Buninyong marks 150 years on the green

ONE of the region’s, and possibly the state’s oldest sporting institutions, Buninyong Bowling Club, is celebrating a century-and-a-half this Saturday.

From humble beginnings and established after letter to the local borough council in 1872, the club currently stands at 90 bowling and 35 social members, and its two grass greens are one of the few lawn bowling facilities located in botanical gardens.

The club’s membership has grown steadily over the years, with an increase of over 30 per cent in a five-year period from about 2013 to 2018.

Competition presence stands at four Saturday pennant teams in divisions 1, 3, 6 and 8, and four Tuesday pennant teams playing in divisions 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Among more recent highlights was a Division 1 premiership in the 2015-16 season, moving up the squad into the Premier Division.

Off green highlight include the time members reconstructed their clubrooms from an old RAAF camp hut that was once located at Ballarat Aerodrome.

When it arrived it was in a bad state, with pieces everywhere, but after many working bees the building was restored and painted and a cool room installed.

The building remained in use until 2011 when the City of Ballarat supported the club to establish the larger, modern facility that is the club’s home today.

As part of camerations to mark 150 years of the Buninyong Bowling Club, a function is set for this Saturday, 26 November.

On the agenda are a few speeches and some official tasks, but in general the night will be about former and present members gathering to reminisce and celebrate the history of the club and the memories that have been created.