Since the early 1950s, Victoria’s Ocean Grove Bowling Club (OGBC) has held the vision to put its home on the map.
In keeping with this vision, the club has recently celebrated its $6 million redevelopment, opening an undercover bowling structure, ‘The Dome’, making it the largest bowls and entertainment precinct in regional Victoria.
The Dome boasts two eight-rink greens, enclosed for all-weather play, two 4.5-metre-wide LED screens, premium lighting, integrated live-streaming equipment, and tiered grandstand seating.
The redevelopment ensured unobstructed clubhouse views of the greens and extended parking, and allows the club to host events of any size while offering a first-class experience to guests.
It was designed to be flexible and sustainable, ensuring all visitors would feel welcome.
Nathan O’Neill, OGBC Chief Executive Officer, says the club was committed to ensuring the development would provide lasting value for its members, community and region for generations to come.
OGBC’s aim in the redevelopment is to attract major events, boost regional tourism and drive economic growth – something that delivers benefits not only to its members but its community, to promote social engagement, wellbeing and connection.
Two years ago, the OGBC board, leadership team and members developed a five-year strategy for the future of the club.
A key pillar was ‘Progress Through Innovation’, which focused on enhancing the club’s system and infrastructure to ensure the needs of both current and future generations would be met.
The club’s plans offered a unique opportunity to create a vibrant, modern meeting place that brings people together, enhancing social engagement, wellbeing, and active lifestyles by working closely with local community groups, schools, sporting organisations, and businesses.
In December last year the club celebrated its 70th anniversary, honouring the people who had shaped its story while giving a glimpse of its ambitions for its future.
Within weeks of opening the Dome, the club announced it has officially secured the 2026 World Bowls Indoor Championship.
In a culmination of OGBC’s objectives and plans over the decades, the opening weekend was celebrated late last month, featuring an exhibition match, gala night and a family fun day attracting over 1,200 visitors.
Matt Flapper, OGBC GM of Partnerships and Programs and former Australian Jackaroo, says the redevelopment created a new benchmark for Australia’s community clubs, and will help OGBC attract international events, national championships and community activities.
“It ensures bowls, whether at elite level, grassroots, or family barefoot sessions, can be showcased in an environment that is truly world-class,” he told Bowls Australia.
“This structure belongs to every member who believed, every volunteer who gave their time, every partner who shared our vision, and the community who supported us,” added O’Neill.
“Most importantly, it brings people together.”
