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Grange Bowls Club has been torn up for a complete redesign, but residents say it’s vital the popular venue remains an accessible gathering place for families.
Futsal fields, a covered deck, large outdoor LED movie screen, public space and slimmed-down bowling green are being built as part of the $2.5 million overhaul.
The Grange Thistle Football Club bought the bowls club in 2021, and president Anthony White says changes are needed to make it financially viable.
The club, which has almost 1500 players, also needs more space for football.
On many days in 2026 fewer than a dozen bowlers played at the venue, but it has become a hub for families. With food trucks and a jumping castle, the club often attracts hundreds of children and their parents on Fridays and the weekends.
“Bowls numbers have continued to struggle and the upkeep on bowls greens is horrendous,” White said.
“We’re committed to keeping bowls alive … I don’t want to be the one to kill off the sport after it’s been here since 1946. On the other hand, we needed to find other ways to pay the bills”.
A development application lodged with Brisbane City Council shows the two western greens will be replaced with three futsal fields, a warm-up area, and small outdoor gym.
Other sports will also be hosted on these fields, possibly including “backyard” cricket, dodgeball and tennis.
The remaining green will be slimmed significantly to allow an open space with a large outdoor LED screen for live sports or movie nights.
“We wanted to be open for this World Cup, but it’s just a mission to get these projects done,” White said.
A covered deck area is also being installed, with capacity for just more than 100 people.
On the eastern edge, there will be a slimmed-down bowling green with three or four lanes. It will also be used for other games including putt putt golf and cornhole.
“It’ll be more suitable to the social type of bowls player that might just be getting into it … if you want to play competition bowls, we’re not the space anymore,” White said.
The club is also in discussions for a new food and beverage supplier.
Resident Franca Pearcy has taken her grandkids to the “community hub” for years, and said it was vital the club continued to operate as an accessible meeting place for families.
“It’s somewhere that a lot of people gather, generally with kids, and it’s a really great community feel,” she told this masthead at the adjacent playground.
“It’s a great area for people with little children that’s safe … it’s really a necessary part of the community.”
Georgie Cottrell frequently takes her children to the club to catch up with friends, and said it was particularly important it retained open space.
“Friday afternoons after school everyone goes down to the bowls club and kids just run around, have a good time, and parents get to have a chat and catch-up and a drink.
“As long as they don’t take the green space [it’s ok] … it’s just important that there’s still open space for kids.”
White added there was a shortage of sporting facilities across Brisbane’s northside since the closure of an indoor centre in Newmarket, and the new layout would help plug this gap in the market while attracting more people to the club.
The project is being funded through a $1 million grant from Brisbane City Council – which owns the land – and another $1.5 million from the state government.
“It’s fantastic to see work now under way,” LNP councillor Danita Parry said in a statement.
“These clubs have always been an important part of our community and this investment will help ensure they continue bringing people together for many years to come.”
Disability access ramps, fire egress, power systems, plumbing, drainage and irrigation are also being upgraded as part of the overhaul.
Work on the club, which opened in 1944, began in February. It’s aiming to complete the redesign by October.
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