Newcastle District
Women's Bowling Association

On the 13th February 1913, eight ladies had a roll up on Hamilton Bowling Club’s green. This was the commencement of ladies’ bowls in Newcastle.

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Hamilton Women’s Bowling Club was officially opened on the 17th February 1914 with a three-rink green. Torpey Place Women’s Bowling and Croquet Club was officially opened on the 28th April 1926 with 18 playing members, three bowling rinks and two croquet greens. However, the croquet section was abandoned in 1935 when a full bowling green was constructed. Sadly, these two Clubs have now closed.

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These Clubs were closely followed by Lambton Park, Newcastle South, Stockton, New Lambton, Raymond Terrace, Newcastle, Adamstown, and Sulphide. There were a number of Clubs associated early with our District and are now in the Hunter River District which was formed on the 27th November 1951.

In 1934 the Newcastle and Northern District Association was formed with Clubs affiliating individually with the State Body. There was some disagreement regarding representation with the State and eventually Torpey Place, Newcastle and Toronto formed a breakaway group, who affiliated with the New South Wales Women’s Bowling Association and with Yamba formed the Northumberland District Women’s Bowling Association on the 18th June 1937. This was the first District affiliated as such with New South Wales Women’s Bowling Association.

In 1941, those Clubs that were still with the Newcastle and Northern District, joined the Northumberland District which became the Newcastle District Women’s Bowling Association in 1962.

In January 2000 there was a boundary division in the Newcastle District and Lake Macquarie District Women’s Bowling Association was formed.

In 2003, our District was incorporated. Over the years we have developed several Representative Games with other Districts - the Friendship Trophy with Lake Macquarie District, the Waves to Wine with Hunter River District and the Rose Bowl with Central Coast District. Sadly, in 2019 due to State expenditure policy restrictions we could no longer continue two of our longstanding Representative events, being the Howard Shield with Illawarra District and a Representative game with Bowls A.C.T. All current events are contested very competitively and in the friendly spirit of the sport, providing spectators the opportunity to aspire to playing at an inter-District level.