Our Club

In 1973, the RSL struck a partnership with the Bowls Club to run and manage the Club’s facilities under a lease agreement. In 1986, and the land was transferred to the trusteeship of the then, Beaudesert Shire Council and the Bowling Club was granted an 86 year lease to occupy and manage the facility under certain provisions, including that the Bowls Club will respect at all times the Memorial aspect of the centre, and in particular the Honour Rolls etc., which shall at all times be displayed in the Club Rooms with proper dignity and respect.

Another provision of the lease was that there must be an active Bowls Club on the site, and that if it should fold or become inactive for two years, the lease would terminate and the facilities would revert to the Council.

In light of this, it is extremely important to the community that the Club maintains an active Bowls Club!

Croquet was reintroduced to the site in April 2000 after a new Croquet Club was established in 1999.

Why are the gates at the entrance to the Club called the “Jubilee Memorial Gates”?

1951 was known as the Jubilee Year for Australia. 50 years earlier in 1901 the six States united to become the Commonwealth of Australia and became an equal partner of the British Commonwealth of Nations. There was much commemoration and celebration for this year. Our young nation had survived two enduring World Wars and Tamborine Mountain had made its contribution.

Guided by the RSL Sub-Branch, the Jubilee Memorial Gates were built by the Memorial Committee in 1951. A grant of 30 pounds was obtained from Beaudesert Shire Council with the remaining costs to be met by the Tamborine Mountain RSL Sub-Branch. The Memorial Committee was made up of members of the Sub-Branch, members of the Women’s Auxiliary and members of the general community. The gates were officially opened on the 10th November 1951 by the local Councillor – Mr J Sharp.

These gates are the only remaining post WW2 structure at the Club’s site. They stand proud with their two crafted brickwork posts and fancy ironwork. The Jubilee Memorial Gates mark the Headquarters of the Tamborine Mountain RSL Sub-Branch, and also pays respect to the memory of Blanche Bayne. 

With the return of service personnel after the War, the Croquet Club donated the land to the newly formed local sub-branch of the RSL to become a lasting memorial centre in honour of those who served, and for those who did not return.

The R.S.L. promised the donors of the property that they would not sell it; that they would retain the name of Bayne Court, and that the honour roll would be hung in the clubrooms together with a plaque carrying the names of donors. The property would not be run for profit.

After taking possession of the site, the RSL Sub-branch’s Memorial Committee [originally] developed two tennis courts which were opened in 1949 by the Shire Chairman (Cr. James Sharp). The tennis club lasted for some years and proved very popular with the Mountain young people. Later, after having had such strong support, it fell away and went into recess.

During this time, a move to develop the centre for lawn bowls was gaining strong support. The game had been played at the Eagle Heights Hotel, but the group had no green it could call its own. Thinking turned to the Memorial Centre. An outcome was a public meeting on June 10, 1950, when a provisional Bowls Club was formed.