Booroodabin Bowls Club - 1899

The Booroodabin Bowls Club - established 1888 is Queensland's oldest bowls and part of Brisbane’s formative history. ‘Booroodabin’ is an aboriginal word meaning 'place of many oaks'. 

Lord Lamington was the founding patron of the Booroodabin Bowls Club and went on to become Queensland Governor from 1896-1901. His name attaches to such Queensland state treasures as the Lamington National Park and Lamington Plateau. It is suggested that he is also associated with that other Queensland icon, the lamington cake. After serving as Governor of Queensland he took up the post of Governor of Bombay and later served meritoriously in the 1914 – 1918 war.

 

Lady and Lord Lamington are seated, second and third from the left

Sir Thomas MacIlwraith, who was the first president of the club, was the Premier of Queensland at the time, (1879-83, 1888 and 1893).

The original Honour Board which still hangs proudly in one of the 1902 sections of the club lists Sir Thomas above a long line of distinguished Queensland family names. Many of them are synonymous with businesses that flourished in the more genteel atmosphere of the then emerging Brisbane and gave foundation to the world class city which it is today. The 'hallowed turf' which, no doubt hosted many of the day’s gentry, still welcomes today’s egalitarian society.

   

1935

 

circa 1940

 

2005
The Booroodabin Bowls Club is comprised of several old structures which are circa 1902. The original club house erected in 1888 and fronting Edmonstone Street was removed around 1901. Various additions were made with the most recent completed in the early 50’s. Efforts are being made by the current committee to restore the building and to reinstate some of the historic memorabilia. Today the traditional pursuits of the club have been widened to allow the broader community to have access to and use of a piece of Brisbane’s heritage. A more relaxed form of bowls allows anyone to enjoy some outdoor recreation as well as to take advantage of the club’s hospitality. Everyone is welcome to come in and look around.

The Booroodabin Bowls Club hosted some of Australia’s best bowlers and in the early 1990’s a young man by the name of Steve Glasson won the prestigious Booroodabin Masters not once, but twice. Some ten years further on Steve won the World Singles Bowls title twice. There are plans to re-establish the Booroodabin Masters as an acknowledgement of the club’s great heritage. Times have changed however and it is important that this reminder of our past can be accessed by the broad community. The popularity of barefoot bowls now means that all age groups, including families and children are out on the green enjoying the activity and experiencing a taste of yesteryear. Booroodabin Bowls Club is continuing as part of the present while still preserving the history of the Newstead area.