History Thornbury Bowls Club
Prior to| 1906 | Mr Oliver Gilpin, a leading merchant of Melbourne established and built his own private bowls green next to his home. |
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| 1907 | Leading local citizens were invited by Mr Gilpin to form a bowling club. The green officially opened on November 16th. Mr Gilpin was the president of the club for the next three years. |
| 1910 | On, 24th August the Thornbury Bowls Club was purchased by three trustees of the club for the sum of ₤ 775.00. |
| 1927 | Women were admitted on the 20th anniversary of the founding of the club. |
| 1959 | The club’s pavilion was opened. |
| 1980 | Renovations and extension carried out. Club members Bill Broderick led this project. Jean Chick and Jean Canny leading the renovations to the Ladies section of the Pavilion. |
| 2010 | Artificial grass to be installed on Lower green. |
Some major individual contributors to our club are
Mr Oliver Gilpin the founding father of the club. (President 1908 to 1910) William Olver was made a trustee of the club in 1922 and subsequently became President. It is interesting to note as the club admitted men only, it was only 20 years later in 1927 that the committee, formulated in a document, the arrangements for ladies to become associate members of the club upon a yearly subscription payment of 1 pound . Cr. Olver who was twice Mayor of Northcote (1931-32 and 1940-41) became a delegate and also councillor of the R.B.V.A.
Jean Chick has been a member of the club since 1972. In 1973 she was runner up in the “Champion of Champions” competition. Our club has benefited due to her individual success representing Victoria and Australia over many years and the respect she has earned as a bowler. Through the years the ladies teams have had great success on the green and in the 1996-97 season our A1 ladies team was runner-up. Her husband worked tirelessly for the club also and was for many years a voluntary green keeper. The club Honoured both when the upper green was named in honour of Jean and Eric Chick.
There are many more members, who through their efforts, that have made this club such a success.