St Kilda Sports Club

Provides Lawn Bowls, Petanque, Darts, Cricket & other sporting activities, it is the home of St Kilda Bowling Club, Emerald Hill Cricket Club, St Kilda Petanque Club & St Kilda Darts Club.

For information on functions, bowling or petanque rink bookings please see the web site: http://stkildasportsclub.com.au/

History:
The St Kilda Sports Club (known as the Prince Alfred Bowling Club from the Royal visit of 1868 until 1882) was formed in 1865. A part of the land set aside from the remainder of Albert Park as an Alpaca Reserve in 1864, under the control of St Kilda Council, was reserved for bowling club purposes and the 150 foot green was laid and a high paling fencing erected. The green was opened with temporary club rooms on 11 November 1865 and the event commemorated by the planting of trees. The club catered for quoits, croquet and skittles in addition to lawn bowls.

A small symmetrical timber frame and weatherboard pavilion designed by architect Sydney Smith was built in 1876 facing the green but to one side. The jerkin head corrugated galvanised iron roof featured an iron ridge crest, timber fretwork decoration in the gables and a scallopped fascia. In front, a broad iron verandah with cast iron bracket supports ran between porches at either end.

A larger new timber building of 1926 featured nested half timbered gables over an entrance more central to the green, and long wings with verandahs either side. The 1876 pavilion was incorporated into the south west wing. The verandahs on both sides were later enclosed. In 1967-68 a large flat roofed brick hall, typical of the era, replaced half of the north east wing of the 1926 addition and extended towards the north east boundary. It featured a fully glazed front wall overlooking the green. In more recent years petanque became a popular additional activity at the club, and petanque pistes were introduced adjacent to Fitzroy Street and along the railway reserve boundary.

How is it significant?
The St Kilda Bowling club is of historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The St Kilda Bowling Club is of historical significance as the second oldest continuing bowling club in the State and in Australia. The club has operated continuously on this site form 1865 until the present. Though the only earlier club, the Melbourne Club at Windsor formed in October 1864, is still on its original site, its earliest buildings date from 1887. The longevity of the St Kilda club, and its adaptation to changing demands and prosperity, is manifested in the staged development of the club house.

The 1876 pavilion of the St Kilda Bowling Club has historical significance as the earliest extant purpose built bowling club building in Victoria and Australia. The bowling green, though reduced in scale, is still on its original 1865 site. The layout of the green surrounds and surrounding paths and garden beds remains relatively unchanged from the peak period of the Club in the 1950s.