DANDENONG’S longest continuous sports club was farewelled in early 2015.
In February the Dandenong City Bowling Club played its final home matches at its picturesque site in Dandenong Park – its home since it began in 1882.
The club pre-dated the town’s historic town hall, and had faced down threats such as floods, the widening
of the 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.
Players moved to other clubs or retired; the clubhouse and greens were set to be demolished by Greater Dandenong Council.
The seed of destruction was a nearby historic Algerian oak whose roots had withered the greens and rendered them an unplayable turn-off to potential members.
A lack of parking and disabled toilets were other hindrances.
In 2014 Greater Dandenong Council rejected overtures to install a synthetic green that might 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.
