Sports and Pastimes.
Naturally the various sporting organisations have multiplied with the increase of population, and while some forms of sport have become very popular, others have not succeeded so well. As early as May, 1861, horse races were held just over the Kew boundary, in Brook's paddock, Lower Hawthorn, now covered with streets and houses, Brook Crescent marking the position somewhat. Country «115» races were held at the Harp of Erin Hotel, East Kew, on several occasions in the sixties. Here also on more recent dates were held meets of the Melbourne Hunt Club, and some good runs were had over the open undulating country of Northern Boroondara, but owing to the spread of settlement in later years the last local meet has probably been held.
In the early eighties coursing became very popular. A strong club was formed, and amongst its principal supporters were Messrs. James Bennett, H. Gray, and Hugh Fraser, the latter on one occasion winning the Waterloo Plate, besides several other valuable prizes. For a number of years a very fine lot of dogs belonged to Kew kennels.
Of manly sports, cricket is dealt with at length on another page. Football has never been a prominent game in the Borough. Perhaps the best club was the Studley, which used to play in the seventies on ground now occupied by the houses of Mr. G. G. Crespin and Mrs. Watson-Lister. Among the prominent players in this club were Messrs. W. Nation, J. Toon, jun., and E. Langwill. The Kew Juniors and the Willsmere Football Club blossomed and faded in recent years. The Kew Harrier Club was a successful organisation for several years, but seems to have given way to lacrosse, which is now a very popular game among the youth of Kew.
The Borough possesses no less than three bowling greens, and public tennis courts are well patronised. Some account of the Kew Recreation Association and Bowling Club appears elsewhere. In latter years there has been established the Studley Park Bowling and Tennis Club, which has a well situated property in Barry Street, containing a large bowling green, several tennis courts, and a croquet lawn, which is often the scene of large and fashionable gatherings. A similar organisation, known as the Auburn Heights Recreation Club, in Barker's Road east, provides neighboring residents, both in Kew and Hawthorn, with bowling green, tennis courts, and croquet lawn, as well as a convenient «116» social hall. Golf is another game which has taken good hold on the district, and is referred to in greater detail on another page. Cycling also has its devotees. Several cycling clubs have been born and died, suffering chiefly from the migration of the leading spirits in the organisations, but since 1900 the "Kew Flyer" road race, instituted by Mr. H. F. Cooper, has been the cycling event of the year among local riders. It is run on the White Horse Road at Blackburn; the upper illustration shows the party about to leave Kew, while the lower one is a group of officials, competitors, &c. The names of the winners are:-W. Mansfield, J. Scott, C. Witchel1, D. McEwing, H Witchell, S. Pyle, J. Scott, jun., and R. Smith (1910).
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Rowlands Dry Ginger Ale. |
CRICKET.-Cricket in Kew has had a very chequered existence. The first club in the district was formed at the Boroondara Hotel, now Welling-ton House, Barker's Road, Hawthorn, in November, 1862, and though called the Hawthorn club, contained nearly as many residents of Kew as Hawthorn. Cr. Atkyns, then a resident of Hawthorn, figures in the first match. The playing ground was slightly nearer Power Street than the present Barker station. The combination, however, did not succeed, and on 2nd December, 1863, the first Kew Cricket Club was formed, with Mr. J. Lowrey, the town clerk as secretary, and the present recreation reserve was used as the playing ground. At the end of the season a grand dinner was held at the Prospect Hotel. The club during the next season had among its players Messrs. B. and W. Fishley, J. Bennett, H. Rowlands, H. May, T. Howell, Webster, and F. H. Mackay, some of whose names are still familiar to Kew sportsmen, and wound up the season with a dinner at the Princess Hotel, long since removed. As Kew had not been very success-ful by itself, next year the playing ground was moved to O'Shaughnessey's paddock, at the corner of Denmark Street and Barker's Road, where, with the aid of some Hawthorn residents, the game «117» flourished for a few seasons. Probably the style of play was somewhat different then to what is termed true form now, the pitches beihg bare earth -cocoa-nut matting as a substitute for turf had not been thought of, and there was no water available for preparing the wickets. Cricket practically died out in Kew till the early seventies, when an enthusiast, in Edward Crisp, revived the game, and a fairly good team was got together, including