Brief History

Compiled from information provided by John Bradford, Jenny Marshall, Nigel Binnie (dec), Elizabeth Bowman and Kaye Stacy

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There has been a lot of conjecture and lively debate about when the Country Tennis Club actually began.  The earliest date goes back to the days of social tennis being played by the forefathers of the Club in district properties such as Archerfield, the details of which go back to June 1883.  Early tennis under the banner of Singleton Tennis Club, was also played at Howe Park from around 1903 up until late 1938, when a committee was formed to look for a suitable site to establish this club.

​The purchase of the current property Wonona on 14th November 1938 is another significant date in the Club's history.  But the 3-acre site wasn't the tennis court complex we see today; surrounding a colonial Georgian homestead, was a rustic site consisting of chook yards, a cow paddock and tree scrub.  The Wonona homestead, built in 1873 by William Ash, was originally a stately family home including servants' quarters and many outbuildings such as a coach house and stables.

Click on the images above for captions and larger versions of the photos

The establishment of the rules of the Club on 4th January 1939 was another significant date.  The original committee consisting of Richard Binnie, Stuart Bowman, Wallace Bowman (President), Thomas Hart, William Hickson, Max Lloyd Jones, William McDonald, Dr Rem Maffey, Alymer Pearce, Arthur Reynolds, Abbott Stacy and Garnet Stacy, had a vision for this club, including Bylaws 27 and 31 which state that there are to be no dogs or children.  Times have changed but the vision hasn't which is to create a club of like-minded people who wish to enjoy the social pursuits of tennis, bridge and dinner evenings, with a fully stocked bar on offer.

It took four months of intense work in extreme heat (up to a reported 50 degrees centigrade) to convert the rough farm paddocks into a viable and attractive venue for tennis.

On the 6th May 1939, the committee declared that the courts were ready for tennis and the Club opened for business.  This date is significant because it is the one which, over the years, has been traditionally celebrated as the anniversary of the Club.

Sadly, there was no official opening of the Club.  The opening, planned for September of that year, was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II.  

When this club came into being, most men were called to war, leaving the properties short of men, supplies and steel materials to build fences.  Even after the war, times were tough.  Motor vehicles were rare and fuel to drive them even rarer.  Cattle had to be driven to market.  On market day (Wednesdays) the Club became the epicentre of activity for farmers who gathered for a drink and a chat about the sales of the day.

The Club in those post war days had a large country membership and was the focus of the district's social life.  The Show parties were famous throughout the state with up to 200 members and guests in attendance.