St Louis de Montfort Tennis Club History
St Louis de Montfort Tennis Club was established in July 1975 in Aspendale, Victoria, as an inclusive community club welcoming players of all skill levels. Founded to provide a relaxed, social tennis environment, the club offered an alternative to more competitive venues focused primarily on high-standard pennant competition.
Operating on Roman Catholic Trust property—which made the club ineligible for government grants or council assistance—the founding members showed remarkable determination and resourcefulness to bring the club into existence. Through interest-free loans from members and additional financing arranged by the Parish, three tennis courts were constructed and officially opened on May 30, 1976.
By 1978, just two years after opening, all initial loans had been repaid and the club's growth continued with the installation of lights on two courts in 1980, extending playing hours.
The 1980s marked a period of significant expansion. A fourth court was added in 1985, followed by extending lighting to all courts in 1986, creating a fully equipped facility that could serve the growing membership. The 1990s brought major infrastructure improvements with a complete court rebuild in 1992 and a comprehensive lighting upgrade in 1994.
A major milestone came in 1998 with the acquisition of a clubhouse, transforming the club from a courts-only facility into a true community hub. This was quickly followed by the construction of essential amenities including toilets and change rooms in 1999, significantly enhancing member comfort and the club's capacity to host events.
The clubhouse was refurbished in 2002, with surrounding areas also improved. A new kitchen and appliances were installed in 2006, followed by installation of two water tanks in 2008, and heating and air-conditioning system in 2013 for year-round comfort.
The courts underwent a major transformation in 2017 when the surface was changed to synthetic grass, providing improved playing conditions and reduced maintenance and water usage. Recent improvements include the clubhouse being repainted and a new BBQ installed in the clubhouse gardens.
Today, St Louis de Montfort Tennis Club stands as a thriving community of over 150 members who enjoy diverse playing opportunities, from casual social tennis to competitive pennant formats. The club has maintained its founding spirit of inclusive, enjoyable tennis for all while continuously evolving to meet its members' needs through five decades of growth and improvement.
Key Milestones
- 1975 – Club founded in July
- 1976 – Three courts opened on May 30th
- 1978 – All loans repaid
- 1980 – Lights installed on two courts
- 1985 – Fourth court added
- 1986 – Lights extended to all 4 courts
- 1992 – Courts rebuilt
- 1994 – Major lighting upgrade
- 1998 – Acquisition of club house
- 1999 – Toilets and change rooms built
- 2002 – Refurbishment of club house and surrounds
- 2006 – New kitchen & appliances installed
- 2008 – Installation of two water tanks
- 2013 – Heating/air-conditioning installed
- 2017 – Court surface changed to synthetic grass