Redevelopment complete at Barwon Heads Bowling Club

A NEW chapter is beginning for Barwon Heads Bowling Club, with the club’s redeveloped pavilion to be officially opened today (Friday, February 9).

Club members and local, state, and federal government representatives will be in attendance today to open the club’s $1.2 million clubhouse on the corner of Geelong and Sheepwash Road.

Barwon Heads Bowling Club president Lawrie Stendt said the club was extremely excited to officially open the new pavilion.

“Former president Ken Allen really pushed the barrel for the club when it came to getting this project off the ground.

“It’s a beautiful, new building and it really opens up a lot of avenues for the club socially and we are looking forward to welcoming the community to make use of it.

“We’re extremely grateful for the commitment made by both the council and the state and federal government; none of this would be possible without their assistance.”

The redeveloped pavilion is the result of a combination of funding from all three levels of government.

The City of Greater Geelong injected $500,000 into the project, matching $500,000 from the federal government, while the Victorian government added a further $200,000.

The new pavilion features an expanded social space for gathering, a commercial-sized kitchen for large-scale food production, a meeting room/office, an outdoor undercover verandah for spectators, and sufficient storage for equipment, uniforms, and maintenance machinery.

Corangamite federal member Libby Coker said the club holds more than five decades of lawn bowls history in the town of Barwon Heads.

“So many trophies have been celebrated here, and so many friendships formed, and with the federal government’s contribution of $500,000 towards a new pavilion, this club will be an important part of our region’s sporting fabric for many years to come.”

Barwon Heads Bowling Club Lawrie Stendt inside the new pavilion.

Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said the redevelopment will support the demands of sporting and community groups using the precinct moving forward.

“The upgrade will mean the club can recruit new members, not only from Barwon Heads, but also from surrounding communities such as the rapidly developing Armstrong Creek.”

(Back row) L-R: Club president Lawrie Stendt, Board Member Jan Walter, Board Member Tony Englefield, (Front Row) L-R: Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant, Former Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville, former president Ken Allen, Member for Corangamite Libby Coker, and Bellarine Ward Councillor Jim Mason at the start of the redevelopment’s construction in December 2022. Photo: SUPPLIED

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant said the completion of the new pavilion had produced a gathering place the Barwon Heads Bowling Club and community could be proud of.

“The clubrooms are inviting and will encourage new members, while players and spectators can enjoy the facilities they require to enjoy the physical and social aspects of bowls.”

Barwon Heads Bowling Club has also recently been approved for a City of Greater Geelong grant of $32,000 to upgrade its border fence.

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