Sports Clubs in Kew in the final decades of the 19th century and in the early 20th century were often umbrella organisations with facilities for a number of sports. Typically in Kew, this included teams in lawn bowls, tennis and croquet. The Kew Bowling Club was formed in 1880 while the privately owned Auburn Heights Recreation Club was opened in 1904. By 1998, the two Clubs decided to amalgamate at the Auburn Heights site in Barkers Road, forming the Kew Heights Sports Club. The combined club was itself taken over by the Melbourne Cricket Club in 2012 becoming MCC Kew Sports Club. In 2017 MCC Kew closed and its landholding was subsequently sold to Carey Baptist Grammar School. Both the Kew and Auburn Heights Clubs assembled important collections. These historically significant and large collections were donated to the Society in 2020. The collections include manuscripts, pictures, trophies, plans, honour boards etc. References Barnard FGA 1910, 'Sports and Pastimes' in Jubilee History of Kew Victoria: Its origin & progress 1803-1910. Chapman J & C 1999, The history of the Auburn Heights Recreation Club, 1904 to 1908. Reeve S 2012, City of Boroondara: Thematic Environmental History, p.216.The combined collections of the four sporting clubs making up the collection number hundreds of items that are historically significant locally. They are also significant to the sporting history of the greater Melbourne area and to the sports of lawn bowls and tennis in Australia in the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection illuminates two of the Victorian historic themes - 'Building community life' through forming community organisations and 'Shaping cultural and creative life' by participating in sport and recreation.A framed and glazed large photograph of a tournament between members of the Auburn Heights Bowling Club and Dairy Produce Salesmen in 1907. While the match-up might seem odd, during this period, there were many diary farms and milk outlets in Kew. [The item forms part of the large historic Auburn Heights Recreation Club collection, with items relating to the sports of lawn bowls, tennis and croquet, gifted to the Kew Historical Society in 2020].clubs - lawn bowls - kew (vic), auburn heights recreation club - barkers road - kew (vic)

Black and white photograph (4 copies)Note attached to photograph: Ringwood Bowling Club 1959 season. Mrs Leigh throwing the kitty. Rear Mrs Gil Aird- First Ladies Club President.

Black and white photograph (2 copies- 1 large, 1 smaller)Written on rear of backing sheet: "Joe Archbold, father of Ringwood Bowling Club. Mr Bamford in centre. Gilbert Chandler, M.P. left. Later to become 'Sir'.

Copy of black and white photograph, South Bendigo Bowling Club 1906. Men on bowling green, dressed in white trousers, dark blazers, straw bowler hats. The spire on LH side is the Congregational church, later a school in Olinda Street, Quarry Hill. Poppet head in background, RH side, is the Cosmopolitan and Summer Hill United Gold Mining company ( registered) on 2nd September 1870. Brick chimney on extreme RH side of photo. Mine not in image, but close by was the Palmerston. The mine was on the Sophia Reef, Manager George Wilsn Froggatt. Shareholders 1870: Robert Taylor, Ellen Taylor, Henry Hattam, Michael Cock, Robert Carr, William H. Casey, John McCrae, Joseph Millin, William Moran, Morton Hansen, George W. Froggatt, John A. Woodward, Robert Moorhead, William Nicholls.bendigo, mining, cosmopolitan anfd summer hil united

Black and white photograph"Written on back of photograph" Mrs. W. Bamford, (Ringwood), putting down the kitty, opening season Croydon Bowling Club. The back of the photograph states, "Mail" 17/9/1953".

Catalogue card reads, "Ringwood Bowling Club. Mr. Bert Dear, Burwood receives first prize on behalf of J. Delaney. K. McLellan, J. Gorman and J. Warner".

Sepia photograph Framed plaque presented by A. C. Loughman Esq. Vice President representing Victorian Bowling Association, to the Ringwood Bowling Club. S. F. Hunt. President. A. J. Roberts. Secretary.

Sir John Madden, Chief Justice of Victoria, opened the Auburn Heights Recreation Club in Barkers Road in December 1904. Two years later the greens were improved and a new croquet lawn established. In September 1906, a ceremony was held to open these and also the new pavilion designed by Harry Tompkins.Rare early image of an important sports club in Kew1/4 plate glass negative (and accompanying print) of a scene at the opening of the new greens and croquet lawn at the Auburn Heights Recreation Club in 1906. A player at the Auburn Heights Recreation Club, identified as a Mr Anderson in faint writing on the sleeve of the glass negative, considers his next bowl. His attire, and that of the players in the other photos would indicate that players were expected to wear a shirt, tie and jacket at the Club, but when bowling, waistcoats were acceptable.auburn heights recreation club, barkers road, kew

Black and white photograph"Written on back of photograph" Ringwood Bowling Club , 11/9/58. Left to right: W. Bamford, Mr. Cateron, Mr. Leigh, Mr. Manson, M.L.A., A. Dale, S.E. Dickins.

