Alma Club History

The following article was written to commemorate the Alma Sports Clubs Golden Jubilee in September 1977.

The Sand Dune

In the early years of the 19th century, venturesome travellers proceeding form the little village of Melbourne to Gippsland would often end their first day's journey at the big sand dune.

This was a pleasant spot at the junction of the road to Dandenong and the Wattle Tree track to Gardiner's Creek. There were clean sand hills here and a sparkling little stream of fresh water, where Orrong Crescent now curves its way. There were plenty of fish in the stream, good grazing for the oxen and horses, and an abundance of game with the countless black ducks and kangaroos.

The sheltered area of the big sand dune provided a pleasant spot for the first night's camp. The travellers could obtain rest and refreshment here, and it was always a relief to get away from the St Kilda Road and its bushranger infested swamps and scrub.

The road to the Dandenong broadened at it's junction with the Wattletree Road, and was lined with immense gum trees, the home of thousands of colourful parrots and cockatoos.

Amid the sand dunes were numerous springs of crystal clear water and this was the main factor inducing settlement and the introduction of farming and grazing in the area.

The Port Phillip District of New South Wales, as Victoria was then known, progressed very slowly and the district around the big sand dune remained thinly settled for many years.

Gold

Gold had been discovered at Bathurst in New South Wales and it seemed that Port Phillip District would lose what little population it had with the rush to the goldfields.

But in 1861, gold was discovered in huge quantities at Mt Alexander, Ballarat, Warrandyte and Bendigo and the population of Victoria (as it was named soon afterwards) increased by 400,000 in five years.

The Formative Years

With the growth of building, there was a big demand for sharp clean sands, and the big sand hills near Dandenong Road were soon denuded. However, it was found that the sand was in considerable depth, and before long, the sand hills had become sand pits and were eventually abandoned.

The former resting place for travellers and its idyllic setting degenerated into an ugly rubbish tip.

The Melbourne "Daily Telegraph" published boastful articles about growth of Caulfield, Malvern and Elsternwick in the 1880's and early 90's, and even in the disastrous years following the bursting of the land boom in 1893, the district continued to grow and become more solidly established.

The Vision Splendid

In the early 1900's, the unsightly rubbish tips were purchased by Mr R H Mundell - a man of vision with a great capacity for work. He filled the sandpits in, levelled the site and created a bowling green and tennis court. The newspapers of the time printed paeans of praise applauding the venture as "one of the finest and best equipped sports grounds around Melbourne".

A bowling and tennis club was formed on the first day of November in 1913. It was decided to name the brand new club "The Alma Bowling and Tennis Club" because of its location close to Alma Road. Shortly after its foundation, the club added to its development a Croquet section.

1914 - 1918

Less than a year later, the Great War erupted and like all sporting clubs, the infant Alma Club had to severely curtail its activities.

One interesting fact emerging from those dark and dreary years was the gesture of the Club in staging the newfangled outdoor moving pictures in aid of patriotic funds.

The projector was situated in a shed on the northern side overlooking the green, and until 1974, the small rectangular aperture through which the projectionist showed his "flickers" a noticeable feature of the northern wall. The screen for the movies was erected in front of the old green grandstand.

Following the Armistice of 1918, the Club resumed it activities and began to prosper with good team representation in bowls and tennis.

About 1924, Mr Mundell sold the club to a Mr Murdock. Membership was increasing all the time and in the ensuing years, many members began to dislike the idea of the Alma Club being privately owned.

1927

So, in September 1927, the members bought the Club from Mr Murdock. It was a courageous and momentous move and those members of 50 years ago are deserving of commendation for their far sightedness.

Naturally, enough, human nature being what it is, this new venture did not experience all smooth sailing. There were differences of opinion, resignations, and withdrawals; but despite these difficulties, the Club kept Growing.

In January 1938, the Club amended its Articles of Association to allow the admittance of fifty Squash Rackets Members. Members of this new section would have to pay one guinea entrance fee and annual subscription fees of one guinea.

Only a month later, the General Committee agreed to purchase cash registers for "an amount not exceeding sixty-five pounds". Things were really looking up and in the same year; it was decided to open the bar from 10 a.m. Monday to Friday.

Then once again, Australia was at war and the Club had to diminish its activities and growth. An interesting motion was carried in 1944 that the Honour Boards be photographed and printed thereof, together with copies of each Annual Report and Balance Sheet and be lodged for safe keeping with the Club's solicitor or banker.

Expansion

The club began to really grow after the Second World War, so much so that membership in the various sections was strictly limited and many applications for membership were rejected on various grounds. The Alma Club began to be regarded as somewhat exclusive and membership was something to be sought and treasured.

In the late forties and early fifties, there was much talk of expansion. It was even proposed that the Club purchase all the houses between its southern boundary and Alma Road, but nothing eventuated. Another proposal was that the Club purchase a house or houses on the western boundary and build a clubhouse there but, again, nothing was done.

After much debate and long and involved discussions, varying amounts were spent on repairing and maintaining the old clubhouse, which was really showing its age. The more money was expended on the ladies lounge, on electrical fittings and plumbing, and on alterations and extensions to the bar. But there was a feeling that these were only palliatives postponing the day when something definite would have to be done about the clubhouse and environs.

Endeavour

Owing to the disastrous drought of 1964, this feeling became more evident with the advent of new blood I executive positions. Some bold spirits advocated drilling for water to try and save the Alma green, which was fast becoming a diminishing asset.

The history of the area indicated that the pioneers and travellers in Australia's early years had a high regard for the purity of the water in this locality.

The venturesome people won the day, test bores were sunk and an "unfailing supply of the purest water in Australia" was revealed. The clear water, which had attracted travellers to the big sand, was on again bestowing its benisons.

In 1971, all the doubt and difficulties about the clubhouse were resolved for it was destroyed by fire.

The General Committee acted quickly and a splendid temporary clubhouse was erected in a manner of days. Our good friends at Elsternwick Club and Caulfield Central RSL welcomed Alma members and Albert Park V.R.I. Bowls Club made its green available for our bowls pennant games. It was a wonderful example of warm-hearted mateship.

Then after some details, a start was made on the erection of a new clubhouse and once again the history of the sand dune manifested itself. Shortly after excavations for the foundations commenced, workers discovered a spring of bounteous clear water. At the time, Victoria was suffering yet another bad drought, and it was a paradoxical situation to have severe water restrictions imposed by the Board of Works while thousands of gallons were flowing to waste along the gutters of Wilks Street and Alma Road.

After some delays work resumed on the excavations, only to uncover several more springs of good water. It was an embarrassment of riches and big canvas hoses were run out to dispose of the water. People nearby were taking buckets to obtain water from such a plenteous supply, as the drought still continued.

The New Club rooms were completed in 1972 and formally opened in October 1972.

Immediately afterwards, the club's membership began to increase with a big influx of social members. The Bowls, Tennis and Squash Sections also expanded and the character of the Club changed from a small intimate organisation to a booming, vigorous entity.

In September 1977, it will be fifty years since the purchase of the Club from Mr Murdock. The splendid clubhouse and surrounding of today are a far cry from the bit of sand dune of the 19th century and the noisome rubbish tip in the early 1900's.

Written by Jim Roberts (1977)

Fact: In September 1977 when this article was published, there were 470 members.

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