Addresses
Type of place
Club house, Sportsground
Period
Federation 1890-1914, World War I 1914-1918
Style
Arts and Crafts, Bungalow
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Yeronga Bowling Club
Yeronga Bowls Club
Addresses
Type of place
Club house, Sportsground
Period
Federation 1890-1914, World War I 1914-1918
Style
Arts and Crafts, Bungalow
The Yeronga Bowls Club, formed in 1912, and opened in 1913, is a fine example of a Brisbane sporting, leisure and social facility that has operated continuously on the same site for over 90 years. The original club shed, which was opened in 1913, and the club pavilion, which opened two years later, have undergone a number of additions, extensions and alterations over the years to meet the changing needs of the club and its members. The club has also been used as a venue for hosting interstate teams, its 75th Diamond Jubilee and many sporting achievements over the years.
Lot plan
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Face brick
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (D) Representative; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
Lot plan
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Face brick
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (D) Representative; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
History
The origins of the Yeronga Bowls Club go back to 25 March 1912 when a meeting was held at the Yeronga Hall, chaired by local identity, E Denny-Day who lived at nearby Avoca. He became the foundation president, with Hon D Denham as the club’s first patron.
The club started with 44 foundation members and was called the “Yeronga Bowling Club”. A picture of the original club shed in 1913 is featured in the Yeronga Bowls Club history booklet.
The Constitution and Rules of the Booroodabin Bowling Club (formed in 1893) were adopted with the exception that the annual subscription would be £1 1shillling payable half yearly. This Constitution and Rules were retained until 1955, when a review of the rules was necessary to conform with the Liquor Act.
An 180-perch site for the green was purchased for £120 from J Lang (he became president of the club in 1915-16). A tender for £130 was accepted on 6 December 1912 to construct the green, which was opened on 12 July 1913.
A tender for £85 to construct the first section of the clubhouse was accepted on 4 March 1913. The clubhouse was officially opened on 12 July 1915 by the President of the Queensland Bowling Association.
The building was extensively changed in the Interwar period to cater for the growing club membership. This occurred in 1919, 1926 and 1936.
A picture of the club pavilion was featured in the Queenslander in 1923.
The 1936 alterations appear to have been the most extensive. By this stage, the whole building was resited on newly acquired land in its present position with a new green constructed where the club pavilion was previously located.
The club pavilion (pictured in the club’s history booklet) was officially opened on 19 December 1936 by the Premier of Queensland, Hon W Forgan-Smith (later to be patron of the club between 1945-53).
A ladies club was also formed in the Interwar period. Although ladies were invited to attend the club pavilion from 1917 it was not until 1933 that a ladies club started to function with Mrs E Welch as the first president.
A drinking fountain was erected to the memory of HA Manahan “a great man who had given so much to the Club”, and unveiled on 29 August 1942.
The next alterations and extensions to the club pavilion occurred in the 1950s following an approval granted for building work costing £4,000. The revamped building was officially opened by the President of the Queensland Bowling Association on 3 September 1955. There were 350 people in attendance. The two greens were named after two long-standing members of the club, CH (Clyde) Barclay and RD (Bob) MacGregor.
A highlight of the club’s sporting achievements occurred in 1953 when Yeronga players, A Rafton and J Fern won the Queensland Champion Pairs. Alan Rafton went on to win the 1958 Metropolitan Singles Championship and was selected to represent Australian in the Lawn Bowls Pairs at the 1958 Empire Games in Cardiff, Wales.
In the following decade, the club’s membership peaked in 1965 with 240 members, causing the books to close temporarily to new members.
Three years later in May 1968 the club’s name was changed from Yeronga Bowling Club to Yeronga Bowls Club to distinguish it from other organisations engaged in the new sport of ten pin bowling.
In 1969 decorative gateways were erected over the pedestrian entrances in honour of two gentlemen who were staunch pioneers of the club. The School Road gate was named in honour of O Stubbs, club patron for 15 years and the Querrin Street gate in honour of BC Gavin who was provedore of the club for 25 years. Plaques on the fence nearby identify these memorial gates.
The club celebrated its 75th Diamond Jubilee on Wednesday 29 April 1987 – the first playing day of its 75th year in existence.
The club was incorporated on 16 April 1991, and when integrated on 1 April 1994, it had a Board of Management and separate ladies and men’s committees with respective presidents.
Description
Yeronga Bowls Club is located on a large block with frontages to Querrin Street and School Road. The decorative brick fences and commemorative gates fronting both streets make a contribution to the streetscape. The club pavilion overlooks the two bowling greens.
This two-storey interwar building features a large gable core and projecting gables. Although altered and extended over the years, the building retains the integrity of its basic form. A photo of the club pavilion in 1936 shows that it once had a double projecting gable with staircase at either end. A third gable was added at a later period, the staircase removed and the balconies enclosed with brickwork at the ground and upper level.
The club facility includes a memorial drinking fountain built in 1942 and commemorative gates and decorative fencing built in 1969.
Statement of significance
Relevant assessment criteria
This is a place of local heritage significance and meets one or more of the local heritage criteria under the Heritage planning scheme policy of the Brisbane City Plan 2014. It is significant because:
References
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Department of Natural Resources, Queensland Certificate of Title records
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Brisbane City Council Properties on the Web
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Brisbane City Council 1946 aerial photo
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Brisbane City Council Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Detail Plan No 1546, circa 1950s
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Heritage Unit, Stephens District: Character and Heritage Study, Heritage Unit, Brisbane City Council, 1995
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Mackenzie, Annie, Memories along the Boggo Track, Boolarong Publications, 1992
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Yeronga Bowls Club, Yeronga Bowls Club Inc: 90th Year Celebrations 25th to 29th June 2003
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Queenslander, 24 March 1923, p 26.
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised September 2020)