Williamstown Bowling Club
Club Milestones
9 June 1880
At a General Meeting in the Mechanics Institute, the motion to form the Williamstown Bowling Club is carried and a provisional committee is formed.
October 1880
WBC's first general committee is selected. The Hon AT Clark is the club's first president.
13 October 1880
The club's first opening day. The club has a 3-rink green on adjoining land, to the north of the Mechanics Institute on Electra street.
1882
WBC joins VBA.
1883
The club's first pavilion is erected. Four quoit rinks are opened for play during the winter.
1886
The club obtains a liquor licence.
1888
The pavilion is extended and moved from Electra street to the Lyons street site. On 4th October Mr McRobert is the first president to take chair at a committee meeting at the new location.
6 October 1888
The new green is opened.
1889
The first club championship is held. The club's first formal constitution is adopted and rule books are printed for the first time. Club colours of blue and green are chosen.
1911
In January the Committee writes to the council with a request to widen the green to 120ft.
1913
In March, plans for a new clubhouse are approved and the new pavilion is opened by the Mayor on 23 August. It included a telephone, electricity and a shower. The old pavilion was sold on auction.
1914
Gaslight is used to illuminate the green at night.
1918
Electric light is installed at the pavilion.
1919
Electric light is installed on the green. Night play was allowed twice a week, on Monday and Friday evenings.
1924
The clubhouse is extended to the west.
1936
Membership reaches 100. A waiting list operates until a second green is built.
1938
WBC marks 50 years of occupancy with an electric light tournament, a visit from a VBA team, a tournament for 16 invited club teams, and the striking of a souvenir club badge.
1950
The club begins to purchase a quantity of land in the area with the aim of constructing a new clubhouse and greens but the scheme was not supported and the land was later sold.
1951
A house in Melbourne road is purchased for the greenkeeper.
1955
A new billiards room is added to the clubhouse.
1959
The club initiates an invitation tournament, played by topline bowlers in fours, which is played annually until the 1966-67 season.
1960
A new bar is added to the clubhouse. Members are also given permission to wear shorts in the bar!
1964
Two seven-rink greens are now open for play. The green boasts a watering system paid for through Special Efforts. Indoor bowls in introduced in the evenings at WBC.
1966
An honour board, designed by Ron Wilkes, is presented by Bill McLister. The old lighting system is replaced on the two seven-rink greens.
1975-76
The interior is transformed at a cost, including furnishings of more than $90,000.
1978
Number 1 green is relaid, not for the first time.
1980
The club now has a 'permissive occupancy' and pays rates reduced by 35% under the Cultural and Recreational Land Act.
1991
New clubhouse is opened.
2008
The WLBC merges with the WBC.
2018
HBCC announces plans to demolish the WLBC green and clubhouse to make way for a new tennis court and pavilion.
2022
Lights upgraded to allow for night bowls.
2024
Green No 2 relaid.