Messrs. J. Toon, C. Vance, J. Crammie, F. G. Barnard, H. Little?eld, H. Sweetland, J. C. G. (Charlie) Robertson, and others. The ground in Victoria Park was formed, a pavilion built, &c. The club went on with varying fortunes until the Kew Recreation Association Company was formed in 1880, when the scene of play was moved to the new ground at the corner of Denmark Street, where the Kew railway station now stands. For four or ?ve seasons the game flourished, and Kew had among its players some good men in Messrs. W. Henty, A. W. Barnard, H. A. Dodd, Rupert Nicholson (now Mayor of Prahran), A. G. Roberts, C. Ross, H. Trumble, W. Browne, W. H. Hiscock, and C. J. Alsop. With the extinction of the ground by the railway in 1885 cricket got a decided set back. The Park Hill Club was formed to play on the old ground in Victoria. Park, and under the leadership of Mr. F. Merritt was fairly successful. With the season 1888-9 the name was changed to that of Kew Cricket Club, and the club has continued on to the present day, engaging in one or more competitions every season. Several have been won, while on other occasions the club has been runner-up. While the Wednesday half-holiday was in vogue, the Wednesday Club eleven won the Eastern Suburbs competition for three years in succession. Among the prominent players of recent years may be mentioned Messrs. T. H. Pinniger, C. Crouch, P. Churcher, C. Ryan, C. Watson, V. Greenhill, T. Greenhill, H. Litt1efield, jun., C. Hurford, W. Matson, J. and E. Barnard, G. and A. Witchell, S. Eakin, H. Don, R. Littlefield, F. Walsh, E. Backman, J. Munro, W. Robinson, C. Giddens, and Mick O'Shaughnessy. «118»
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The ”Main“ Gas Cooker. |
Some four or five years ago a new cricket ground was laid out in Victoria Park. On this very successful sports meetings have been held each Foundation Day, resulting in a fair amount of money being available for making further improvements to the ground. This is very picturesquely situated amidst the remnants of what was a fine red-gum forest. Though at present somewhat removed from the centre of population, as time goes on this drawback will disappear, and the Kew Club will be found strong enough to pit itself against the best talent in the State.
An excellent cricket ground is maintained at the Kew Asylum for the use of attendants and patients. This ground was the nursery of two famous international players, Messrs. J. W. and Hugh Trumble, who, under the able tuition of their father, Mr. William Trumble, and that one-time terror to moderate bowlers, Mr. John S. Swift, soon proved themselves fit for the ranks of the M.C.C.
KEW BOWLING CLUB.-One of the forms of recreation provided for the inhabitants of Kew by the formation of the Kew Recreation Association Limited in 1880 was a bowling green situated at the rear of the Hall in Wellington Street. The green was laid down in 1881, and by September of that year was sufficiently advanced to allow of the formation of a club, the first game being played on lst October, 1881. The first office-bearers elected were :-President, Mr. John Halfey; Vice-President, Mr. Hugh Thomson (still to the fore as a bowler, though in another district); Secretary, Mr. Henry Clutterbuck; with Messrs. J. Braim, F. W. Oxenbould. E. Marshall, and R. Summers as committee. The Kew club was the second formed in the eastern suburbs, Hawthorn having been formed slightly earlier, but not joining the Bowling Association till after Kew. When Kew joined the Association it consisted of only twelve clubs; now the associated clubs number nearly fifty, with 1,200 players engaged every Saturday, showing the hold bowling has taken on the community. Matches then were «119» only "friendly" now keen fighting takes place every season for premiership honors. The club won its first victory on 7th January, 1882, when Hawthorn was defeated by 92 to 60 points. Mr. D. R. McGregor was the first champion of the club, while Mr. J. P. Goulstone, practically the founder of the Recreation Association, won the president's prize. Of the present members Mr. T. Greenhill, sen., has been longest associated with it, dating his membership from October, 1882, and with Mr. T. G. Jellis, who joined a few months later, has ever taken a keen interest in its fortunes. He was president in 1894-6, and besides winning many prizes won the championship in 1890-1. Mr. Jellis was president in 1892-3, and again in 1907-8, and has won many prizes. During recent years the club has been regarded by other clubs as one to be reckoned with. Its principal achievements are as follow :-In 1889-90 Mr. Wm. Howieson, one of the foremost bowlers of the State, won the Single-handed Championship of Victoria. In 1907 Mr. R. M. Edgar was third in the Single-handed Championship of Australia, played in Sydney. 