TAKEN FROM HISTORICAL RECORDS WRITTEN AROUND 1974

SPRINGWOOD BOWLING AND RECREATION CLUB LIMITED

Springwood Bowling Club commenced its activities in 1937 as the result of the endeavours of five enthusiastic bowlers who envisaged the possible growth of the area and who planned to meet the needs of both the present and the future.

The club is located in a parkland setting in the centre of the town and its greens and surrounding garden areas are subject to much interest by residents of Springwood. It adjoins the Buckland Park which is also part of land made available by Sir Thomas Buckland for public recreation purposes.

The five men who provided the original impetus were Harry Husselbee, John Ditzell, Alex Dawson, John Jolly and Alec Cripps and they were followed by a succession of excellent administrators and hard working members.

After many meetings, discussions with local business houses and the Blue Mountains Shire Council, the framework of the club was initiated and thirty people showed interest in becoming members.

The Blue Mountains Shire Council, as the Local Government Body was then known, made available a piece of land on lease and further assisted with the finance in the form of a grant and a loan for the purpose of erecting a clubhouse at a cost of approximately one thousand pounds.

Prior to the election of a full committee, action was taken to appoint Harry Husselbee as president, Mr. O. H. Little as secretary and Mr. H. G. Smith as treasurer during the formation period.

The first full committee was elected for the 1938-39 year and was headed by:-

Patron, Sir Thomas Buckland; president, O. H. Little; vice-presidents, R. G. MacIntyre, DD, CMG, E. J. Baldwin, ITO; secretary, A. Gaskill; treasurer, W. Cheadle.

The original clubhouse of timber frame construction with a tiled roof was constructed by a local builder, Mr. Moorcroft under the direction of H. Husselbee.

Efforts by members and wives in the promotion of dances, card parties and other social functions resulted in the raising of finance for furnishing the clubhouse and the laying down of two greens.

Although bowling was now an active sport in the town the early years called for much voluntary labour and personal financial assistance.

A critical period was suffered during the years of World War Two and on numerous occasions the existence of the club was in doubt.

Springwood Club was affiliated with the Blue Mountains District Bowling Association when this was formed in 1945 and the club was to the fore in both Pennants and Championship events.

A Club badge was designed in 1948 based upon the spring in the wood from which Springwood derived its name.

The club was granted a liquor licence in 1955.

In 1957 withdrawal from the Blue Mountains District was effected and the club later affiliated with the Nepean District Bowling Association where it was again active and successful in Pennant and Championship events.