About

Cressy Bowls and Community Club is in a small town 35 kilometres south-west of Launceston, Tasmania. It came into existence in the 1850s to service the surrounding wheat farms. Cressy has a population of 900. It is known as Tasmania's "Trout capital" for the good fishing in the area. Sitting below the mountain bluffs of the Great Western Tiers, which form part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site, the town is also at the heart of a rich rural region.

    • Adams, H. C.

    • Andersion, J. F.

    • Axton, T.

    • Bennell, J. A.

    • Bingley, J. A.

    • Bond, F. C.

    • Boon, T. P.

    • Bowen, H. J.

    • Blake, J. F.

    • Bricknell, A. R.

    • Bricknell, L. F.

    • Bugg, H. T.

    • Butterworth, T.

    • Clark, H. G.

    • Clark, H. W.

    • Cheek, T. L.

    • Crack, L. W.

    • Edwards, N.

    • Field, C. R.

    • Franklin, W. E.

    • Frankcombe, N. J.

    • Freeland, H.

    • French, S. C.

    • Green, P. E.

    • Gatehouse, N. D.

    • Gatenby, N. G.

    • Hayes, R. H.

    • Higgins, R. R.

    • Hill, C.

    • Howard, C. G.

    • Howard, Clem

    • Howard, E. J.

    • Healy, G. C.

    • Headlam, K.

    • Hogarth, T.

    • Horton, R. E.

    • Humphreys, J.

    • Jones, C. G.

    • Jones, L. A.

    • Jones, W. L.

    • Kelty, N.

    • Lawrence, L. L.

    • Learoyd, W.

    • Lyon, J. T.

    • Merton, G. O.

    • Murfett, F. J.

    • Newton, W.

    • Oliver, A.

    • Oliver, F. N.

    • Oliver, W. W.

    • Powell, R.

    • Preece, E. A.

    • Preece, K. G.

    • Pritchard, E. F.

    • Pritchard, M. R.

    • Richardson, A. F.

    • Richardson, D. S.

    • Richardson, K. W.

    • Rigney, F. L.

    • Robson, H. E.

    • Shipp, T.

    • Skirving, K.

    • Smith, J.

    • Sparks, A.

    • Spencer, B. L.

    • Spencer, D. R.

    • Spencer, P. A.

    • Spencer P. C.

    • Tole, R. G.

    • Tubb, D. C.

    • Wilson, C. W.

    • Wilson, D.

    • Wilson, G. L.

    • Wilson, H. A.

    • Wilson, S. K.

    • Whatley, A. C.

    • Young, R. R. H.

Establishment of the Cressy Bowling Club

1938

The first moves toward the formation of a bowling club in Cressy were made before the 1939-45 war, about mid-1938. Discussions were made to consider laying a green at the Cressy State School but felt a full-size green was needed so moves to purchase a suitable site were made. A meeting in November 1938 was held and elections were done to form a committee, a site in Macquarie Street was considered, a few moves to proceed were interrupted by the war and no further progression was made till 21st May 1962.

The Cressy War Memorial Committee was formed after the war to provide a suitable memorial in recognition of the Servicemen and Women of the Cressy District. The stock yard site on the corner of Main and Macquarie St became vacant and provided an excellent site for a pool and a War Memorial.

On the 9th of September 1954, the committee purchased the half-hectare sale yard, becoming trustees of the site along with the Longford Municipal Council.

Bowlers, Mr Fred Murfett and Mr Charles Wilson, thought the unused portion on the corner of Macquarie and Gatenby St would make an ideal site for a bowling green. May 1962 saw a meeting held where advise was sought and it was decided to find prospective foundation members.

June saw a meeting held where office bearers were elected. With no financial help available from the Government, 44 Foundation Members pledged 10 pounds ($20) each and, with donations, were able to raise 495 pounds ($990).

The Chairman of the War Memorial Committee offered the land on the corner of Macquarie and Gatenby St for the site of the Bowing Club providing all legal and transfer costs be met. This act of community co-operation was probably the greatest help the club could have at the time, as it allowed funds to be channelled into the preparation of the green.

Work began on preparing a green, and with lots of work from volunteers under the guidance of Jack Luck, it was reported to the Feb 1963 meeting that the green was well established.

A clubhouse was built on the design of the Sandy Beach Clubhouse with a loan of 2,000 pounds ($4,000). Leo Crack was sought to build the clubhouse and indicated a start date in July 1963.

With good progress being made, a special meeting was called with the ladies to organise the official opening of the club. The date proposed was 28th September 1963, with lots to be completed being it painting, ground surrounding to be tidied, fencing, bar to be stocked, kitchen to be prepared, all was coming together in readiness for the Opening Day.

*As a matter of interest, the flag poles were obtained from the old disused pit area of the Longford Grand Prix Motor Racing Circuit.

28th September 1963

Official Opening

Mayor Councillor Thorton Cairns OBE, MC, JP, welcomed all members, guests and visitors. He congratulated the club on such a great facility and a remarkable time frame to complete, thanks to Fred Murfett and his leadership over the project and to Les Crack for his splendid work on the building construction. Thank you was made to all committee members and volunteers and for bringing the dream of a bowls club to fruition.