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On the 19th May 1902, a meeting was called by the Mayor of Oakleigh Cr. W. H. Thomson for the purpose of forming a bowling club in Oakleigh. Present at the meeting were Messrs A. Q. Harston, D. W. Nichol, Dr. Grant, C. E. Bolingbroke, J. Hampshire, H. Griffiths, E. Knight, D. Sussman, T. G. Allan, C. F. Cooper, I. Davey, M. P. Consodine, W. J. Monar, G. F. Larritt, A. Smith, J. Anderson, S. Webb, T. Price and W. Haughton. Mr. Haughton moved and Mr. Nicholl seconded that a club be formed to be called the Oakleigh District Bowling Club, and that the entrance fee to be ten shillings and sixpence (10/6) and the annual subscription be one pound one shilling per annum. The Mayor was elected Provisional President and Mr. Haughton elected as Secretary and Treasurer. It was decided that 100 debentures of one pound each, payable on the 1st July 1907 is saleable, for the purpose of providing funds for the construction of the green. Such debentures to be redeeemed as funds are available by ballot among the holders. In July 1906, permission was given by the trustess of the Oakleigh Recreational Reserve for permission to establish a bowling green on land east of the tennis club at a rental of two pounds two shillings per annum. On 27th August 1906, tenders were called for the laying down of the green and Mr. Horsefall's tender of ninety five pounds was accepted. On the 17th October 1907 committee members were elected. It was decided that the colours of the club be purple and gold. People familiar with the Oakleigh District history and football history in general will recall that the Oakleigh Football Club was an Australian Rules Football Club which was formed in 1891 and was admitted into the VFA in 1929 and formed part of that league until the club's demise in 1994. They were nicknamed the Devils and wore purple guernseys with a gold monogram which gave them their original nickname of the Purple and Golds. On 24th September 1907 ladies were invited to join the bowling club at an annual fee of one pound one shilling. On 2nd November 1907 subscriptions were raised to thirty shillings. The green was opened by the president on Saturday 19th January 1908. The erection of the pavilion was completed in january 1908. In 1956 the Oakleigh City Council granted the Oakleigh Bowling Club the land excised from Logie Street. This enabled the club to put down another green with an extra 7 rinks, and also to erect extensions to the club house at a cost of approximately seven thousand pounds. In 2006 the Oakleigh Bowling Club celebrated 100 years of bowling tradition at Drummond Street, Oakleigh. |
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