1901-2 the club won what is considered the "blue riband" of bowling, the trophy presented by the President of the Victorian Bowling Association for that year, Mr. Chas. Wood. The three-rink team won their pennant in 1907-8, and were runners-up in 1902-3 and 1906-6. The four-rink team were runners-up for 1908-9, and in the same season were runners-up or the Champion rink, on each occasion being defeated by the redoubtable Armadale club. The club was also runner-up in 1906-7, and in 1904-5 won the "Knox" trophy, played for by clubs in the Kooyong electorate. The various trophies, valued at about £50, have taken the form of some useful piece of clubroom furniture, among them being on honor board on which are inscribed the names of the presidents and champions, thus showing that the present members have not forgotten those who were foremost in the club in days gone by. Up to 1901 the club was only able to enter one four-rink team for «120» pennant matches, but for the current season there will be two four-rink pennant teams, and a team engaged in a two-rink non-pennant competition. Among the prominent players who have been associated with the club may be mentioned Messrs. W. Howieson, W. H. Martin, H. Madden, F. W. Oxenbould, W. Finlayson, C. Wright, J. Braim, F. Barnard, D. R. McGregor, T. Hurley, H. Thomson, J. Stevenson, and Wentworth. The club is at present honored by having one of its members, Mr. Simeon Nathan occupying the office of president of the Victorian Bowling Association, having been president of the club in 1905-6. The office-bearers for 1910-11 are :-Patrons, Hon. G. Swinburne, M.L.A., Cr. J. F. McCrea (Mayor of Kew), and Cr. J. L. Carnegie; President, Mr. J. M. Finlayson; Vice-President, Mr. W. H. Lilburn; Committee, Messrs. W. H. Bradshaw, W. Cook, R. M. Edgar, C. H. Green, J. E. Handbury, and C. Watson; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. T. Greenhill, jun. ; Delegates to V.B.A., Messrs. Finlayson and Nathan; green director, Mr. T. Greenhill, sen.; with Mr. L. Hambleton as hon. secretary for the seventh ear in succession. No history or reference to the Kew Bowling Club would be complete without reference to the green-keeper, Mr. John Wentworth, who has held that position since the inception of the club, and to whose efforts much of the pleasure of the members is due, the green being to him a special charge, regarding it as he does with a fatherly affection.
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Mr. P. W. Merfield‘s Pharmacy, High Street. |
KEW GOLF CLUB.-This club owes its origin to the enthusiasm of Mr. J. C. Anderson, who in 1894 got together about thirty members, and established a 9-hole course. The Hon. F. Madden was its first president, the managing committee consisting of Messrs. J. M. Campbell, J. Donaldson, J. M. Joshua, and H. E. Webb, with Mr. J. C Anderson as hon. secretary. The club has had a successful career, and now numbers 90 men and 60 ladies. Through its existence many young players have been brought to the front, such as Messrs. S. «121» Ramsden, J. R. Mason, R. W. Martin, and J. McGibbon, who have all held the championship of the club. Other champions have been Mr. J. C. Anderson (1897-9), Mr. F. B. Waters (1906-8-10), and Dr. E. A. De Ravin (1909). Mr. F. B. Waters has made the best round of the 18-hole course-77, as against "bogey" 83. 'The ladies' section has under the secretaryship of Miss T. Henty been a decided success, both as to play and socially. Miss Bowie has held the championship since 1907 against all comers. Previous champions were Mrs. Maconochie and Mrs. J. K. Merritt. In spite of uncertainty of tenure of the ground played over, the club has prospered and it will be a serious loss to the members and the Borough if the club, with its good record of sixteen years, should by the rezoning of the Outer Circle railway and the spread of population be forced to find another location, or exist only as a pleasant memory of the past. The present office-bearers are :-President Hon. G. Swinburne, M.L.A.; Vice-Presidents, Messrs. J. C. Anderson and J. K. Merritt; Captain, Dr. E. A. De Ravin; Vice-Captain, Mr. F. H. Campbell; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. B. Harvey; Hon. Secretary, Mr. H. E. Wade Committee, Messrs. J. Gibson, A. F. Hiskens, H. M. Lee, J. W. Robertson, P. Serle, and F. Waters.
LACROSSE.-The Kew Lacrosse Club was founded about eight years ago, when Cr. J. W. Clements took an active part in its organisation. During the last two seasons the club has had four teams. 1908-9 it was fourth in the "B" section of the junior division of the Victorian Lacrosse Association. In 1909-10 it won the premiership of the "A" section junior division, thus qualifying for a place in the senior division. The prominent players recently have been Messrs. E. Backman, B. Giddens, H. Nathan, A. N. Potton (captain), and H. Turner. The president, Cr. J. L. Carnegie, has been an ardent supporter of the club for some years.
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