Taree Bowling Club

The plaque on the façade of the building now occupied by The Grill, restaurant, leaves no doubt as to the building’s original purpose: a clubhouse for Taree Bowling Club opened in 1954. However, the club’s origins date back to 1924 when three blocks of land in Christen Christensen’s new subdivision were purchased.¹ This led to the opening of the Taree Bowling Club by Dr F O Stokes on 21 November 1928.²

Within a few years the members saw the need to expand the greens and thanks to the generosity of Christensen, the landholding was increased.³ By 1946 discussions were taking place regarding a new clubhouse and, in 1948, when a liquor licence was obtained and “amusement machines” installed, an enlarged clubhouse became a real necessity.⁴

Fast forward to 1951 and plans prepared by architect, John C Granger,⁵ were accepted, but it would be another two years before a tender for the building’s construction was finally let to A J Hayter Pty Ltd.⁶

Costing in the vicinity of £20,000, the clubhouse incorporated administration offices, together with a dance floor, billiard table and other member facilities. The brick and tile building was decorated in cool pastel colours and outfitted with stylish stainless steel and laminate furniture.⁷

A crowd reported to number about 400 attended the opening on 3 July 1954.⁸

Author: Penny Teerman