By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
City’s 132-year historic treasure to be demolished…
DANDENONG’S longest continuous sports club is soon to be no more.
On Saturday, Dandenong City Bowling Club played its final home matches at its picturesque site in Dandenong Park – its home since it started in 1882.
The club predates the town’s historic town hall, and has faced down threats such as floods, the widening of Princes Highway and a clubhouse fire.
But with its membership at an unbefitting low of 14, there was no way to go on, president Greg Payne said.
Its players were now planning moves to other clubs or straight-out retirement; the clubhouse and greens set to be demolished by Greater Dandenong Council.
In recent times, the council crowned the club as one of the municipality’s sporting legends.
“No one likes to see 132 years of history disappear. It had a lot going for it,” Mr Payne said.
“There’s just not enough people to keep it going.”
The seed of destruction was a nearby historic Algerian oak whose roots had withered the greens and rendered them an unplayable turnoff to potential members.
A lack of parking and disabled toilets were other hindrances.
In a way the club was going out on a high, with its two teams both reaching finals, Mr Payne said.
Unfortunately the club was barred from hosting a farewell final due to its greens’ patchiness.
Last year, Greater Dandenong Council rejected overtures to install a synthetic green that may have saved the club.
The council was prepared to split 50:50 the cost of the proposed green, estimated from $250,000 to “well over“ $400,000.
However the club could not afford to contribute its share.
Under the council’s 2007 Dandenong Park masterplan, it was proposed to relocate the bowls club and nearby croquet club and kindergarten to make an open space and protect the oak.
It stated the bowls and croquet clubs were a “choke point“ that narrowed views and constrained movement to the park’s southern end.
Mr Payne said the council’s position was the club could stay “as long as we have (enough) members”.
Cr Matthew Kirwan, who raised the need for the artificial green last year, said the council could have averted the closure of a “Dandenong institution”.
Greater Dandenong community services director Mark Doubleday said the club had been consulted on its future over the past eight years.
“While we agree it’s sad to see the closure of the club, we are very pleased to know that the remaining members will continue to play at other bowls clubs.
“The master plan proposes that the space will become more open and will facilitate further public use on a day-to-day basis as well as for special events and festivals.”
