Sunday, August 7, 2022

TENNIS COURTS

Gulgong had a Lawn Tennis Club in 1898 with courts at Victoria Park.

1898 - ALL FOR LAWN
The annual meeting of the Gulgong Lawn Tennis Club was held at Powell’s hotel on April 20. Those present: Misses Riley, A Powell, McCreadie, McDonough, Egan and Bishop. Messrs C Rudder, Wilson, L Rudder, R McDonough and Garling Officer bearers as follows: President Mr A P Lambert, hon. Sec/treas. L Rudder, Committee Misses McDonough and A Powell, C Rudder and Dr. McCreadie. 
A letter to be written to the Council requesting permission to erect wire netting around the courts at Victoria Park. Mr Wilson was the retiring secretary.
Source: Gulgong Advertiser, April 29 1898

1899 - Gulgong Tennis Club
The annual meeting of the Gulgong Tennis Club was held on Thursday last at Powell's hotel.
Amongst the ladies attending were:Misses McCreadie, Powell, Egan, and Bishop. The gents present were — Dr. McCreadie, Messrs. Voss and A. P. Lambert. The new officers elected for the year are:—Ladies', committee, Misses L. Egan, Bishop; gents', committee, Messrs. Voss and Morris; treasurer, Miss A. Powell; hon, secretary, Mr. A. P. Lambort. After the business of the evening had been concluded, it was decided to hold an afternoon tea on the tennis court. The ladies will provide refreshments.

1900
The annual meeting of the Gulgong Tennis Club held last Tuesday. Newly elected officers: Messrs L. G. Rouse President, F.W. Scott Hon Secretary, Miss H. Powell Treasurer. Committee and Misses E. Bishop and McCreadie and Messrs. H.D. Voss and A.E Morris. Subscriptions 5/-.
Source: Gulgong Advertiser, June 8 1900

The Gulgong and Birriwa Tennis Clubs will play their semi-annual match on Mr E J Lowe’s courts Birriwa on Saturday next. It is doubtful however whether Gulgong’s crack Mr McCreadie will be able to attend.
Source: Gulgong Advertiser, May 25 1900

Results of the match between Gulgong and Birriwa, Birriwa won 61 to 50.
Source: Gulgong Advertiser, June 1 1900

PRIVATE TENNIS COURTS

OWNER

LOCATION

Dowd

Queen Street

Donnelly

Fitzroy Street

Jim McCowan

Bulga-Lynne Street

Lyons

Lynne Street

Croome

Worobil-Cainbil Street

Ellis Campbell

Tallawang Street

Ron James

Tallawang Street

Adams

Medley Street

Chicks

Belmore Street

Norman Chuck

Bayly Street

English

Mayne Street

Brian Loneragan

Belmore Street

Broughton

Homer Street

Leo McCabe

Medley Street

Herb McCabe

Station Street

Hospital

Goolma Road

Presbyterian Church

Bayly Street

Anglican Church

Bayly Street
Source: Colin Evans

Provate tennis courts, 4-6 Bayly Street
Source: Gulgong Lost and Found Friends

In the 1930s the Turner family lived on the corner of Caledonian and Rouse Street. Their home, with tennis courts, was known as "White City". In the 1940s the home belonged to Talbots.

From the time the idea of public tennis courts was raised in Gulgong, it took over a decade to establish courts and a rudimentary clubhouse. These are some of the articles detailing the efforts.

Brislington Tennis Team, 1950
Pictured: Snow Martin, Ron Mackie, Joan Dinsdale, Vivian Hughes, Dudley Martin, Pat Hogan, Hilary Hughes, Jim Martin
Source: Gulgong Lost and Found Friends


PUBLIC TENNIS COURTS

1928
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 6 Sep 1928 Page 35

1929 - Public Tennis Courts - AT GULGONG
At a meeting of the Gulgong District Tennis Association on Tuesday evening last it was resolved that the president, Mr. H. A. Porter, the hon. sec., Mr. T. Amies and Mr L. Norris be a committee to negotiate with the Town Council for an area of the new recreation reserve

for public courts. The committee was instructed to write to the Wyaldra Shire Council through the Town Council asking for the loan of the Shire's road-making plant to assist in putting the reserve in question in order.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Fri 30 Aug 1929 Page 3 

Gulgong (N.S.W.) Town Council has agreed to lease to the Gulgong Tennis Association portion of the new recreation reserve for the construction of public tennis courts.
Source: Construction and Local Government Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1913 - 1930) Wed 4 Sep 1929 Page 1

1931 - CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS
Great preparations are being made for the open championship events to be played on the Gulgong tennis courts on October 10 11, 17 and 18, and a record entry is confidently expected. Secretary T. Amies will supply all particulars upon application.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 28 Sep 1931 Page 4