Sepia photograph "Attached to photograph" From the Members of the Ringwood Bowling Club and the Ladies Section, to their President ---- Mr. A. A. Williams ---- in appreciation of his untiring efforts to achieve our new Clubrooms ..... 7-9-68.

Stawell Bowling Club Season Opening Day. Large group of people on verandah of two storey Club house building with a line of people at lower level. Sometime in late 1950'sor early 1960's. Shows willow trees around Cato lake in background.stawell sport

Back formal blazer worn by member of the Heidelberg Golf Club Bowling Club. Black men's blazer with navy lining, black buttons and embroidered pocket.Pocket embroidery: 'R.V.B.A. H.G.C.", on manufacturer's label: "Solweave by Sackville of Melbourne"hgc bowling club, clothing, bill leonard

Black and white photograph showing sixteen ladies dressed in uniform. Inscriptions: on back - Kangaroo Flat Ladies Bowling Club 1961. Sitting - Mrs Read, Mrs Hanbridge Vice Pres., Mrs Boromeo President, Mrs Danson Sec. Mrs Yanner, Mrs Ipsen. Back row L to R - Mrs Aisbett, Mrs Moller, Mrs Johanson, Mrs Rowe, Mrs Allan, Mrs Smith, Mrs Grocott, Mrs Pearmain, Mrs Bulford, Mrs Mulqueen.Herald Sunperson, group, sports team

Bowls Victoria: Region & Club guide, 2016-2017 is a guide to bowling clubs throughout Victoria with contact details.53 p., colour illus., black and white textheidelberg golf club bowling club, lawn bowls, bowls victoria

Typed letterRingwood Bowling Club- Circular to Members includes a short resume showing the present position of the Club and proposed future programme. Letter also asks for assistance for the Club by labour at working bees or donations to the Club funds.

Small booklet with yellow cover.International Bowling Board Laws of the Game of Bowls. ABC By-laws and Constitution. RVBA Constitution, By-laws and Rules for Competitions. May 1988. Secretary: P.J. Wiltshire.

Coloured photograph

Bowls Australia: National bowls census report. Victorian snapshot 2015. Statistics and information on Bowling clubs throughout Victoria.11 p., colour illus. and textheidelberg golf club bowling club, bowls australia, lawn bowls

Bowls Australia: National bowls census report. Victoria snapshot 2014. Statistics and information on Bowling clubs throughout Victoria.11 p., colour illus. and textheidelberg golf club bowling club, bowls australia, lawn bowls

1929 saw the establishment of the Ringwood Bowls Club initially located on the land now occupied by the Eastland Shopping Centre. It moved to its current location in Loughnan Road, Ringwood in 1997.Hand-written letter from the Hon. Secretary of the Ringwood Bowling Club to Mr McCaskill requesting attendance at next general meeting. Dated 11th September 1929.city of ringwood bowls club, ringwood bowling club, ringwood bowls club, lawn bowls, bowling

1929 saw the establishment of the Ringwood Bowls Club initially located on the land now occupied by the Eastland Shopping Centre. It moved to its current location in Loughnan Road, Ringwood in 1997.Hand-written letter from the Hon. Secretary of the Ringwood Bowling Club to Mr McCaskill requesting attendance at next general meeting. Dated 8th January 1930.city of ringwood bowls club, ringwood bowling club, ringwood bowls club, lawn bowls, bowling

Black and white photograph"Written on back of photograph" Ringwood Bowling Club. Ringwood bowlers, L. to R. D.B. Leigh, G. Gordon, W. Hancock, C. Paris who received trophy for second prize". c1970/71. (Occasion unknown).

Sepia photograph of 1900 Bendigo Bowling Club. Group of well dressed men outside a building. Men wearing waistcoats, suits, ties, hats. Four bowls (for playing law bowls) right front of photo. Inscriptions: Card, front - R Dermer Smith, Photo Bull St., Bendigo. Card back - GP88. Stamped 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch, 1959, 145)' Paper posted to rear of card. Stamped - 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch' Hand written in stamp '1959', '145'. Hand written in blue ink '1900 Bowling Club'. 'M Yates (Bendigo Station Master), F Brown, Roeder (Hotel Athenaeum), Howel (Band Manager), Town Clerk W Honeybone, Jackson Parker, AJ Pearce (Grammar School), Fred Barder, Pascoe, JA Deravin (Dolfe), WHB Neill, Charley Satchell (Solicitor_, Charlie Fly (Grocer), Andrews (Commercial Traveller), MA Bosselman, Mr WJ Jackson Sen, Mr WJ Jackson Jun. (tailors), John Fly (brother of Charles), Dr. Garnet, Dr. Theodore Deravin. (old Grammar School at back of St Andrews about to be demolished). Not Bendigo. Rear Admiral Dr St---dee, 1893.person, group, sports team