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Dunsandel Bowling and Croquet Clubs and their use of the First Dunsandel Hall/Library
Description
TitleDunsandel Bowling and Croquet Clubs and their use of the First Dunsandel Hall/Library
DescriptionAccording to Mackie (1979) [1] “in 1903 a meeting of men interested in the formation of a Bowling club was held in the office of Hugh Brown’s store. Present were J.S. Boag, T.E. Lochhead, A. Cunningham, J. Johnston, F. Lill, W. Burgess, H. Wright, D.P. Cameron and H. Brown.
The decision to form a club was taken, and the domain board, as well as granting permission for the laying of a green in the North-eastern corner of the domain, made a donation of three guineas towards the cost.”
The club was first mentioned in the Ellesmere Guardian [2] on the 16th November 1904, when it described the opening ceremony of the Leeston Bowling Club and mentioned that the Dunsandel Club was present along with the Southbridge Club.
Another item [3] seven days later described what was presumably the opening of the club and mentions that there were lady members present who provided the food. The picture which accompanies this article was labelled 1902 but it is possible that the picture was taken at the opening in November 1904.
“In 1905 well was sunk and a windmill erected to provide water for green maintenance. The following year a pavilion was built by voluntary labour. This was re-sited more than once over the years, and at one stage it backed on to the tennis court.”
The annual meeting of the bowling club was held in the library in August 1905 [4].
It is interesting to note that there was a deficit of nearly £14 in the balance sheet which was liquidated in the room by five gentlemen.
Winners of the year’s competition (1904-5) were presented with bowls, (D. McIlwraith and J. Burgess), and a pair of bowls were donated for the next season.
The meeting also decided to ban alcohol from the grounds and the subscription was fixed at 20s per member.
Other annual meetings were reported, e.g.1909-1912 & 1914, but no venue was given.
In 1920, Fred Lill, the secretary, however advertised [5] that the club would be holding its annual meeting in the library, and it is therefore possible that earlier annual meetings were regularly held in that venue.
The Lyttelton Times in July 1910 [6] reported that at the Bowling Club annual meeting they formed a subcommittee to look at forming a croquet lawn in connection with the bowling green.
The next year it was decided purchase a croquet set and prepare a green if there was enough interest.
By September 1911, the president and secretary were empowered to call a meeting to form a Croquet Club in connection with the Bowling Club which was successful and by 1915 they were playing teams from Ashburton and Rakaia.
There is a newspaper report of the 1923 annual meeting of the Croquet Club, with Mrs Wraight presiding, and the following officers being elected:—President, Mrs J. Boag; vice-president, Mrs H.A. Brown; secretary, Mrs C.A. Wright; selection committee, Mesdames Lill, Macpherson, and N. J. Brown [7].
The following trophies were awarded to members of the Dunsandel Croquet Club at a social held in the Dunsandel Hall [8] in June 1928: President's day tournament, Mrs H.A. Brown (senior), Mrs Wraight (junior). Senior doubles tournament, Mrs John Walker and Mrs L. Smith runners-up, Mrs Tweedy and Mrs H.A. Brown. Junior singles, Mrs H.W. Johnson .1 Mrs R. Brough 2. Progressive doubles, Mrs N. J. Brown (senior). Mrs Stapleton (junior). Progressive doubles (Easter Monday). Mrs James Walker (senior), Mrs R Brough . (junior). Senior singles. Mrs John Walker and Mrs N. J. Brown. Mrs J Boag's trophy, Mrs L Smith-.- Closing day progressive, doubles, Mrs H. A. Brown (senior), Mrs H Skinner (junior).
Mackie (1979) [9] states that the Croquet Club was formed in 1941 but newspaper reports for the 1940 and 1941 annual meetings do not mention any change occurring.
The bowling and croquet clubs combined to hold annual socials in the hall and a summary of the 1918 [10] and 1920 [11] events were reported in the Ellesmere Guardian.
The first half of the evening was devoted to playing progressive euchre. After the cards were put away a bountiful supper was provided and handed round by the ladies of the croquet section in the usual capable manner.
Supper having been dispensed, the president of the Bowling Club presented the prizes won during the evening for cards, and also the prizes won by the croquet players in their various competitions during the season just past.
During the latter part of the evening the floor was cleared and dancing indulged in to music supplied by Misses Molly and R. Lill and others.
While in the 1918 and 1920 socials, the ladies of the croquet club provided the supper, a report in 1929 [12] suggested that it has been the custom of the Bowling Club for a number of years to express its appreciation of the kindly interest and valuable help of the Ladies' Croquet Club by entertaining the members at an annual social function.
