Stafford Bowling Club was established in 1902 in connection with the Junction Hotel, where five men came together as lessees: William Ebbern, Paul Bridgwood, Daniel Grattidge, Arthur Phillip Goodchild and Howard Johnson.
William Ebbern, previously president of the Junction Bowling Club, became the first president of the Stafford Bowling Club in 1902. The hotel remained closely connected in the years that followed. Its owner, Charles Henry Lea, was the brother of T. A. Lea, who served as secretary from 1905 to 1934, providing continuity during the club’s early development and administration.
In its early years, the club reflected the social patterns of the time, where sporting activities were closely tied to local businesses and gathering places. The Junction Hotel provided both a practical and social base, allowing the club to establish itself within the community during its formative period.
In its earliest days, games operated under a simple system. Participants paid three pence for a ticket to take part in a game, reflecting the informal structure of the club at the time. Records from July 1902 show that 1332 tickets were sold, indicating the green was already in regular use and supported by the surrounding community.
The club later became established at Gibson Park, where it developed into a local meeting place for residents. Over time, it became a regular venue for both social and recreational activity. By the 1950s and 1960s, the bowling green was a well-used community space and an established part of life in Stafford.
Like many local facilities, the site later experienced a period of decline and inactivity. For several years, the grounds were no longer in regular use. In recent years, however, the location has been redeveloped as The Gibson, a community venue that has reactivated the historic green and returned the site to active use.
The history of Stafford Bowling Club reflects the development of local sporting organisations in Queensland. What began as a small, locally organised activity connected to the Junction Hotel grew into an established community institution, with its legacy continuing through the ongoing use of the site today.
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