Lawn Bowls in Melbourne's Inner South

Lawn Bowls: What to Look For

Four clubs, four quite different ways to spend an afternoon on the green. Across the Inner South, barefoot bowls ranges from a hosted two-hour rink in Windsor to a self-catered BBQ in Toorak, an evening game under lights in Malvern and pay-by-the-hour play in Albert Park. How the clubs compare:

Windsor's Melbourne Bowling Club, on Union Street – a two-hour rink with a bowls host, from $20 per person, plus a licensed bar and catering.
Middle Park Bowls Club, Canterbury Rd, Albert Park – three grass greens, hourly pricing from $10 per person, and the Route 96 tram stopping at the gate.
Toorak Bowling Club, Mandeville Crescent – groups of eight or more, with barbecues for hire beside the green.
Malvern Bowling Club, Coonil Crescent – private rinks lit for evening play, with a volunteer-run bar and a large barbecue.
All four have indoor rooms for the party once the bowls are put away.

The choice often comes down to food. Windsor has catering packages and Middle Park's kitchen serves pub-style meals, while Toorak and Malvern lean towards cooking on the barbecue yourselves or bringing in a caterer.

Nervous first-timers are well looked after in Windsor, where a bowls host walks everyone through it, and at Middle Park, where staff give a quick how-to and safety talk on arrival.
Work teams wanting an alternative to a corporate golf day can look at Malvern's business bowls, where everyone starts and finishes together.
Hens and bucks groups are on Middle Park's list of events; at Melbourne Bowling Club those bookings must start by 2pm.
For a competitive streak, Melbourne Bowling Club can organise a round robin or knockout.

Rooms for after the last end

Melbourne Bowling Club's Clubroom seats up to 120 or holds 300 standing, while its smaller Jack High room (around 28 seated) opens onto a heated courtyard.
Middle Park's main clubroom seats up to 150 (300 standing) and its Pavilion Room seats 50 (80 standing).
Toorak's main hall seats up to 70 or holds 100 standing, and its pool room fits around 30.
Malvern's 160 square metre hall holds 40 to 80, with a 4K projector, PA and a fitted kitchen.

Lawn Bowls FAQs

What footwear works for barefoot bowls in the Inner South?

Bare feet or flat soles everywhere. Melbourne Bowling Club keeps shoes off the greens altogether (socks are fine), Middle Park allows bowls shoes or tread-free flat thongs as well as bare feet, and Malvern asks for flat-soled shoes or bare feet.

Which Inner South bowls clubs let groups do their own catering?

Toorak doesn't supply food, so groups cook on hired barbecues, and Malvern welcomes self-catering. Melbourne Bowling Club is the opposite: outside food isn't allowed, birthday cakes excepted, and the club caters instead.

What happens if rain stops a bowls booking?

At Middle Park the booking can be moved, or the party can carry on in the clubrooms without rink hire being charged. Melbourne Bowling Club has darts, pool and table tennis inside.

When does Toorak Bowling Club take group bookings?

From October to April, on days when no pennant is played – which is most Saturdays. Groups of eight or more book ahead, and smaller groups can ring on the day to see if the green is free.

Lawn Bowls in Inner South

Weigh Up Your Lawn Bowls Options in Inner South