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Club History
More than a century of fellowship
It all began 1897
You will see elsewhere (A Brief History of Lawn Bowls) that lawn bowls has a very long history, over 9,000 years in various guises. Our own club’s history is somewhat shorter.
The Adelaide Oval Bowling Club has an interesting history. Its origins are recorded in 1897.
Our club was formally named in 1902 when it joined in competition with the Adelaide Bowling Club. Our bowling green was behind the old western stand at the Adelaide Oval but in 2007 we were asked by the Cricket Association to relocate so that the planned Adelaide Oval redevelopment could take place. It is somewhat ironic that, as a direct result of this relocation, AOBC is now co-located with its first competitor, Adelaide Bowling Club, in the parkland on Dequetteville Terrace, on the edge of the city. As such, we are members of the Adelaide Bowling Club and enjoy all of the rights and privileges of Adelaide Bowling Club members.
Our bowling club is a not-for-profit association.
Between the wars
Adelaide Oval Bowling Club was already a decades-long tradition by the time these photos were taken in the 1920s and '30s.
PAST PRESIDENTS
Front row: V.W. Semple, R.T. Potter, J.I. Cooper; Back row: R. Sweet A.M., J.H. McCreery, I.M. Steel, G.P. West
The modern era
Neil Sarah and DG McFarling have both captured wonderful memories and photos in their histories of the club.
Annual General Meeting (May 2022)
Retiring President John Scales, Treasurer Rob Mann, and new President Ross Tilly Source: 'AOBC in the New Millennium' by Neil Sarah
First day at Adelaide Bowling Club (2008)
First day at Adelaide Bowling Club 2008. "Our final Pennants match at the Adelaide Oval was played on 1 March 2008." Source: 'AOBC in the New Millennium' by Neil Sarah
AOBC Presidents 1998-2005
Source: 'AOBC in the New Millennium' by Neil Sarah
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