Heidelberg Bowling Club Still Going Strong

Tucked away below the railway embankment just north of Heidelberg Station is a very long-standing sporting institution.

The Heidelberg Bowling Club has operated on that site since 1914.

Originally the club only occupied land between Stradbroke Terrace and the rail line.

On 18th August 1913, at a meeting held at the Heidelberg Presbyterian Church Hall the decision was made to form a bowling club in Heidelberg, to be known as “The Heidelberg Bowling Club”.

The club name was changed to "City of Heidelberg Bowling Club" in  1973.

In 1915 a Croquet lawn was constructed on the north side of the Pavilion and in 1939 a second Croquet lawn established on the west side of Stradbroke Avenue. By 1981, the Croquet Section membership had dwindled and the lawn on the west side of Stradbroke Avenue was converted into a 5-rink winter green for bowls.

In 1924 the club purchased land on the west side of Stradbroke Avenue with the intention of constructing a larger green.

This did not eventuate until an eight rink green was opened in 1954.  Meanwhile, a second green had been established on the north east side of the club house and was used for bowling until the 1990’s, when the area was required to enlarge the car parking facilities.

The carparking is now a tidy income earner for the club. Parking demand around the Warringal, Austin & Mercy hospitals has been turned to the club's advantage.

From the club's inception until 1949 - with a short break in the early 1920s - John May was the club's President.

The walkway down from Darebin Street to Burgundy Street along the railway embankment is known as May's Walk.

According to Heidelberg Historical Society May's Walk was created to speed the foot journey from the May residence in Darebin Street to Heidelberg Station.

The club is keen to welcome new members - and to hire out its' clubrooms to local bodies needing meeting space with catering and bar facilities. Good on site parking too.