Tennis Clubs

In the early days of settlement of Kiama (c.1840), what is now Hindmarsh Park was known as Central Park. A creek that started at the western end of Terralong Street, near Pike's Hill, passed through the park, alongside which land was set aside as a water reserve for the purposes of water supply to the town and for boats. From 1899, the Central Park water reserve had become polluted and was no longer useful, so the ditches were filled with rubbish and quarry spoil. In 1906, two tennis courts were built in the hollow of Central Park. Quarry waste material continued to be used to fill the park.

In 1892, 'lawn tennis' came to Kiama, and two more courts were made in the excavation site left from the harbour works on Blowhole Point. These courts became quite neglected during WWII but were rebuilt and reopened in 1963. Other concrete courts were located behind the Christ Church (Anglican Church), and there were also clay courts made of ant-bed at the front of the original Catholic Church, on Manning Street (these were removed in 1963 when the new church was built). There were also courts at the rear of the hospital that were used by the hospital staff.

The Kiama Tennis Club was formed in September 1953. In the earlier years there were only two courts in Hindmarsh Park (previously Central Park) where the Club first formed. They were on different levels and made of clay, therefore were unusable after rain. Later they were made into concrete courts, then an artificial turf surface was added.

In 1956, in collaboration with the NSW Ambulance, the Tennis Club organised the inaugural Kiama Mardi Gras (a carnival or fair with otherwise little relation to its more famous Sydney cousin). The surplus from this festival and the ones in 1957 and 1958, combined with loan monies from Council, was enough to enable the construction of a two-storey brick clubhouse, which was opened in September 1959. Only one more Mardi Gras was held in 1960, on New Year's Eve.

In 1988, it was thought that the courts were dissecting the park, and so it was decided the club would find a new home. There was a lot of discussion over the following year as to where the club should be relocated, and then in 1989/90 it was decided it would move to the vacant land known as 'Hidden Gully' at the end of Noorinan and Garden streets, where it resides today. The Tennis Club made the move in July 1992. Initially there were five synthetic courts, a clubhouse and a caretaker's cottage, and two more synthetic courts were added in 1995. The old clubhouse in Hindmarsh Park was demolished in 1994. The Kiama Tennis Club has been continuously operating for 66 years.

Kiama Tennis Club in the new location off Noorinan Street, Kiama

Blowhole Point tennis courts (still in use today).

Keen local tennis enthusiasts Peggy and Beth Trevor, c.1928

The Kiama Tennis Club when it was located in Hindmarsh Park, Kiama.