Interest

Women-only Bowling Clubs in Zone 10

Did you know that within Zone 10 there were once five bowling clubs catering exclusively for women? I have heard anecdotal reports of existing clubs which barred women from playing or restricted their play to limited times in the week. So women went forth and established their own clubs. In fact, I still hear stories of men refusing to play against women today. “Usually the men’s clubs cater only for the wives of members, and in the past the cause of the woman who wished to participate was quite hopeless if her husband was a non-bowler or if she was a widow or spinster.” I remember hearing of a woman who lived next to a bowling club in the Ryde area who was not allowed to join. She found a more sympathetic club about 8 kms away.

Women’s clubs in Zone 10 around 1967-9 were:

  • Concord                           182 members, found in Edward Park, Concord with 2 greens
  • Epping                             102 members, found in Dence Park Epping 
  • Hunters Hill                     122 members, on Gladesville Road, had 1 green
  • Pennant Hills                   new in 1967
  • Wentworthville               120 members

In 1967 NSW had over 47,000 women bowlers (fewer than 15,000 today?). The largest club in NSW was the Elizabethan Women’s Bowling Club in West Botany Street, Rockdale. It had over 450 members and 75 associated members, totalling about 525 bowlers. Google Maps still show where the greens were approximately  located. It had at least 2 greens.

There were a further 17 clubs in the Metropolitan district, being:

  • Balgowlah – 150 members
  • Canterbury – 80
  • Coral Sea (Randwick) – 300  
  • Curl Curl – 230 
  • Hornsby – 110, had 2 greens in Asquith
  • Killara – 200
  • Lane Cove – 200
  • Linddfield – >200
  • Mackellar – 250
  • Manly – 200
  • Mosman – 170
  • Newport – 180
  • North Sydney – 190
  • Northbridge – 150
  • Strathfield West – 186
  • Port Hacking – 300
  • War Memorial (Matraville) – 150

    Here is an excerpt from the Elizabethan WBC from 1967:

    “Perhaps some of the happiest days are Sundays and public holidays, for on these occasions the members invite their husbands and menfolk to the club for a game, the ladies playing lead and second, while the gentlemen make up teams playing 3rd and captain (skip).”

    Times have changed a little 50+ years later? Or not?

    By the way, the First Men’s World Bowling Championships had been held in Sydney, in October 1966. Australia won the pairs, triples and fours.

    The First International Women’s Lawn Bowls Championships were held at the Elizabethan WBC on December 7 – 12, 1969. The pairs, triples and fours were won by South Africa, the singles by Gladys Doyle of PNG.

    Trevor Imer-(long time bowler in Zone 10), with most information coming from the book “International Women’s Bowls Championships- Australia 1969”