Bowling visitors to Dunsandel have good cause to remember the hospitality they always receive at the hands of the ladies who provide afternoon tea at all matches and competitions, and by doing so contribute a great deal to the enjoyment of the afternoon's outing. The members of the Bowling Club vied with each other in an endeavour to make the evening as pleasant as possible for the guests.
A friendly euchre tournament was played in the first part of the evening.
Although the night was cold, the interior of the hall was made very comfortable using oil heaters, while there was a good fire in the ante room for those who preferred conversation.
After supper had been served on the usual generous scale for which Dunsandel has long been noted, the Croquet Club's prizes were handed to the winners by president Mrs L.H. Smith.
Then dancing took place to music supplied by Mrs McGrath.
Addressing those present prior to the handing of the prizes to the winners, Mr F.P. Chamberlain, president of the Bowling Club, extended a hearty welcome to the visitors and voiced the Club's appreciation of the pleasant assistance received during the season from the ladies. At many of the more important fixtures there had been a large company to cater for, but the ladies had always risen to the occasion, earning the gratitude of the local bowlers and the good opinions of visitors. "Our ladies are, in fact, the envy of other clubs in the district said the president.
The Croquet Club had experienced a successful and enjoyable season, several matches having been played with outside clubs, in which the players had done very well.
In addition there had been quite a number of trophy competitions. Special thanks were due to the Canterbury Frozen Meat Co. for its generosity in giving trophies year after year. While the Bowling Club had not been quite as successful as in former years in regard to its matches with other clubs, it had, nevertheless, experienced a successful season in other respects, and the members had thoroughly enjoyed themselves. There was no doubt concerning the popularity of game.
After holding the Loudon Rooster continuously for about nine years, the club had been beaten this season by Leeston, and the Boag Shield had been taken away by the Southbridge Club, the latter win being a very popular one.
In recent years the Southbridge club had not been very successful in inter-club competitions, and it was hoped that the winning of the Boag Shield would give the game a filip there and stimulate the club to further successful efforts.
It was not in the best interests of the game that any one club should hold a trophy very long.
The Bowling Club's trophies would, as usual, be presented to the winners at the Association's annual social.
A brief article in 1928 [13] reported that “The following trophies were awarded to members of the Dunsandel Croquet Club at a social held in the public hall”. It is possible that the same format as for the 1929 social was followed.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date1903-1929SourcePapeers PastLocationDunsandel
DescriptionAccording to Mackie (1979) [1] “in 1903 a meeting of men interested in the formation of a Bowling club was held in the office of Hugh Brown’s store. Present were J.S. Boag, T.E. Lochhead, A. Cunningham, J. Johnston, F. Lill, W. Burgess, H. Wright, D.P. Cameron and H. Brown. The decision to form a club was taken, and the domain board, as well as granting permission for the laying of a green in the North-eastern corner of the domain, made a donation of three guineas towards the cost.”
The club was first mentioned in the Ellesmere Guardian [2] on the 16th November 1904, when it described the opening ceremony of the Leeston Bowling Club and mentioned that the Dunsandel Club was present along with the Southbridge Club.
Another item [3] seven days later described what was presumably the opening of the club and mentions that there were lady members present who provided the food. The picture which accompanies this article was labelled 1902 but it is possible that the picture was taken at the opening in November 1904.
“In 1905 well was sunk and a windmill erected to provide water for green maintenance. The following year a pavilion was built by voluntary labour. This was re-sited more than once over the years, and at one stage it backed on to the tennis court.”
The annual meeting of the bowling club was held in the library in August 1905 [4].
It is interesting to note that there was a deficit of nearly £14 in the balance sheet which was liquidated in the room by five gentlemen.
Winners of the year’s competition (1904-5) were presented with bowls, (D. McIlwraith and J. Burgess), and a pair of bowls were donated for the next season.
The meeting also decided to ban alcohol from the grounds and the subscription was fixed at 20s per member.
Other annual meetings were reported, e.g.1909-1912 & 1914, but no venue was given.
In 1920, Fred Lill, the secretary, however advertised [5] that the club would be holding its annual meeting in the library, and it is therefore possible that earlier annual meetings were regularly held in that venue.
The Lyttelton Times in July 1910 [6] reported that at the Bowling Club annual meeting they formed a subcommittee to look at forming a croquet lawn in connection with the bowling green.
The next year it was decided purchase a croquet set and prepare a green if there was enough interest.
By September 1911, the president and secretary were empowered to call a meeting to form a Croquet Club in connection with the Bowling Club which was successful and by 1915 they were playing teams from Ashburton and Rakaia.