1933 - Public Tennis Courts - ASSOCIATION'S REQUEST - Deputation to Council
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 2 Feb 1933 Page 12

Turned Down Flat - Deputation to Town Council - PUBLIC TENNIS COURTS
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 23 Feb 1933 Page 13

GULGONG NEWS - (From our Representative) - New Tennis Courts
RECONSIDERATION BY COUNCIL - Six Instead of Ten
The public tennis courts question was before last Town Council meeting.
Department of lands, Sydney, advised relative to the council's proposal to lease portion of the area to the Gulgong District Tennis Association for the purpose of constructing 10 tennis courts, that a report was being obtained from the District Surveyor, Orange.
J. J. Dowd advised, relative to the proposed tennis courts on the reserve opposite his house, that he had had a conference with alderman A. Baldwin and Messrs Norris and Peck, and was quite agreeable to the proposal for six courts suggested by them, namely, 4 courts along Queen street, running from Bulga street, as far as the south-west corner of his own tennis court, and two courts directly south of those two courts, i.e., between the four courts and Tallawang road.
"These six courts will be compact," he wrote, "and will leave room on the west for other sporting bodies and for use of citizens and children."
Ald. J. H. Stahl: What happened to the motion passed at last council meeting?
The Mayor (Ald. A. E. Souter): Mr Dowd withdrew his objection, practically.
Later in the meeting. Ald. A. Baldwin, who had arrived late, asked if the council was granting the Tennis Association permission to erect six courts only or whether it was granting the permission asked for by the association.
Hie Major said the council was awaiting word from the District Surveyor, Orange.
Ald. H. J. Gudgeon: We know what our terms are.
Ald. Baldwin: The point is that we told the Tennis Association it could go ahead and build 10 courts.
He moved that the association be advised that the council will agree to only six courts and if 10 are wanted the council will reconsider the matter.
Ald. J. G. Curry referred to the motion already, on the minute book.
Ald. P. Barton: The motion on the book would have to be rescinded.
Ald. Curry, referring to that, said he did not know that the council could ask the association to accept space for six courts only.
Ald. Stahl: To do so would be to override the previous motion.
Ald. Curry moved as an amendment to Ald. Baldwin's motion that the matter stand over till they hear from the surveyor.
After further discussion, Ald. Curry withdrew his amendment and the motion was carried.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 3 Jul 1933 Page 3

Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 3 Jul 1933 Page 3



1934 - TENNIS COURTS IN RESERVE - GULGONG. Tuesday
The town council has forwarded to its local solicitor a copy of the draft lease between it and the Gulgong District Tennis Association in respect to a lease by the council to the association of an area of land in the new recreation reserve for the construction of public tennis courts. If the solicitor has no objection to the lease the seal of the council will be affixed to it. The lease provides for the association to expend at least £200 within six months on the construction of at least five courts and a pavilion.

NEW RESERVE COUNCIL'S ERROR Tennis and Cricket
… The tennis courts are not finished yet.

THAT LEASE - PUBLIC TENNIS COURTS - Trustees Will Not Sign

1934 - A MEETING of the Gulgong District Tennis Association was held on Wednesday night last, when matters in connection with the proposed public courts were advanced a further stage.
It was resolved that some timber for the fence be purchased front Mr C. Bennett and the balance from Jas. Loneragan (Gulgong Co., the timber to be approved by the council before being erected.
The secretary (Mr. T. Amies) and Mr J. Peck were authorized to arrange for the purchase of material for the fence and installation of water.
SUPPORTERS of the association met on the site of the proposed courts on Saturday afternoon last, following a resolution passed at the meeting last Wednesday night. The lay-out of the first five courts to be formed was approved.

TENNIS NOTES - A START has been made with the erection of the public tennis courts in Gulgong.Working bees have carried out the work to date. It will be about two months before any of the courts will be ready for play.

THAT TENNIS LEASE - Council's Finality
THE copy of the lease between the Gulgong Town Council and the Gulgong District Tennis Association was tabled by the mayor (Ald. A. E. Souter) at a meeting of the Gulgong Town Council on November 7.
Ald. Gudgeon: I presume you have carried out your threat to read it?
The mayor: I read it, and am the only alderman that has.
The mayor referred to certain clauses in the agreement and said that they should go hard and insist on only five courts being formed.
Ald. Gudgeon: Nothing has been inserted by the tennis association since the lease was prepared?
The clerk: No.
The mayor drew attention to a letter that had been written by the secretary of the association some little time ago regarding the levelling off of the remainder of the area.
Ald. Stahl moved that the council sign the lease, and in seconding the motion Ald. Whale said. "I hope it is finalised."
Ald. Watt: It's been going on for two years and 11 months.
The motion was carried.

