Last year the Ipswich Bowls Club celebrated their 100th birthday, having first been established in August 1910. In 2010 “Ipswich Bowls Club: Chronicle of a Century 1910 – 2010” was produced by Gordon Smith, Beryl Johnston and Judith Nissen and documented the club’s history and development over its century of existence within Ipswich.
The first meeting of the Ipswich Bowls Club executive committee was held on the 1st of August 2010 and was convened by a Mr. George Herbert Shillito, who held Presidency within the club until 1914 and was then partner in Shillito & Sons Engineering and later became an Alderman in Ipswich. On the 7th of September 1910 the Ipswich Bowls Club executive committee put forward several proposals for a site for the new bowling green, which included North Ipswich Cricket Reserve, Queen’s Park and a property on Roderick Street. After votes were counted it was confirmed that development of the club would take place at Queens Park. However, the establishment of a green was a long process and it was not until September 1915 that formal lease was secured.
The plans developed by then City Engineer, Mr. W. K. Batley, were submitted and costs for building were recorded at: 350 pounds for laying of a bowling green, 150 pounds for building of a clubhouse and 100 pounds for annual upkeep of the green. It was proposed that the establishment be called “Ipswich Bowling Club” and that officers should consist of a President, two Vice-Presidents, Treasurer and a Honourable Secreatary. In the club’s early existence within Ipswich many Presidents who served were prominent businessmen in the town, often serving as Alderman or Mayors on the Ipswich Council as well as being members of such organisation as the Queensland Royal National Association, Ipswich Chamber of Commerce, Ipswich Hospital Board of Management and the Technical College Committee. Today the Ipswich Bowls Club presides in its original place on Merle Finimore Avenue, Queens Park and is still a popular recreational venue for all ages.
The Ipswich Bowls Club, Queens Park 1940’s – Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich