Business
10 November, 2024
Historic $5.5m club evolution
A $5.5 million transformation of the Mossman Memorial Bowls Club is finished and it comes with a name change to Club Mossman.
The club is one of the most successful bowls venues in Far North Queensland and one of the best sporting facilities in Douglas Shire.
As part of the new-look, the club has been rebranded as Club Mossman, but will always be known as the Mossman Memorial Bowls Club, originally formed on September 1, 1945.
The club is well regarded by visitors and locals from all over the Douglas Shire, offering great value for those requiring a tasty lunch or dinner, but it is also well known for its state-of-the-art bowling facilities, loved by both experts of the sport and those trying a roll up for the first time.
The club has recently got bigger and better with major expansion work, which has been taking place in the last few months.
Secretary manager Greg ‘Harry’ Potter said “this is the first upgrade of the club since the original expansion back in 2009”.
“Last year, the 2023 management committee recommended, along with members’ approval, an upgrade to the front of the club, plus new office space and a new and expanded gaming room for 44 gaming machines,” he said.
Mr Potter said the appointed contractor for the upgrade – Rubicon – started works late 2023 with the renovations, including a new gaming room, now done and dusted. “Cyclone Jasper and the subsequent rain event did delay the project by just a couple of weeks,” he said.
“Looking ahead, the function hall will also be upgraded to include a new separate airconditioned sports bar and this will include a TAB, a pool table and large screen TVs for major sports events.
“The final renovations will hopefully be completed by the end of the year”.
As part of the upgrade to the bistro, the club will be offering pizzas on the menu for both dine-in and takeaway.
The bowlers will have direct access to the undercover synthetic green from the carpark and the club has, this year, completed the replacement of the lighting over the bowling green.
Chairman Bill Allison said he was mindful of the importance the club was to the local community, so a smaller function room would be retained for seating up to 60 people. “The new function room will be available for hire to local community groups,” he said.
Mr Allison said the club was very aware of the decision earlier this year to place the Mossman Mill in receivership and remained extremely confident that the investment and renovations to the club and the rebranding to Club Mossman would be well received by the local community, members, bowlers, and visitors to the Douglas Shire.
