Lawn bowls is one of Australia's most popular sports. Its seen several transformations in its history: Beginning as an occasional public house sport, it was a leisure activity for the male elite in the nineteenth century, a mass sport for men and women after the Second World War and now appeals to a much younger demographic. A player quoted in 1937 acknowledged it was no longer a game for old or rich men but frequently regarded as the most democratic game. "For it knows no social distinction. Jack is as good as his master and probably a bit better on the green (Hawker, 'Bowls in New South Wales', 2.1 (September 1937)p2.

Competition has long been an important element of lawn bowls, with inter-colonial competitions starting in 1880 and test matches against Britain in 1901. In the 1920s a number of bowlers sought to build acceptance as a 'serious' sport. Uniforms, standard rules of play and green behaviour were introduced around Australia. Local and national competition award winners with pennants, badges and more permanent symbols like honour boards and trophies. International competition provides Australia with world champions. Professional bowlers with television coverage and corporate sponsorship have brought change.

It was a slow battle for women to play bowls, the Victorian women took the lead in forming the first ladies bowling association in 1907 and in 1949 the Australian Women's Bowling Council was formed and held their first carnival in Sydney. In the late 50s and during the 1960s there was a huge growth in bowls membership contributed in part by returned service personnel and Australia's massive post warimmigration. Relatively prosperous years of full employment and a prevalence of male dominated single income houses may have also contributed to the increasinginvolvement of women in lawn bowls as players and administrators. Rose Bay Club had women players from as early as 1925. This bowling bag, bowls and clothing contained in Esther Owens locker have undergone very little change in design over the last forty years. Theses objects along with the Powerhouse photographs of the Rose Bay Ladies change room are significant in representing some of Women's bowling history.

Playing the game has only been one aspect of Australian lawn bowls,the clubs have been diverse organisations providing a number of important social functions.The bowling green has flourished in Australia, fulfilling the role of a local, licensed, community club, this collection reflects different aspects of one community, Rose Bay.

Over the past few decades bowls associations have developed strategies to change the image of the game and initiate the young. This has seen a relaxation in rigid dress code and changes of lawn bowls.

The shape of lawn bowls has been refined in materials and processes. Bowls of the nineteenth century were made from a hard wood. In 1930 an Australian Raymond W. Hensell developed plastic bowls made in parts, whole moulded bowls were then developed in 1937 by his Australian company Henselite. A new, improved plastic powder compound was used in the bowls in 1959 which allowed the development of a dimple or gripped bowl. Ninety percent of Henselite bowls now contain the dimpled or grip feature. The company made its three millionth ball in 1988 and now manufactures lawn bowls in red, green, blue and burgundy. Coloured uniforms are starting to appear. The collection reflects the many various influences on the community of Rose Bay and illustrates the changing role of sport and leisure in Australian society over the past century.

The bag was made by Palmer & Douglass Pty Ltd in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The bowling balls were made by Henselite in Australia. The tube of bowler's grip was made by Betts in Australia and the raincoat was made by Driclad in Australia.

This material was owned and used by Rose Bay Bowling Club player Esther Owens 1980- 2001.

Bowling bag with balls (4) and personal effects (5), fibreboard / cardboard / metal / cloth / wood / plastic, Voyager Travel Goods / Henselite, Australia, 1980-2000.

This brown bowling bag has Esther Owens name on it, inside are 4 Henselite bowling balls, a folded plastic raincoat, white gloves, a green purse and white purse. There is also a tube of 'Belts Bowlers Grip, bowlers friend'.

Bag: bowling bag with flip open lid made of brown fibreboard with metal locks at front, a brown plastic handle and metal trim around the case and lid. The inside is lined with beige, orange and black checked paper.

Ball holder: moulded black plastic bowling ball holder that fits into base of bag.

Bowling balls: four identical bowling balls made of dark brown plastic.

Gloves: pair of womens machine knitted gloves made of white polyester yarn.

Note book holder with pen: square note book holder made of white plastic woven work. There is a large pocket for a note book and a a narrow pocket containing a small gold metal ball point pen. The pen has a a short length of chain at the top with a broken 'F' hanging off the end.

Tube of bowler's grip: metal tube with black plastic top containing Bett's Bowl Grip.

Purse: large purse made of dirty pale green damask with metal closure and metal zipper along the bottom. The purse is lined with pale pink plastic. The purse contains a small green damask coin purse, two small sticks of white chalk, two locker keys on a red plastic cord, a safety pin, an Australian penny and a length of cord wrapped around a cream plastic spool.

Raincoat: womens hip length raincoat made of off-white nylon. The coat has a turn-down collar, long sleeves, air holes at the the under arms, two patch pockets at front hip and adjustable tabs at the back waist. The centre front opening fastens with a nylon zipper. The raincoat is machine sewn and unlined.

Made: 1980 - 2001

Bag: on front on black Dymo tape 'ESTHER OWEN 337.2927', makers plate 'Voyager'. Paper sticker on inside 'FIBRE BOARD/SOLELY USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS ARTICLE/VOYAGER/TRAVEL GOODS/SIZE/MANUFACTURED BY/PALMER & DOUGLASS PTY. LTD./BRISBANE. QLD.'.

Bowling balls: 'Henselite/4 3/4 /CHAMPIONSHIP'.

Tube of bowler's grip: 'Bett's/BOWL GRIP/20gr/BOWLERS PAL/CRT, NEWTOWN, GEELONG, 32..'.

Raincoat: 'THE ALL PURPOSE. ALL WEATHER COAT/Driclad/AUSTRALIAN MADE', inscribed 'E. OWEN'.

2003/121/2

1980 - 2001

145 mm

370 mm

310 mm