Please see letter from Jenny Rickerby, previous life member of Lawley Park Tennis Club. Jenny provides detailed information on Lawley Park Tennis Club that highlights the importance of family and community within tennis.

The tides of time have taken us on a very long journey and hopefully the history and the historic site of the Lawley Park Tennis Club will not be lost in the future.  

 On Feb 17, 1900 the Albany Tennis Club was formed and provisional office bearers and committee members accepted, I still have the names of the office bearers should you be curious.

Sometime in 1901 it was decided the southerm end of Brunswick Road Reserve, practically on the shore of the harbour was the best place to construct the first set of tennis courts.  

August 8, 1910 on the positive comments from a delegation of Scottish agriculturalists who saw Albany as a Health Resort,  Pd 1,000 was allocated for tennis courts.  

March 6, 1912 4 new courts – named the Lawley Park Tennis Courts (Lawley Park had been named in 1902) were opened and the Council and the Albany Tennis Club, which was formed with the intention of leasing the courts, made arrangements for their use. The public and club members could play on the courts at no charge for 3 mornings per week, otherwise a rate of 1 shilling per set was charged for public access.  It’s interesting to note the Municipal Baths which were constructed on the beach at the base of Lawley Park opened on 10th April 1912 and were part of the “Health Resort”. 

The State Hardcourt Championships has been held twice at LPTC 1930 and 1955. 

In 1960 the club was formally renamed the Lawley Park Tennis Club and has until recent times been a strong thriving club. Many inter club rivalries were held with C&S Tennis Club and the Bremer Bay Tennis Club with the Trophy the “ Horn of Contention” , a highly prized trophy.  

Members of LPTC have supported tennis throughout the “Zone” by competing in Pennant competitions, local tournaments, coaching clinics and the club hosted the first Girls in Sports Clinics in WA. They were staunch supporters of Country Week since it's inception in 1920 and was 1 of only 5 clubs from the then approx 90 country clubs to participate in its inaugural event.  

In the early 2000’s LPTC hosted the very popular country Hopman Cup where teams played off for the privilege of playing teams from other Zones at the Hopman Cup. 

In 2012 LPTC hosted The State Masters games of the tennis doubles competition. 

In 2013 LPTC won the 2013 WA Tennis Industry Awards  “ Club of the Year”. 

Much of the information above was supplied by life member Graham Leembruggen and also researched by former member Moira Maley for her thesis “Single Car Family, Everybody In”  which shows how clubs were successful in the past as all the family, young and old, were involved.

LPTC members – past and present should be very proud of the commitment and hard work to ensure the continued success and expansion of the club over its 113 years. It is a history that any club would be proud of and one that may never be surpassed.   

All wish to see the success and growth of tennis in Albany and will continue to support and play tennis for as long as they are able.

- Jenny Rickerby, Life member of Lawley Park Tennis Club.