History Of Beecroft Lawn Tennis Club Inc

Early Begininngs

In 1895 the Kennedya Tennis Club was formed at Henry Perdriau’s private court in Copeland Road , Beecroft. The Club was named after the red flowering vine which grew profusely in the district. In 1898 when membership became too large for the one court, the Trustees of The Village Green were requested to lease at a nominal rental about half an acre of land at the southern end of the Green for two courts. Upon agreement to the lease, the Club signed a contract with Mr. George Willis in August 1898 to construct two gravel courts at a cost of nearly £50. Play commenced on these two courts in mid-November 1898. By 1902 three courts and a small pavilion catered for between 35 and 40 regular players.

On 3 May 1911 the Cumberland Argus Newspaper reported that the Beecroft Tennis Club ladies tennis team of Miss Murray and Miss Searle defeated a Burwood pair in a tournament at Burwood.

On 10 January 1912 the Beecroft Tennis Club ran an open tournament in which 16 pairs entered.

In mid November 1916 a Red Cross Tennis Competition was held on the courts of the Beecroft and Cheltenham Tennis Clubs. Sixty pairs took part and £25 26s was raised.

In March 1917 the Trustees of The Village Green agreed to lease to the Beecroft Tennis Club sufficient land to convert the current 3 gravel courts to turf and to construct two new grass courts. The estimated cost of £150 50s was borrowed and the remainder was put up by Club members. The Club was to pay a rental of £5 for the use of this land.

In June 1919 the Beecroft Tennis Club put on entertainment to raise funds to carry out improvements to the grounds.

Club Champions

The first recorded Ladies Open Singles Champion was Miss Murray in 1913 and the first Mens Open Singles Champion was A. C. Holt in 1916. In 1917 Alan S. North won the Mens Open Singles. Alan North won the NSW Mens Open Doubles in 1927. Alan North died in 1997 aged 101 years.