About Lowlands
Lowlands Bowling Club was founded on September 21st, 1892, making it the oldest active registered club in the greater Newcastle region.
Nestled in the leafy suburb of Cooks Hill, right next to picturesque Centennial Park, Lowlands has two synthetic greens with a newly renovated bar and a fantastic Bistro.
Lowlands has become somewhat of a staple in the novocastrian lifestyle and is the perfect place for small functions and events. The present members of Lowlands Bowling Club represent a cross section of the community, fulfilling important social and sporting roles with a strong interest in charity and community activity.
The greens are available for club games, rollups and organised social activities. Our Pennant teams have been very competitive in their respective grades and reflect the commitment made by Lowlands’ members. New bowlers are always welcomed to our club.
Our bar area, poker machine room and restaurant offer a different environment for those people seeking an alternative to the busy Darby street cafe strip, part of the colourful “Centennial Park”.
We have a large outdoor undercover area available for social outings or organized group barbeques. This area is regularly used by friends and corporate groups for functions that include a game of bowls and barbeque.
The nearby Centennial Park children’s area is close to the club and allows for parent monitoring of the children at play.
Our History
The club’s early history goes hand in hand with that of the former Newcastle City Bowling Club which started in October 1889 on the old cricket ground in Corlette Street, Cooks Hill.
The history suggests that outsiders looked over the fence and were at a loss to understand the game of bowls. “Seems to me” said one, “that they are a lot of elderly gentlemen playing marbles with large wooden balls” but the game rapidly caught on.
1891
In March 1891, as membership increased, bowls was played on a parcel of land called “the upper reserve” (King Edward Park.) Members who played on this upper reserve were known as “the highlanders” while those who remained on the old cricket ground were known as “the Lowlanders”
1892
In September, 1892, the Lowlands Bowling club was officially formed and continued to play on the old cricket ground green until 1912 when the club moved to its present site in Centennial Park. This shift was the result of a gift from the Australian Agricultural Company which proposed the park as a centennial gift to the citizens of Newcastle. The grant set out the conditions that the park was to be used for recreation but there was to be no sales of wine, beer or spirits.
1893
The present members of Lowlands Bowling Club represent a cross section of the community, fulfilling important social and sporting roles with a strong interest in charity and community activity.
Lowlands Board & Team
PRESIDENT
Alan Newman
VICE PRESIDENT
Brett Gemmell
SECRETARY
Frances Belcher
TREASURER
Tom Hoppe
DIRECTOR
Trevor Reeves
DIRECTOR
Wendy Mason
DIRECTOR
Ken Procter
DIRECTOR
David Knott
DIRECTOR
TBC
CLUB MANAGER
Michelle Gorton
BOWLS CO-ORDINATOR
Brett Gemmell