History

Historic Milestones/History in Brief

 

1969 In March a provisional meeting laid the groundwork for the formation of the new  Eltham Tennis Club following some five years in the wilderness.
1969 On April 1, a public meeting was held in the old Arthur Street Shire Hall to officially form the club and elect office bearers.
1969 The Club started with a total of 40 members and a bank balance of $187.  Four en tout cas courts were the basis of our beginning.
1971 The Club’s first small pavilion was built in April at a cost of $7000.
1975 The Club’s fifth court was laid in June.
1976 At a Special General Meeting, in October, the Eltham Tennis Club Co-operative Society was formed for the initial purpose of raising funds towards a new Clubhouse.
1978 The current Clubhouse facility was completed in September at a cost of $62,000.
1985 The Club incorporated on the 12th September and at the same time the Co-op changed its name to the Eltham Co-operative Society.
1990 21st Anniversary Dinner held on 19 May at the Eltham Community and Reception Centre
1992 Lights were installed on courts 4 and 7 in April.
1994 25th Anniversary Dinner held on 14 May at the Eltham Community and Reception Centre
2001 Lights were installed on court 5.
2005 The first waterless porous court installed - court 6.
2007 Clubhouse named “The John Dinsmore Pavilion” on 10 November.
2008 Court 1 converted to waterless in July.
2009 Courts 2 and 7 converted to waterless in February.
2009 40th Anniversary Dinner held on 23 May at the Eltham Gateway Hotel and Conference Centre.
2012 Our first Club Coach, Wayne Cowley, retired in July 2012 after almost 30 years.  He was appointed in December 1983.
2012 Wayne Askwith was appointed Club Coach in July.
2017 Court 4 was rebuilt in December.
2019 50th Anniversary Dinner held on 29 June at the Heidelberg Golf Club.  Legend status awarded to Life Member, Laurie Sparks
2019/20 Courts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 lights were converted to LED.
2020/21 Courts 8, 9, and 10 added - two Plexicushion courts and a classic clay court, all with LED lighting, following a grant of $1.4 million
2021 A Book A Court system, for members and the public, with key pad entry was installed in July.
2022 Steve Blundell was appointed Club Coach in February.