Healesville BC celebrates 125th anniversary
It’s seen fire. It’s seen flood. It’s seen two World Wars.
Healesville Bowling Club has celebrated its 125th anniversary with a celebration of all that the club – situated in the beautiful town in the Yarra Valley east of Melbourne – has achieved and survived.
Bowls Victoria President John Fisher was among those in attendance at the anniversary celebrations.
Healesville Bowling Club was formed in 1891 when 13 people attended a meeting at Daly’s Hall (which was the town hall and situated in the main street where the Healesville jewellers is today). They discussed the formation of a bowling club and from that a committee was picked.
With 22 members, the club played games from 1892 to 1905 against Port Melbourne, Melbourne, Seymour, Prahran, Auburn, Euroa, Moonee Ponds, Hawthorn, South Melbourne, Essendon, North Fitzroy, Newcastle, Lilydale, St Kilda, Camberwell, Canterbury and Moorabbin.
The club has survived through several severe floods, and fires – especially the 1962 Black Friday and 2009 Black Saturday bushfires
Major flooding was reported in 1891 the year the club was formed, 1894, 1904, 1909, three times in 8 weeks in 1916, 1923, 1925 and the worst ever recorded in the valley which to this day forms the high water mark for building permits in the council, 1971, 1984, 1996, 2005 and 2010.
In 1999 and 2000, Healesville were A division Premiers and also won premierships in 2001-02 and 2007-08.
In 2010-11 Healesville entered two teams in Saturday Metropoliltan Pennant, 1st and 2nd teams
The 1st team was placed in division 7 in which we went on to winner so well the team was promoted straight into Division 4
The 2nd team was placed in Division 8 in which we went on to win so gained promotion into Division 7.
Healesville BC has recently installed a new synthetic green with grants from the State Government and the Yarra Ranges Council. They have a beautiful grass green as well and expect to become more competitive having both surfaces.
The club has approximately 80 members and runs a Corporate Challenge each year to encourage the businesses in town to play our great game.
Healesville also opens its facilities for all types of functions during the year.
The club says: “We welcome visitors to come and play at our great club in our regular events and special events which can be found on our website.”
