This 70-year-old bowlo was set to be demolished. Now it’s having its grand re-opening

When Artarmon Bowling Club was founded by 97 local blokes in 1946, “few if any” of them knew how to bowl, according to local historian Grace Warner.

At the time women were unable to become full members or drink at the bar, but in truth it was the wives of Willoughby who were the true bowling fanatics of the North Shore. 

What happened: In recent years, the fate of the clubhouse has hung in the balance. In 2019, Willoughby Council voted for it to be demolished and replaced with a new pavilion.

However, those using the venue, along with local heritage enthusiasts, advocated for the structure’s value to the community and place in local history.

Among those fighting for the site’s retention was Artarmon local Judy Simpson, who for years has attended yoga classes hosted at the clubhouse. “It was very much a loved building that was well used”, she told the Lorikeet.

In 2022, a compromise was reached: parts of the clubhouse would be knocked down to accommodate a more open, pavilion-like structure, while most of the main building would be maintained and refurbished, in keeping with its heritage character.

Why so important: Anna Greco, a Willoughby City councillor who has long advocated for the site's protection, argues it is a significant artifact in the history of local women. 

“The women's history of bowls is huge, but it's not recognised,” she told the Lorikeet.

Part of this history is embedded in the clubhouse’s design, which originally included a powder room and a ladies’ lounge, built for an Australia where women were still excluded from drinking at the main bar.

Club history: The club was established in 1946, but it would be more than a decade before they had their own clubhouse, which opened in 1957. According to a council heritage report, it was built in the popular “inter-war California bungalow” style.

That year, the club began accepting its first female members. Among them was Mollie Dive, a captain of the Australian women’s cricket team in the late 1940s.

In the 21st century, club membership began to dwindle and in 2015 the last eight members made the call to sell the land to the local council, under the condition it be used for public recreation. 

Those wishes have now been honoured, with the club officially reopening as a community space. 

• A refurbished clubhouse — maintaining its original design and wooden flooring — will serve as a community hall for meetings, classes and functions. 

• The two bowling greens have been converted into a community garden and a children’s playground.

Thumbnail: Willoughby Environmental Protection Association, Willoughby City Council archives