Windsor Park (includes Bowls Club, Croquet Club & former Aerodrome)

Situated on land first set aside for "recreation, sport and garden purposes" in 1899, the club opened towards the end of a period of rapid growth in the population of the Town of Windsor, a growth stimulated by the extension of the tram to the Kedron Bridge in 1914. The decision to form a club was taken at a public meeting at the Windsor Council Chambers called on 22 April 1921, with a number of civic dignitaries present. The meeting was instigated by two Windsor residents, Mr Alex Inglis and Mr Hugh Lavery. 

On 6 May 1921 the present site in Windsor Park was chosen and a satisfactory lease of a portion of the park was arranged with the Windsor Town Council. The peppercorn rent of £2 per annum for 21 years and an extra year for every £50 spent on improvements was agreed. On 19 May ‘the Windsor Bowling Club’ was officially constituted. Prominent among the foundation officers and members of the club council were R.B. Lane, Mayor of Windsor and several of the local Aldermen, including William A. Jolly who would become the first Mayor of the Greater Brisbane Council in 1925.

On 11 October 1921, tenders were called for the construction of what is now known as the "Bob Lane" green. Messrs. Gibson & Southerden were awarded the contract and A.E. Harding Frew, who subsequently designed the William Jolly Bridge, was the honorary supervising engineer. Harry Moore, the State Singles champion at the time and later the Parks Superintendent for the Brisbane City Council provided assistance and advice. 

 

The original Club Pavilion was erected by George Bott, under the supervision of Windsor Council Alderman J. McDonald who was also responsible for drawing up the plans and specifications. A total of £2,632 was spent on green construction, the erection of the pavilion and furniture and plant. The green was opened for play on 27 May 1922 with a foundation membership of 77. Like the Auchenflower Bowling Club which was opened in October of the previous year, the club membership was a virtual "who’s who" of local personalities and civic identities in the inter-war period. Local residents involved with the foundation of the clubhouse and the early years included: Chas Taylor, MLA; Alderman James McDonald, and Town Council Engineer, Bill Huxham.

Over the years, as the local population increased and club membership grew, a number of significant alterations were made. In 1927, gabled extensions were added to the clubhouse and open verandahs extended for the full width. These extensions were enclosed in 1934 and over time other improvements carried out. In 1954 the building was raised and somewhat redesigned to permit the construction of a new bar, a ladies room, and several offices underneath the existing structure. All this at a time when the Windsor Club was experiencing unprecedented prosperity, success in State and inter State Championships, as well as taking the initial steps towards the formation of the Ladies Club which occurred in 1955. In 1969, further re-modelling was undertaken.

Changes which reflected those occurring in the wider community not only affected the Club House. The original green served the needs of the club’s ever increasing membership until 1939 when a second green was laid down and opened on 9 December 1939. Around this time, Memorial Gates to the club were erected to honour the memory of Fred Pumfrey, Club Secretary and then President in the late 1920s. On 25 June 1955, the two greens were named the Bob Lane and Paul Maggs Greens respectively in recognition of the contribution to the game of the Club’s two life members. These original greens were replaced with tift dwarf greens in 1980.

 

While the second half of the twentieth century brought with it many changes, a most significant factor in the life of the club was the declining membership which accompanied changes in the lifestyle of the surrounding community. In 1965, the Metropolitan singles final played at Windsor was directly televised, a first for Queensland. Flood damage, which also had an impact on the wider community, wrought havoc on the greens and the furniture and fittings repeatedly between 1967 and 1974. Despite the decline in membership, the club continued to upgrade facilities in accordance with the changing needs of those it served. It undertook extensive renovations in the late 1970s in order to comply with the requirements of both the Licensing commission and the Fire Brigade and again in the early 1980s, for example making provisions for car parks. In the 1990s, the club has reaped the reward of long years of industrious and careful financial planning, it is debt free. With the gentrification which is occurring, it is once again undergoing change to serve the needs of the younger members who are now joining such clubs. The installation of poker machines being one of the many adaptations to the demands of the 1990s. 

The history of the club and its members and its many adaptations over time reflect the changes which have occurred in the area in which it is located and that in the community which it has served since the inaugural meeting in 1921.

Windsor Croquet Club

The Windsor Croquet Club was established in 1915. It is likely that the clubhouse on the site also dates from this period, though most of the records of the Club were lost in the 1974 flood. It has been suggested that the clubhouse was a former army hut, moved to site when the Club was established. This is not supported by any evidence presently to hand, however.

Like the neighbouring Windsor Bowls Club, the Croquet Club has played an important role in the recreational and social lives of several generations of local residents. Past presidents from local prominent families include Mrs A. W. Bale (1934-35) and Mrs H. Jolly (1963-65)

Internally, the clubhouse appears to be relatively intact. A feature of the clubhouse is a Federation style arched timber room divider. An extension to the eastern side of the clubhouse was added in 1934. Other surviving croquet clubhouses in Brisbane are situated in Mowbray Park, East Brisbane; Yeronga Park, Yeronga; Graceville Memorial Park, Graceville; and Toowong. The Windsor Croquet Club is a particularly intact example of a Brisbane croquet club. 

This Federation era croquet club is significant as an example of its type and for its long social and historical association with the Windsor area, particularly the Town of Windsor, proclaimed in 1903.

Aerodrome

During 1920-21, the park site was used as an aerodrome on a casual basis by a number of prominent early aviators, including F.L. Roberts, R.S. Adair and H.J.L. Hinkler.

Notable airman and civil aviation pioneer, F.L. Roberts, used Windsor Park as an aerodrome from which he carried hundreds of joy-riders in flights over the nearby suburbs and made several quick trips to Ipswich and Toowoomba. With his mechanic W.H. Nicholson, he made an extensive aerial tour of central-west and northern Queensland returning to his Windsor park base down the coast from Townsville. Throughout 1921 Roberts attempted to establish a Brisbane-Sydney air service. The venture failed through lack of capital and it was a further decade before the service developed. Roberts was recognised for his services to civil aviation with the award of an OBE in the 1970 Queen's birthday Honours List.

On 13 August 1920 Ron Adair made the second direct flight between Sydney and Brisbane, landing his Avro 504K at Windsor park after a flight of 5 ½ hours.

World-renowned airman, Bert (H.J.L.) Hinkler, flew non-stop from Sydney to Bundaberg on 11 April 1921. He landed at Windsor Park on his return flight on 25 April before continuing south. The Avro Baby used in his Windsor Park landing remained in Australia when Hinkler returned to England and was donated to the Queensland Museum.

An aviation plaque was unveiled in Windsor Park in 1971 to commemorate the events and personalities associated with the use of the Park as an aerodrome in 1920 and 1921. The northern wall of the BCC depot at the park has been painted with a large mural of Hinkler.

1. Brisbane City Council Detail Plans

2. Hamilton, J., Windsor Bowls Club: the story of the first fifty golden years, Windsor: 1971. A History of Windsor Bowls Club 1921- 1996. Brisbane: 1996

3. Information supplied by Averyl Taylor, Captain of the Windsor Croquet Club, 17 July 1998

4. Pearn, John. Auchenflower: The Suburb and the Name. Brisbane: Amphion Press, 1997

5. Sanderson, D., Windsor 125, a history of the Windsor State School 1865 -1990, Brisbane; Windsor P&C, 1990

6. Teague, D., Windsor Council Chambers, 1897 - 1997, Brisbane: Windsor & Districts Historical Society, 1997

7. Correspondence from J. Golding, Chairman, Management Committee. 8 June 1998