Coorparoo Bowls Club Saved: $6m Deal Secures Community Hub

Coorparoo Bowls Club, a beloved local institution, has been saved from demolition and transformed into a vibrant community hub thanks to a $6 million deal with Griffin Hospitality Group.

The club, which has been operating for 97 years, was facing eviction in May and slated for high-rise apartments, but a multi-year campaign by the club's committee has paid off.

Griffin Hospitality Group, led by local businessman Will Griffin, has purchased the site and committed to renovating the clubhouse, bar, and kitchen while maintaining the club's character and two bowling greens.

Community Focus

Bowls Queensland chief executive Fletcher Dyson revealed that the organisation turned down higher offers to ensure the bowling greens would remain.

"We turned a million dollars down to get this result," he said.

"It wasn't about money. It was all about keeping bowls on the site and embracing Coorparoo Bowls Club as a community hub."

Mr. Griffin outlined his vision for the club, emphasizing the importance of preserving its heritage while injecting new life into the venue.

"We see an enormous opportunity to give Coorparoo Bowls Club a bright new future while respecting everything that has made this venue so special for almost 100 years," Mr Griffin said.

"Our ambition is for people to be able to come to Coorparoo Bowls Club to play bowls, enjoy a meal, catch up with friends, bring the family, or simply be part of the community."

A Bright Future

The existing Coorparoo Bowls Club committee, which led the campaign to save the club, will continue to run it with a five-year lease.

Committee chairman Mark Delbridge expressed his excitement about the new chapter for the club.

"This is a really exciting new chapter for Coorparoo Bowls Club," he said.

"Our members are incredibly proud of the club's history, and the opportunity to see the venue renewed while keeping bowls at the heart of the site is a fantastic outcome."

The deal ensures that both bowling greens will be maintained, with one dedicated to competitions and the other for casual players.