VALLA BEACH TENNIS CLUB – BRIEF HISTORY
Circa 1958-59 (when the population of Valla Beach was just 81 residents), there were small holiday houses in Thompson Street opposite where the courts are now situated, along Valla Beach Road and the headland on both sides – Council at that time decided that there should not be houses along the headland and granted the holiday house owners free land for them to build other houses or to move the small beach houses to Buchanan or Gregory Street. Council removed the remaining houses. The first playground was officially opened in 1958 in the same area where the existing playground is situated. Thompson, Buchanan and Gregory Streets: the roads were there but unnamed.
In those early years, community members of Valla Beach felt that a tennis court would be a terrific community asset and meeting place. With picks and shovels and axes to fell some trees, the first court was prepared by the community: Fred, Jim and Alf Gregory, Dick and Dulcie Gregory, Mick and Mary Henderson, Bill Stewart and his son Bill, the Irvine family and John Steele (after whom Steele Street was named). John Steele used his truck for water on the new surface.
Bill Stewart recounted the story about how there was a large tallowwood tree (almost 2m in width) right in the middle of where the court was to be situated; with axes and plenty of hard yakka, the voluntary workers felled the tallowwood and dug out the root all by hand; the remaining hole was so deep, it took 2 large truckloads of gravel to fill.
Since its inception, the Tennis Club’s committees have had full responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the two synthetic grass courts, fencing, lighting, surrounds and the clubhouse. The existing clubhouse was built in the mid 1980s along with the second court.
The Club is currently run by a very small but enthusiastic group of volunteers who wish to see this great sporting facility remain in the community for many years to come. Over the years some Government grants have allowed the Club to do some improvements.
The Valla Beach Tennis Club has had a great working relationship with our local Nambucca Valley Council - Council has assisted us with many different types of support. Since 2019, our committee has run the Club via a Licence Agreement with Council - of course the facility itself is Council owned and our committees run the facility as best we can.
As membership fees are paid to Tennis NSW for insurance purposes, the actual court hiring and social tennis fees are basically the Club’s only income.
Visitor court hire is $20 per hour day or night through our website - just google Valla Beach Tennis Club and follow the links to court hire. Tennis Club members can access the courts at any time – details of how to become a member, access to court keys and clubhouse keys for members are available on our website. Any enquiries call Carole on 0413 611 531.
Tony Polack’s Tennis Academy from Coffs Harbour attend our courts on Tuesday afternoons 4.30-6.30pm and Friday mornings 6-9am for junior and/or adult coaching during the school terms with Amanda 0481 757 056 – Tony’s contact number is 0428 454 928 for any bookings or other enquiries.