Penfield Bowling Club History
(Researched by Mike Bebb and written by Ian Woods – October 2024)
Weapons Research Establishment Institute (W.R.E.I) was established in January 1955. It operated as an Agency of the Commonwealth Government with a function to provide defence research.
The first thought of creating a club to play lawn bowls was at a meeting held by the W.R.E.I on the 24th of October 1960. South Australian Bowling Association was formally contacted a couple of days later and work was undertaken which led to the newly formed club conducting its first Annual General Meeting on 10th April 1961.
The ensuing two years of work resulted in the Bowling Green (same patch of turf is still being played on today) declared ready for playing on in April 1963.
The newly formed club with 40 members celebrated at an Official Opening Event on the 16th of October 1963 and the first team was entered into the Pennants competition for the 1963/1964 season. All members of the club had to be working at W.R.E.I.
The clubs first game was in Division 6 versus Semaphore with an eventual loss being recorded by 4 shots. The club went on to finish the season a very credible third place.
Season 1964/1965 records show the joining membership fee was 4 English Pounds, with a further 2 Pounds for the season. The club had increased in size having 2 sides in Division 6. The Division 6 Blue team won the clubs first Pennant, earning the right to be promoted to Division 5.
The 1965/1966 season saw the club with a Division 5 & Division 6 team. The Division 5 team whilst not winning the pennant still earnt promotion to Division 4 the following season. The 1966/1967 season was again successful with the Division 4 team earning promotion again to Division 3 and the Division 6 team promoted to Division 5 for the 1966/1967 season.
The commencement of the 1968/1969 season the club had grown and were now represented with teams in Divisions 3, 5 & 7. Division 3 won another Pennant, and the Division 7 team earned promotion to Division 6.
The following year saw the club participate in the Indoor Central Districts Bias Bowls Association for the first time and grew further with club fielding four teams in the 1969/1970 outdoor competition.
In 1972, Ladies joined the Women’s Royal S.A. Bowling Association and finished fifth in Division 5 Blue.
By the time, the 1974/1975 season the club was fielding Men’s teams in Divisions 1, 4 & 6. The following season the Men’s team won the Division 1 Gold Pennant & the Ladies Team won the Division 3 Red Pennant.
In 1975 work commenced with the excavation of the smaller 4 Rink Green, with the grass planted the following year.
The 1977/1978 season saw the club entering 3 teams for Saturday competition, 1 on Wednesday with the Ladies fielding a team in the Thursday competition. The following season saw the Ladies team successfully winning the Division 6 Pennant.
The transition of the area to the D.S.T.O. (Defence Science & Technology Organisation) and the gradual changes in this entity with downsizing etc. saw the club change its name to Penfield Bowling Club in ???? and membership opened to the General Public.
Further information to be updated…………………………………………………………………………….