Broadbeach Bowls Club

The Broadbeach Recreation Reserve (R658) was a twelve acre parcel of land set aside for camping and recreational activities. It was formally gazetted in 1937 and would eventually become the site of several community facilities. In February 1946 an application was made for a small block of land to be set aside for the construction of a bowling green.

In March of 1951, at the monthly meeting of the Broadbeach Development Association, the matter of forming a bowling club was first discussed. At a meeting held on Saturday 26 May, following a motion proposed by Ald. W. Low, the Broadbeach Bowling club was formed and members were elected to a provisional committee. Amongst other appointments, Mr J. Bigelow was elected provisional chairman and Mr J. Foggitt honourable secretary. At a club meeting in November discussions were already under way with officials from the Queensland Bowling Association regarding the construction of the green as particular care would be required to build on the club’s sandy foundation ground.

At a meeting on Sunday 7 September 1952, attended by representatives of the Queensland Bowling Association (QBA) and around 20 members, the Broadbeach Bowling Club was officially launched. Attendees were informed that a lease had been arranged with the South Coast Town Council for a parcel of land approximately 1½  acres in size for 21 years at £15 per annum.

The land was situated on the corner of Surf Street and Armrick Avenue and had sufficient space for several greens and club rooms. Mr W. Low was elected to the position of president, Mr J. Bigelow senior vice president and Mr E. Buck as treasurer. The annual subscription was set at £4/4/ per annum. The committee resolved to raise £3000 by a debenture issue to cover construction costs and the purchase of equipment. The construction of a club house was viewed as a priority as this would provide an important source of revenue for the fledgling organisation.

The laying down of the green took seven months and cost £1,333/10. Mr C. H. (Snow) Williams from Burleigh Heads had supervised the laying down the green while Mr J. Gemmell was the green director and M. N. Carey was the green keeper.

The fencing, painting and landscaping of the area surrounding the green was in large part completed by club members volunteering their time and labour. By November 1953 the green was considered in a fit enough state for play and members were extended an invitation to gather together and test the ground. Play continued over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

The Broadbeach Lady Bowlers Club was formed at a meeting held on Sunday 31 January 1954. Mrs V. Thurecht agreed to act as president of the temporary committee, Mrs J. Gemmell became the vice president and Mrs J. Allan took the role of treasurer.

The Broadbeach Bowling Club was officially opened on Saturday 20 March 1954 by Mr T. Strachan, immediate past president of the QBA, who bowled the first bowl. The grounds were decorated with bright streamers, coloured flags and tubs of ferns and palms for the festive occasion. The president of the ladies club presented £25 and an Australian flag, which was unfurled to the applause and cheer of the 250 bowlers, their wives and friends attended the event which included an afternoon of refreshments and social bowling. Further improvements to club facilities, including the construction of a weather shelter and canteen were planned for the near future.

In 2005 the local and State Governments agreed to extend the Club’s trustee lease which was due to expire on 30 June. In 2011 the Broadbeach Bowls Club was announced as one of the official host venues for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. In preparation for the games major upgrades were completed to the clubhouse, greens and surrounding facilities in May 2016.

 Sources of information and further reading

1. Gold Coast-Tweed District Bowls Association. 60 years review 1938-1998 bowls on the Gold Coast. Palm Beach: Gold Coast-Tweed district Bowls Association,1998.
2. Rains, Kevin. Broadbeach: an historical overview. Gold Coast: City Planning Cultural Heritage Development, 2014.
3. Golf and Bowls Land at Broadbeach Urged (1946, February 16).The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 – 1947), p. 3. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188436961
4. BROADBEACH (1951, March 14).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 1. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225633492
5. BROADBEACH BOWLING (1951, May 30).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 6. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225635340
6. DEBENTURES TO FINANCE (1951, November 7).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 18. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225638677
7. BROADBEACH BOWLERS (1952, September 10).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 9. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226259984
8. BROADBEACH BOWLING CLUB (1953, January 21).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 25. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226263423
9. BROADBEACH BOWLING CLUB (1953, March 25).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 17. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226264977
10. BROADBREACH BOWLING CLUB (1953, July 29).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 23. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226267949
11. BROADBEACH (1953, September 23).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 27. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226269498
12. BROADBEACH BOWLING CLUB (1953, October 21).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 19. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226270032
13. BROADBEACH BREEZES (1954, January 27).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 23. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226272813
14. BROADBEACH BREEZES (1954, February 3).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 22. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226273034
15. BROADBEACH BOWLING CLUB (1954, March 24).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 18. Retrieved May 12, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226274204
16. BIAS SAVES BOWLERS (2004, June 17). The Gold Coast Bulletin, P. 5.
17. Craddock, R. (2011, November 14). Blue ribbon day for battling bowls club. Retrieved May 18, 2017, from http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/blue-ribbon-day-for-battling-bowls-club/news-story/e528878550a020370e55ceb7d2ab71f4?sv=3f55bc69a8ae86575fc6e00f91459b1d
18. Simonot, S. (2015, November 4). Broadbeach Bowls Club gets $3.3 million facelift: Gold Coast companies to share work. Retrieved May 18, 2017, from http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/game-changer/coast-companies-share-in-33-million-upgrade-of-broadbeach-bowls-club/news-story/3b0732bdc95324b7bb14e6804059c550
19. Broadbeach Bowls Club. Retrieved May 18, 2017 from https://www.gc2018.com/venue/broadbeach-bowls-club