Hamton

Brighton Bowling and Tennis Club Inc, today announced plans to relocate the bowling club to a larger facility at Dendy Park, Brighton East in 2007.

The tennis club will be renamed the ‘Middle Brighton Tennis Club’ and will remain at the Male Street address.

Hamton Property Group and Gersh Investment Partners Ltd will undertake a $30million residential development comprising a range of two and three-level townhouses on the 1.3 acre site the bowling club will be vacating.

The announcement heralds a new era for the 125 year-old bowling club which was established in 1881, with proceeds from the Hamton development going towards building the club’s new facilities at Dendy Park. The tennis club’s share of the proceeds will be used to upgrade its existing facilities in Male Street.

Plans for the Bowling Club’s new site, located on the corner of the Nepean Highway and Cummins Road, are set to comprise Victoria’s first indoor bowling centre with 12 rinks, suitable for international standard pennant competitions of eight players per rink.

Plans also include the construction of a contemporary clubhouse offering excellent facilities for the local community with meetings rooms, a coffee bar, billiard room, lounge areas, function and/or bistro area, locker rooms and outdoor decking areas for bistro dining.

Brighton Bowling Club President, Ken Armstrong, said the club will lodge a planning and building permit for the clubhouse and indoor greens in July this year.

He said the division from the tennis club allowed the bowling club to expand its facilities and provide much needed professional standard bowling rinks and community clubhouse amenity.

“ The decision to relocate the club was one of necessity with the issue of non member users occupying our available parking areas in and around Male Street, in particular staff of retailers in busy Bay Street and the aged care facility next door.

“ In addition, having recognised the effects of playing in the sun and some of our older members suffering heat exhaustion in the hotter months; we realised a new facility was needed to provide a safer, indoor location for everyone to enjoy,” Mr Armstrong said.

“ Currently we are forced to close the club during the winter months which is a shame for those that love to play year round, with the new centre players will be able to do so in comfort.”

He said the new facility will bring the club into the 21st Century in style which has been “made possible with the proceeds of the development agreement on the existing site.”

Mr Armstrong said plans for the new facility had been endorsed by the Royal Victorian Bowles Association and the Victorian Ladies Bowles Association.

“ They have openly congratulated us on this exciting venture and stated that the new facility is something Victoria has been long overdue for.”

Mr Armstrong said the club would revise its formal name prior to the move which would be announced once confirmed.