Club History

It was way back during the period 1915-1920 that a small group of enthusiasts joined together to form what was then Mount Lofty Tennis Club, and courts were constructed adjacent to the Stirling Institute building on Avenue Road. Prominent players of these years included Eric Gaskell, Frank Mugford, Gordon Halliday, Edgar Preece and Ceece Dyer. In those days matches were played on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Club quickly outgrew the Avenue Road site and approached the then Stirling District Council in 1933, who in turn decided to develop a tennis and bowls complex on vacant land at Stonehenge Avenue. The Club was asked to arrange an exhibition match to mark the official opening of the new venue in 1938, and it was then that it changed its name to Stirling Tennis Club. The Club was successful in attracting John Bromwich and Arthur Huxley, the reigning Australian Junior Doubles champions, to play against the local pairing of Dr. G. Hore and Cliff Harvey. They also played in a mixed doubles match with SA’s No. 1 and 2 ranked ladies, Gwen Griffiths and Joan Walters. The umpire for the day was Egdar Preece who went on to umpire Davis Cup in Melbourne and later at Queens Club and Wimbledon in London.

After a quiet period during the Second World War, tennis began to flourish again and STC built its first Clubhouse in 1947 thanks to the hard work of Arthur Healy, Royl Chardon and Ron Scragg.

It was in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s that STC dominated the local competition amassing Division 1 premierships in 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1973. During this period the Club’s leading players included Reg Pistola, Bob Smart, Don Blows, Marilyn Blows, Max Blows, Ted Harvey, Theo Ewen, George Turner, Daphne Halliday, Beryl Wiese, Concie Collins, Janet Whiting, Marg Evans, Bev Barry and Rosemary Haig. Much of the Club’s success can be attributed to the stability of its Committee with significant contributions made by several key people including Daphne Halliday (Secretary 7 years), Trevor Surman (Secretary 5 years) and Marilyn Blows (Secretary 10 years).

Our Committee

Stirling Tennis Club is professionally administered by a Management Committee and sub-committees, under the rules set out in our Constitution. We conduct regular meetings to progress our business plan and to resolve any relevant issues.

Our Club Officials are elected from and by the members at our Annual General Meeting.

Please send any club enquiries to info@stirlingtennisclub.com.au.

Club Policies

Stirling Tennis Club Child Protection Procedure 2023