos Street and North Street in order to fund the Club’s second green. In early October 1952, the final piece of land which had been subdivided was sold. The street fronting these new subdivisions was called Elworthy Street in honour of foundation member Mr H Elworthy. From its formation in 1949, until the Club wound up in 2019 after amalgamating with the men, The North Toowoomba Ladies Bowls Club managed its own operational and financial affairs. Over the years the men’s and ladies Clubs have maintained a wonderful relationship of cooperation and support and this is best illustrated by the generous and substantial donations made to the Club by the ladies. This was particularly so when funds were needed for specific projects and their contribution to the development and success of the Club has been very significant. Back in the 1950’s the ladies regularly organised monthly social evenings for members, their families and friends. These evenings were money raising ventures with dancing, probably to the music played on the club’s piano, games, entertainment and a well catered supper to round out the evening. The ladies social committee operated until the late 1960’s and was an effective source of fund raising for the Club.

On the 20th June 2019 The North Toowoomba Ladies Bowls Club Incorporated was wound up. On the 1st July 2019 The North Toowoomba Bowls Club Incorporated adopted a new, non gender specific constitution and the former members of The North Toowoomba Ladies Bowls Club were welcomed as full members.

Compiled by R.O. Stansbie 2020