Did you know that Graceville Croquet Club was established in March 1919, at a time when a number of returned servicemen from the First World War settled in the area and their wives were looking for their own sporting activities?
Read: Graceville Croquet Club Is 100 Years Old!
Graceville Croquet Club is a small sporting club dedicated to croquet, a low-impact and social sport that involves hitting wooden or plastic balls with a mallet through hoops.
The first members of the club, consisting of 12 women, played the game in their lawns. This set-up continued until 1920, when they were given a lease of the piece of land at Graceville Memorial Park.
The club’s first Patron was Thomas Murray Hall, a former member of the Queensland Legislative Council and alderman of the Brisbane City Council, who was known as a big supporter of numerous varied social activities and sports in the Sherwood Shire.
Until 1923, the three lawns remained as rough grass and the clubhouse was constructed between 1924 and 1929.
The club only consisted of women until the 1950s, when men also became enthralled with the sport.
The Graceville Croquet Club was added to the Register of Significant Places in the National Trust of Queensland in 2005.
At Graceville Croquet Club, games are played in three disciplines: association croquet, golf croquet, and ricochet croquet.
Association croquet is the traditional form of the game but golf croquet is more popular because of its less simpler rules compared to the former. Ricochet, on the other hand, is said to be a fast and fun way for beginners to learn about the game.
The club underwent refurbishment in 2018 due to Council grant, providing new facilities for the kitchen as well as wheelchair access. This was just in time for their 100th year celebration in 2019.
Today, the club’s patrons are Councillor for Tennyson Ward Nicole Johnston, State Member for Miller and Transport/Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey, and Federal Member for Moreton Graham Perrett MP.
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Still thriving up to this day, the club warmly welcomes new members and visitors who are interested in learning to play croquet. Their clubhouse can also be hired for events. For more information about the club, visit their website at gracevillecroquetbrisbane.com.au.
Graceville Croquet Club is located at 53A Appel St, Chelmer, near the Graceville Railway Station and the bus stop.
Published 27-January-2023
