Lorne Victoria Australia

The first Bowling Club was formed in 1954 on the foreshore near the Surf Life Saving Club. There were two bowling Greens before the Lorne Bowls Club. The first was built at Erskine House in 1920 and the second on the southern side of Gay Street, a single rink built by Len Allen on part of his property.

The Lorne Bowls Club on The Flat was closed in 2002 when the Lorne Foreshore Committee needed to create a carpark on the site. The L.F.C financed the bulk of the construction of a new club on the Erskine House croquet lawn. The club enters teams into the Corangamite District Bowls Association competitions.

1 9 – 1 – 1 9 9 5 THURSDA Y .
LORNE BOWLS CLUB TO FIGHT CAR PARK PLANS. reprinted from the Colac Herald.

The Lorne Bowling Club is digging in its heels for a fight over a plan to turn its bowling greens into a car park.

A beautification plan for the Lorne foreshore unveiled to bowling club members last Friday revealed a 95 space car park on the sites currently occupied by the Bowls Club, the trampoline area and the tennis courts.

President of the Lorne Bowls Club, Alan Brown said he was quite surprised and disappointed with the plan to replace the 41 year old Bowling Club with a car park.

The plan has been commissioned by the State Government to “Beautify” the foreshore in Lorne. Minister for Natural Resources, Mark B irrell has specifically targetted Lorne and appointed

consultants some 18 months ago to design a beautification plan.

There is a strong feeling that the club has been undermined but we are going to fight it.

Mr Brown said the club has a membership of about 50 men and 30 women which increases over the holiday period.

We entertain so many visitors through the summer period and we also have a lot of passer byes who stop to watch us and feel the current location is a natural spot for the bowling green.

LOR.NE BOWLS CLUB HISTORY-

1950 First meeting of the Formative Committee.
President – Mr J.Simpson
Vice Presidents – Messrs L.Allen and N.McKinnon.
Committee:-Messrs N.Williams, E.Allen, W. Green, J.Lucas, and D. Stewart who became Secretary at the next meeting and was succeeded by Mr L.Allen.

Committee agreed to approach Mr H.Stribling to join the Committee and to undertake the preparation of the green.
At subsequent meetings Committee agreed to 250 circulars and a personal canvas of townspeople for more help. £550 raised by the 4th October 1951.

13th September 1952 Mr.H.Stribling advised on costs to date and that £2,800 would be required in all to complete the project. Debentures had realised £1,250.

15th July 1953 Committee agreed to call a Public Meeting to form the Club. This was held in the Library Hall on the 28th July and Members of the Hilltop Bowling Club, 2 Gay Street, Lorne were asked to assist in the formation of the Lorne Bowling Club.

Permission to undertake the construction of a Bowling Club on the foreshore was given by Mr. Mick Clarke of the Lorne Foreshore committee. A retaining wall built on the Lorne foreshore in the 1930’s to limit erosion was washed away and subsequently replaced.
This wall would help protect the proposed Bowling Club area. It was very difficult to obtain materials and permits were required for concrete and timber as the Government was diverting materials to housing not sports. Mr.H.Stribling employed men from the Broadford

Mill to mill red gum on his Euroa property for plinths around the green and for fencing posts. It was carted on Sundays as his own material and goods, thus circumventing another post war restriction.
To form the green, Mr.H.Stribling carted many truck loads of soil from the Cumberland River, but when the experts from Melbourne tested the levelled green they agreed the soil was unsuitable.

It was then stripped off (it is now the “surrounds”) and another quantity of suitable soil was carted from below the old slaughterhouse and stables area on the Great Ocean Road, just past Hird Street. The seed was purchased from Brunnings – Chewings Fesque and Bent.

No drains were provided as the whole area was on sand and time has proved the wisdom of this decision as even after flooding rains all surface water is gone within one hour.

The green was constructed over what had been the town’s main drain an open channel running almost parallel to the beach in that area of the foreshore. This can still be identified by a subsidence every year following top dressing, but it has never proved the advantage to locals which outsiders contend.

Mr.H.Stribling planted the coprosma lucida hedge on the ocean side as a salt resistant wind break. Privet was planted along the north boundary but burnt off with salt and was replaced with coprosma.

The green took approximately one year to build.

Mr.H.Stribling also provided the concrete base for the first clubhouse and acted as greenkeeper for the first year.

11th AUGUST 1953

First meeting was held of the Lorne Bowling Club. £100 was paid to the Lorne Foreshore Committee. Fees set at 3/-.
Y early subscriptions – Men £4-4s,

Ladies £2-2s. The flagpole was donated by Mr.S.Pitts. Mats, kitties and scoreboards were donated by Mr.H.Schram.
Club flag donated by Mrs.E.Allen.
Ladies fund raising activities paid for the first pavilion in 1954 and extensions in 1956.

6th JANUARY 1954 OPENING DAY.

Leading up to the opening Mr.H.Stribling had expressed some doubts on the surface of the green as being “too bumpy” but as a non bowler gave in to the committee that it would be alright.

In the absence of Mr.Guy M.L.A. Brigadier R.Tovell was asked to open the green. Trophies for the day were donated by Mr.N.Williams and Mr.E.Allen.
The Club had a credit balance of £132-16-3d.
Debentures stood at £2321.

SEPTEMBER 1 9 5 4 .

Mens subscriptions increased to £6-6s. Ladies remained at

£2-2s.
Mr.H.Stribling was made the first Life Member in recognition of the

interest he had taken in preparing the green and also for his financial support to the club.

Mr.E.Allen was appointed greenkeeper from October to May.

Patrons:-
1954/5 Mr.Stribling Snr. 1956 Sir Frank Beaurepaire.

NOVEMBER 1 9 5 9 .

Mr.W.Green was appointed greenkeeper and Mr.L.Fletcher, surrounds keeper, each to give mutual assistance. This arrangement continued for 15 years

JANUARY 1974. “HALF-WAY”.

Members included Mr.G.Crabbe and Mr.G.Draper. Ladies included Mrs.H.Caird, Mrs.J .Hammerton and Mrs.P.Peart.
Funds approximately $3000. Four Life Members. Memberships 40 Men 40 Ladies,5 Country. Subscriptions Men $18.50, Ladies $6.30, Country

$10. Green fees 40c, Visitors 65c, and Pennant fees $1.00.
Discussions were held with the Golf Club but amalgamation was considered “impracticable in the near future”.
An application was made for a liquor licence.

1987 bowls scoops were first used at our club.
JUNE 1992 a concrete readymix truck careered down Bay Street across

Mountjoy Pde. and finished up in the men’s locker room.