Bowling them over: Bowls club funding deal saves it from South Rd bulldozers

The historic Torrensville Bowling Club will be fully relocated from its current 1950s premises as part of the River Torrens to Darlington Project.

One of Adelaide’s oldest lawn bowls clubs has been gifted a new $9.6 million centre because its old home will be bulldozed for South Rd works.

The historic Torrensville Bowling Club will be fully relocated from its current 1950s premises as part of the River Torrens to Darlington Project.

The club – including its state-of-the-art 12-rink covered bowling green – will by early 2025 move from its current premises on South Road to a nearby and completely redeveloped site, on the southern bank of the River Torrens at Thebarton.

The facility, established at a total cost of $9.6 million, will be part of the Thebarton Community Hub, announced by the former government in 2022 at a cost of $125 million.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis made the funding announcement yesterday, the club also being in his electorate of West Torrens.

Mr Koutsantonis on Sunday praised the government’s efforts and said the former Liberal Government “did not care”.

Torrensville Bowling Club will be fully relocated from its current premises on South Road to a nearby and completely redeveloped site on the southern bank of the River Torrens at Thebarton.

“The Torrensville Bowling Club has a rich history stretching back more than a century and is much more than just a sporting venue for the club’s 200-plus members – it is an important social and community hub,’’ he said.

Opposition Leader David Speirs said many businesses and not for profit organisations were wrestling with the government to also get help, and were “falling through the cracks”.

“We welcome this (blowing club news),’’ he said.

“Last week a church reached out to me (to help with relocation) and I referred this to the Minister.”

Torrensville Bowling Club president Brenton Rolton also praised the funding.

“This is a great result for our members – it’s the outcome we’ve been asking, waiting and hoping for since this project was first outlined,’’ he said.

“As one of Adelaide’s oldest lawn bowls clubs, it’s important to us and the community to retain our independence and heritage.

“We’re definitely looking forward to moving into a purpose-built new home that will retain the best elements of our current base – it’s a terrific outcome.”

The new club will feature new clubrooms, carparking, synthetic greens and a reassembled canopy — that was completed in 2019 – seen by members as an important feature of their current set up.

The new site is next to linear park at the former Tech in SA site, bounded by the River Torrens, Dennis Mutton Drive and Murray Street.

When asked why other organisations had not been given $9.6 million, Mr Koutsantonis defended the government’s attempts to help along the full length of Torrens To Darlington works.

Missing out is one not-for-profit business which helps the homeless, but has not been funded.

“We have tried along the whole length of the road to try and look after them the same way,’’ Mr Koutsantonis said.

He would not say why the homelessness business was not funded.

Mr Koutsantonis also praised the Adelaide Crows AFL club, which hopes to move into a site next to the old bowls club site.

“Even though I don’t barrack for the Crows I think they are a great South Australian institution. Not that great but they are great,” he said.

“I want open space and I want our kids playing sports.”

Tenders for a building contractor for the bowls club will be called in the second half of 2023.

Originally published as Bowling them over: Bowls club funding deal saves it from South Rd bulldozers