history FROM 1921 - 2022

1921 - 1937

The Nowra Ladies Croquet Club was established in 1921, with the first AGM held on May 17th, 1922, at Nowra Bowling Club. The Croquet Club remained at these premises until the Bowling Club later sold and a new location was sought.

1937 - 2003

A new home was found for the Croquet Club at the corner of Nowra Showground and West Street, adjacent to the towns war memorial. It took the ladies and their husbands 18 months to plough, level, seed, grow and mow this land until it was ready for play in March 1939 with one lawn.

1972

Nowra Croquet Club celebrates it's 50th Anniversary.

1985

Nowra Croquet Club welcomes it's first male member

1997

Nowra Croquet Club celebrates it's 75th Anniversary

2003 - 2009

By 2003, the club membership had grown to the extent that a second court was desired and the court that they had at West Street was not a full court for competition. It took six years before a site was located and acceptable to both Shoalhaven Council and the croquet club. The present site in the Sporting Complex in Bomaderry was selected as appropriate as it was the site of disused tennis courts. Three tennis courts became two croquet lawns - with the long term idea of converting the three remaining tennis courts into two more croquet lawns, giving the club a total of four lawns.

2004

The first male President was elected.

2009

The new Bomaderry site was occupied in February 2009 without a clubhouse. Members needing to use bathroom facilities had to walk to the adjacent swimming pool for toilets and the equipment shed housed a kettle, cups and a refrigerator. A new clubhouse was built with grants and money raised by the club. This was completed and occupied in June 2011.

2016

Nowra Croquet Club gained the lease on the remaining tennis courts with the plan to establish two more courts. This was not to be! Before one year's lease had expired, Shoalhaven Council decided to redesign the entire sporting complex and cancelled the lease advising the croquet club that they were required to move to the far south east corner of Artie Smith Oval on the corner of West Birrelly and North Tarawal Streets.

2022

Our club celebrates it's 100th birthday. The new site building begins- with a larger clubhouse and four lawns. Anticipated occupancy is mid 2023. Time will tell! From a membership of 31 ladies in December 1922, the total membership has fluctuated reflecting the times with talk of the club's closure post World War II when it fell to only 12 members. In 2022 the membership rests at 73 with further recruitment desired to fill the promised four courts.