Adelaide Bowling Club was founded in 1897 and is the oldest bowling club in

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

. The club was founded as the result of a public meeting called by Henry F. Dench and chaired by

J. H. Finlayson John Harvey Finlayson (3 February 1843 – 30 March 1915) was the editor and part-owner of the ''South Australian Register''. Employment and social advocacy He joined ''The Register'' in 1861 and became head reporter 1866, a proprietor in 18 ...

. The

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

, Sir T. Fowell Buxton accepted the position of patron. Lavington Bonython, James Marshall, R. Kyffin Thomas, W. H. R. Porter, F. W. Thomas, F. Coombs, B. H. Pascoe, W. Thyer, F. W. Good, W. D. Reed, V. Lawrence, H. A. Grainger, F. A. Crump, J. H. Finlayson, and E. Eglinton were among the charter members. Sir

Edwin T. Smith Sir Edwin Thomas Smith (6 April 1830 – 25 December 1919) was an English-born South Australian brewer, businessman, councillor, mayor, politician and philanthropist. Early years Smith was born on 6 April 1830 at Walsall, Staffordshire, ...

Robert Barr Smith Robert Barr Smith (4 February 1824 – 20 November 1915) was an Australian businessman and philanthropist in Adelaide, South Australia. He was a partner in Elder Smith and Company from 1863 (now now Elders Limited). Early life and education Smit ...

, William Gilbert, and A. H. Grainger were also among the founding members and supporters. The first green was established on a plot behind

Government House Government House is the name of many of the official residences of governors-general, governors and lieutenant-governors in the Commonwealth and the remaining colonies of the British Empire. The name is also used in some other countries. Gover ...

, North Terrace. Its location was later an impediment to a plan by the

Adelaide City Council The City of Adelaide, also known as the Corporation of the City of Adelaide and Adelaide City Council is a local government area in the metropolitan area of greater Adelaide, South Australia and is legally defined as the capital city of Sou ...

to extend Kintore Avenue through to Victoria Drive, and so provide another exit from the city and so reduce traffic congestion. For this reason, the club was moved to its present location in 1958. The Club now has its premises within

Rymill Park Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka (previously spelt Mullawirraburka), and numbered as Park 14, is a recreation park located in the East Park Lands of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. There is an artificial lake with rowboats for hire, a c ...

in the eastern parklands, with the entrance off Dequetteville Terrace.

References

External links

* 1897 establishments in Australia Sports clubs established in 1897 Bowls in Australia Sporting clubs in Adelaide Bowls clubs {{Australia-sports-venue-stub