Thornbury Bowls Club
ProHighlights
- Barefoot bowls rinks booked by the group for two or three hours, with bowls supplied and BBQs available to hire
- A synthetic top green and a Tifdwarf grass bottom green, both floodlit, plus a big deck with a retractable roof
- A retro clubhouse function room with a bar, catering kitchen and house sound system for parties and weddings
About Thornbury Bowls Club
Thornbury Bowls Club has been rolling since 1907 and runs as a not-for-profit club on Ballantyne Street. Alongside pennant and social bowls for members, it opens its greens to anyone wanting a barefoot afternoon, and its clubhouse to birthdays, weddings, work functions, gigs and fundraisers. There are two greens to play on: a synthetic upper green used all year and a lower green of Tifdwarf Bermuda grass, with floodlights across both. For a casual group outing, rinks are hired by the group in two- or three-hour blocks, with bowls included, and walk-ins can play on a spare rink for a per-person fee. Bigger parties can take a whole green, which comes with its own set of rinks and tables. The club has several BBQs for hire with basic utensils, and a member can be arranged to run through the basics for beginners. Shoes stay off the greens: bowlers play barefoot or in flat runners, and food and drinks are kept off the playing surface. The clubhouse has a function room with a vintage feel, a catering kitchen, a stocked bar and a large outdoor deck under a retractable roof. Hirers can run a Spotify playlist through the house system and use the speech microphone for free, or book the full PA with an audio engineer for a band or DJ. Kitchen hire is limited to certified caterers, and the club can pass on menus from caterers it works with regularly. The bar pours locally brewed craft beer, a signature cocktail list and non-alcoholic drinks. Bookings need a deposit, run for up to seven hours, and the club stays open to its members while you are there.
Inclusions & amenities
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What's Included
Frequently asked questions
How much does barefoot bowls cost at Thornbury Bowls Club?
A rink is $165 for two hours or $220 for three. If a rink is free, walk-in players can bowl for $16.50 a person for two hours.
Can we hire a whole green for a big group?
Yes. From September to May the synthetic top green with five rinks and five tables is $660 for three hours, and the grass bottom green with five rinks and eleven tables is $880. Rates differ in winter and in late November to late December.
What does the function room cost?
Function room hire ranges from $660 to $1500 for five hours, then $110 an hour, depending on the event and time of year. Saturdays from September to May carry a $2000 minimum bar spend, and a $250 deposit secures the date.
Can we bring food and run a BBQ?
Club BBQs can be hired for $55 each with basic utensils, and must be cleaned after use. The kitchen is only available to caterers who hold food safety certification and insurance, and the club can share contacts for caterers it uses.
What should we wear and how late can we stay?
Bowl barefoot or in flat runners – hard soles and heels are not allowed on the greens. Everyone needs to be inside by 10pm, live music finishes at 11:30pm, and bookings run for a maximum of seven hours.
Where we are
Suitable occasions
Damo
5 months ago
This is a hidden gem. They have a good selection of Tap beers and cheap cocktails. Nothing beats sitting outside on a sunny arvo. It's dog friendly and they have a limited burger menu when you get hungry.
Jerome Meehan
5 months ago
Up the Thornbury Bowls Club!! Always got lots of events on; gigs, trivia, line dancing, social bowls nights! Food is ace, drinks are the cheapest in Melbourne, management and staff are lovely. If I had one suggestion, ho…
Géraldine Bouilly
9 months ago
Great venue that is dog friendly, that was a must for us. Great drinks great prices, happy if you get food delivered if their kitchen isn't opened. Very friendly staff we will be back.
Mairéad Colosimo
10 months ago
We had out baby shower here on Sunday and it was amazing! The staff really looked after us and made sure we had a great day despite some terrible weather. We loved having the use of the picnic tables and BBQ. Our guests…
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