In the Beginning
The Miramar Bowling Club was born from a sponsored meeting held on the 27th November 1945 after forty men, and the support of the Wellington Bowling Centre negotiated with the Wellington City Council to lease a piece of land at the southern end of Miramar Park. The land at the southern end of Miramar Park was leased for a period of 21 years with a right of renewal. The ground rental was ₤29 plus rates but payment not to commence until after five years’ of occupancy. In 1946 a further public meeting was held and Rules adopted for the embryo club and approval given to the issue of debentures. In May 1948, 131 debentures had been issued and all repaid by 1950. The club became incorporated on the 29th January 1946.
Miramar Opens for Play
The club was opened for play on one green on 30th November 1946 and Wellington Mayor Sir W. Appleton rolled the first bowl to a kitty that had been delivered by Mrs Calnon wife of the Club’s President.
The land leased from the Wellington City Council had sufficient space for two maximum sized greens and a smaller one together with ample space for gardens and buildings. Some years earlier there had been grass tennis courts on the area but it had become rough and overgrown with high pine trees on the eastern and southern boundaries. Cattle had to be chased from the area, horse grazing problems solved and temporary fences erected. At the start farm tractor dealers Todd Motors Ltd. gave ploughing demonstrations and as a publicity stunt primary school children were invited. This was not altogether successful on account of the tree stumps and buried wire from dilapidated tennis fences. Next a rotary hoe was hired and a set of harrows were dragged around by a car.
The members then spent many hours working towards the Club having three greens by opening day in 1949. The members continued to improve the greens and facilities and in 1968 became the first club in Wellington to change to a cotula green.
As the setting up of the Club was during the post war shortage of sports gear, the first “kitties” were made out of hardwood turned on a lathe. They rolled like an egg and were great fun. Mats were made of canvas and the bowls were donated old wooden ones. At first only a few members had ever played bowls for the Club before and some who had never held a bowl were graded as skips on the basis of the work they had done.
In the early seasons there was little weekday play but it built up gradually when members started playing after work. It became the pattern to play club singles and Pairs in the evening and many of these games and roll-ups only ceased when darkness intervened.
The Club was a “dry” one, no liquor being allowed on the premises. With JPs, a Knight and Policeman numbered amongst its members from time to time the Club had to be very circumspect and a great deal of subterfuge was required to provide “refreshments” for members. After a number of years a scheme was evolved that was unofficially approved by the Police. Tickets were purchased by members prior to the start of play and then surrendered after play ended for a flagon of beer, etc. The liquor was stored “on behalf of members” and the Club was therefore entitled to charge “storage fees”.
Our Clubrooms part of Wellington History
The present pavilion was brought onto site from the Centennial Exhibition in six sections and was in position for the 1948 season. The Wellington City Council contributed £400 on the condition that one green and part of the pavilion would be set aside for a Women’s Section which was established in 1947.The Women’s section was referred to as the Ladies Club.
The annual subscription for the first three seasons was ₤4 plus a locker fee of ten shillings. Members were also levied for afternoon teas and competition entries. The Ladies Club paid a slightly lower level than that of the men until parity was reached in the late eighties. Although paying lower subscriptions for many years the Women’s section made substantial contributions from time to time to the Club’s finances from monies raised from their own activities.
From an early stage in the history of the Club retired members took an active part in its activities and the Mid-Weekers elected their own sub-committee and participated in Pennants, Veterans Gala day, and an annual social competition, the Toomer Shield, between the four eastern clubs, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, Miramar and Seatoun. Miramar has been a participant in interclub events since 1947 which included Wellington Centre Pennants with Senior and Junior players and evening league competitions and hosting visits with Clubs outside the Wellington region.
Miramar has always been well represented by many of its members on the Wellington Umpires Association and Michael Lund was selected to umpire at the World Bowls in 1988 and Commonwealth Games in 1990.
286 Members in 1950's
Membership reached 286 in the 1950’s but has fluctuated and average of 130 bowlers has been maintained with an increasing social membership.
Miramar's Most Successful Player
Jeff Barron, with 29 club honours, 10 centre titles, 1 New Zealand titles, selected for 2 Empire Games is the Club’s greatest bowler.
Miramar a Leader in Bowls
In 1983 Miramar had the first Pro-Am bowling tournament in Wellington. The event was only the fourth of its kind in New Zealand. The prize money was $2000. The Ladies Section was the headquarters for first New Zealand Women’s Tournament in 1951.
The Miramar Club recognise their Life Members who have mainly been the quiet workers in the background – working on committees, working bees, and doing all the necessary tasks that have to be done to keep a club running smoothly and efficiently.
The club continues to grow with the new century as a bowling and recreational facility for all members of the Miramar community.
Miramar Bowling Club
33A Puriri Street | PO Box 15026 | Miramar | Wellington 6022