There is a newspaper report of the 1923 annual meeting of the Croquet Club, with Mrs Wraight presiding, and the following officers being elected:—President, Mrs J. Boag; vice-president, Mrs H.A. Brown; secretary, Mrs C.A. Wright; selection committee, Mesdames Lill, Macpherson, and N. J. Brown [7].
The following trophies were awarded to members of the Dunsandel Croquet Club at a social held in the Dunsandel Hall [8] in June 1928: President's day tournament, Mrs H.A. Brown (senior), Mrs Wraight (junior). Senior doubles tournament, Mrs John Walker and Mrs L. Smith runners-up, Mrs Tweedy and Mrs H.A. Brown. Junior singles, Mrs H.W. Johnson .1 Mrs R. Brough 2. Progressive doubles, Mrs N. J. Brown (senior). Mrs Stapleton (junior). Progressive doubles (Easter Monday). Mrs James Walker (senior), Mrs R Brough . (junior). Senior singles. Mrs John Walker and Mrs N. J. Brown. Mrs J Boag's trophy, Mrs L Smith-.- Closing day progressive, doubles, Mrs H. A. Brown (senior), Mrs H Skinner (junior).
Mackie (1979) [9] states that the Croquet Club was formed in 1941 but newspaper reports for the 1940 and 1941 annual meetings do not mention any change occurring.
The bowling and croquet clubs combined to hold annual socials in the hall and a summary of the 1918 [10] and 1920 [11] events were reported in the Ellesmere Guardian.
The first half of the evening was devoted to playing progressive euchre. After the cards were put away a bountiful supper was provided and handed round by the ladies of the croquet section in the usual capable manner.
Supper having been dispensed, the president of the Bowling Club presented the prizes won during the evening for cards, and also the prizes won by the croquet players in their various competitions during the season just past.
During the latter part of the evening the floor was cleared and dancing indulged in to music supplied by Misses Molly and R. Lill and others.
While in the 1918 and 1920 socials, the ladies of the croquet club provided the supper, a report in 1929 [12] suggested that it has been the custom of the Bowling Club for a number of years to express its appreciation of the kindly interest and valuable help of the Ladies' Croquet Club by entertaining the members at an annual social function.
Bowling visitors to Dunsandel have good cause to remember the hospitality they always receive at the hands of the ladies who provide afternoon tea at all matches and competitions, and by doing so contribute a great deal to the enjoyment of the afternoon's outing. The members of the Bowling Club vied with each other in an endeavour to make the evening as pleasant as possible for the guests.
A friendly euchre tournament was played in the first part of the evening.
Although the night was cold, the interior of the hall was made very comfortable using oil heaters, while there was a good fire in the ante room for those who preferred conversation.
After supper had been served on the usual generous scale for which Dunsandel has long been noted, the Croquet Club's prizes were handed to the winners by president Mrs L.H. Smith.
Then dancing took place to music supplied by Mrs McGrath.
Addressing those present prior to the handing of the prizes to the winners, Mr F.P. Chamberlain, president of the Bowling Club, extended a hearty welcome to the visitors and voiced the Club's appreciation of the pleasant assistance received during the season from the ladies. At many of the more important fixtures there had been a large company to cater for, but the ladies had always risen to the occasion, earning the gratitude of the local bowlers and the good opinions of visitors. "Our ladies are, in fact, the envy of other clubs in the district said the president.
The Croquet Club had experienced a successful and enjoyable season, several matches having been played with outside clubs, in which the players had done very well.
In addition there had been quite a number of trophy competitions. Special thanks were due to the Canterbury Frozen Meat Co. for its generosity in giving trophies year after year. While the Bowling Club had not been quite as successful as in former years in regard to its matches with other clubs, it had, nevertheless, experienced a successful season in other respects, and the members had thoroughly enjoyed themselves. There was no doubt concerning the popularity of game.
After holding the Loudon Rooster continuously for about nine years, the club had been beaten this season by Leeston, and the Boag Shield had been taken away by the Southbridge Club, the latter win being a very popular one.
In recent years the Southbridge club had not been very successful in inter-club competitions, and it was hoped that the winning of the Boag Shield would give the game a filip there and stimulate the club to further successful efforts.
It was not in the best interests of the game that any one club should hold a trophy very long.
The Bowling Club's trophies would, as usual, be presented to the winners at the Association's annual social.
A brief article in 1928 [13] reported that “The following trophies were awarded to members of the Dunsandel Croquet Club at a social held in the public hall”. It is possible that the same format as for the 1929 social was followed.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date1903-1929SourcePapeers PastLocationDunsandelClick on the image to add
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Dunsandel Bowling and Croquet Clubs and their use of the First Dunsandel Hall/Library (1903-1929). Selwyn Stories, accessed 06/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5526