ENTHUSIASM - TENNIS ASSOCIATION - President's Prediction
CONSIDERABLE enthusiasm was shown at a meeting of the Gulgong District Tennis Association in the Town Hall on Monday evening last on the subject of the public tennis courts which are now in course of erection…

RELIEF MONEY - Building Activities
IN view of the Gulgong District Tennis Association having applied to the Government to make money available for the erection of a pavilion and partly for the formation of public tennis courts and of the suggestions which have been made to form a bowling club in Gulgong, the following extract from Hansard makes quite interesting reading: — …

Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954)  Thu 20 Jun 1935  Page 12

It is believed that Sir Frederick McMaster, of 'Dalkeith,' Cassilis, will be asked to perform the official opening of Gulgong District Tennis Association's courts on August 3. Sir Frederick is a member of the Council of the Lawn Tennis Association of N.S.W.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 20 Jun 1935 Page 12

'I beg to recommend that the following building permits be granted:
... Gulgong District Lawn Tennis Associatipn, erection of closets at the public tennis courts.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 25 Jul 1935 Page 12

TO BE GOOD - TENNIS TOURNAMENT - What of Those Rumors ?
GREAT enthusiasm prevailed at a meeting of the Gulgong District Tennis Association last evening, when arrangements for the tournament on Saturday and Sunday next were advanced considerably.
The secretary (Mr. T. Amies) reported that entries were very good indeed, and he said the tournament was going to be a great success.
Amongst the decisions made were the following: —
The secretary to apply to the town council for permission to erect a framework for use as a refreshment booth and soft drinks stall; …

Wonderful Success - TENNIS TOURNEY - GREAT EXHIBITIONS - On New Public Courts
A WONDERFUL success was made of the first tourney to be conducted on the new public courts by the Gulgong District Tennis Association last week-end.
[lots of results, not reproduced]
A refreshment booth was conducted by a small band of ladies, including Mesdames P. Boyd. W. Spicer, L. Davies, G. Tattersall, Bert Heard, J. Turner, Tos. Miller, Walter Jackson and Miss Flo. Davies.
Late in the afternoon of the second day the president of the association (Dr. R. M. Allport) presented the trophies for the events which had been decided up to that time. He firstly thanked the visitors for having patronised the event and said it was the first official tournament on the public courts.
'These courts,' he said, 'have been the desire of this town for many years and are now an accomplished fact in part. It is hoped to erect a pavilion short and four more courts.'

Public Tennis Courts
THE value of the public tennis courts under the control of the Gulgong District Lawn Tennis Association was referred to by the president, Dr. R. M. Allport, at a switching-on ceremony of electric light to two courts last evening….

MR. and Mrs. J. McDermott, late of Medley street, have removed to Tallawang Street. Mr. McDermott is caretaker of the Tennis Association's Public Courts which are situated almost opposite to his residence.

'In February last year the committee resolved to apply to the Government for an amount of £450 on terms of half grant, half loan, to enable a club house to be erected, and, although a plan of the proposed structure was prepared, the specifications have not yet been drawn up, nor has a definite application been made to the Government for assistance. In view of the changed policy of the Government in respect to such assistance, it will be necessary to review the matter.

'POP' PECK IS GULGONG'S GREATEST TENNIS ENTHUSIAST
If ever an old saying had a modern application, that old adage, 'You can't keep a good man down,' finds truth in Mr J. Peck, of Belmore street, Gulgong, in relation to his interest in tennis. So far as the Tennis Association is concerned, he is Gulgong's greatest enthusiast.
He is one of the foundation members of the Association and the first and only life member — an honor the Association bestowed on him a few years ago after the completion of the five Courts formed on Council land leased to the Association. He plays regularly and is a member of one of the present competition teams. On the courts he is known as 'Pop.'

Gulgong Tennis Club
The annual meeting of the Gulgong Tennis Club was held at the clubhouse on April 4.

1954
Tennis Assn. – Improvement Scheme Planned
Improvements affecting Gulgong District Tennis Association assets are to be made in the near future.
…
The carrying out of the following improvements was approved:—
(1) Club house floor to be cemented by voluntary labour.
(It was agreed that cement and sand requirements be left in the hands of the president).
(2) Net lockers to be improved to allow separate spaces for each net. Doors on lockers to be padlocked, and nets numbered for corresponding lockers.
(3) Wire netting around courts to be repaired.
(4) Club house to be painted cream or green.
(5) Iron scraper to be made to enable courts to be graded more efficiently,
(6) Two hoses and two nets to be purchased…

Gulgong Tennis Courts
Pictured: Jan Taylor, Graham Wall, Barbara Wall
Source: Gulgong Lost and Found Friends



AERIAL PHOTOS

Early aerial shot of Gulgong tennis courts, year unknown
Source: Gulgong Pioneers Museum

Aerial photo, tennis courts - year unknown
Source: Gulgong Pioneers Museum

Tennis Courts, 1964
Source: Spatial Collaboration Portal




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