New Farm Bowls Club is said to be the fourth oldest bowls club in Brisbane.
The beginning of the New Farm Bowls Club at 969 Brunswick Street dates from 1905, when the Turner’s paddock part of the Kinellan Estate was bought by Messrs G. G. Muller and J. N. McCallum. They then sold the land for £400 to those interested in forming a bowls club, which was founded in 1907. It is not known what the original subscription was, however in June?1912 the annual fees were raised to 4 guineas. From 1909 to 1929, the club was a sporting club offering bowls, tennis and croquet – Mrs Muller was a keen croquet player. The croquet club relocated to New Farm Park in 1929, and the tennis courts to land on what is now 588 Brunswick Street.
The first club house was erected on the western side of the property. The club was originally very exclusive, the membership consisting of business and professional men. In 1923, rates and other costs would mean the playing fee would be 1/- per game. It was therefore proposed by the treasurer, Mr. Chapman, that representation could be made to the council for land to be made available in the park, but the suggestion was rejected.
Because of the lack of space for the increasing membership, the clubhouse was sold to the South Brisbane Council in 1924 for removal to Musgrave Park. In late 1923 a further piece of land was purchased to build a new club house. This was opened on the 22nd March, 1924 by the then QBA president, Mr.?Shaw. In 1926 the playing fee was raised to 2/- and the yearly subscription to 5 guineas. An addition known as the annex was added to the club house in 1954 and the cost met by the New Farm branch of the R.S.S.A.I.L. This was opened in October of that year.
In the early seventies, a replacement clubhouse was being discussed by the committee and in 1972 it was decided to proceed. In 1973, following a statement by the Lord Mayor about the availability of parkland for sporting clubs, discussions were held with the Brisbane City Council about the possibility of relocating to the Park. The vote by the committee to make the move was defeated. The clubhouse was burnt down in 1976 after a new kitchen caught fire, and a new clubhouse was built and opened by Royal Queensland Bowls Association President E. J. Smith, on the 25th June 1977.
In 1992 the New Farm Bowls Club was incorporated, and in the following year installed poker machines. In 1997 the Bowls Club celebrated its 90th anniversary.
In recent years, the New Farm Bowls Club has suffered from the demographic shift that has seen a decline in bowls playing. Under the guidance and coaching of former international player Gary Ryan, the club has seen a renewal of interest, through activities such as barefoot bowls, dining facilities and a keen resurgence of competitive bowling, in both the mens’ and the ladies’ sections.