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A brief history of the club:
THE WARKWORTH TENNIS CLUB was established about 1904: records are not specific. The original site was on the area at the corner of Baxter and Percy Streets where 5 asphalt courts were laid. In early 1960 the Club found the rates too high to sustain in this commercial zone and moved to reserve land on Shoesmith Domain where three top class asphalt courts were laid by Bert Sefton Contractors in 1963. Plans for a small clubroom on the western boundary were shelved in 1965 as squash was beginning to grow in popularity in NZ and the Club moved to employ Pat Wech to build a squash court and clubroom on the eastern boundary.
In September 1970 the Warkworth Tennis Club became Warkworth Tennis and Squash Club Inc. and was officially opened during the Kowhai Festival celebrations by Town Council Chairman, Harry Bioletti. Squash boomed and in 1976/77 the Club employed club member, Jim Visser to build a second squash court and an extension to the clubrooms. The additional court attracted an influx of squash players and a temporary changing room was added in the basement. In 1984/85 a men's changing room, showers and toilets were built with provision for a lounge area on the top. At the same time club member Trevor Bloomfield led a group doing earthworks and building three concrete tennis courts on the eastern side of the clubrooms. Because of landfill underneath, engineers' requirements necessitated a heavily reinforced concrete base for these courts. The concrete courts were not an ideal playing surface and in 1986 Bruce Cory was responsible financially for the club installing three Astrograss courts. These courts brought about a resurgence in tennis. A lounge and bar were added in 1988 with club member Glen Hassett and Keith Jones leading the way with much volunteer effort. The original asphalt courts were resurfaced in Astrograss in 1997. Lights were installed on the six tennis courts on 6th October 2000. An office was built and the kitchen upgraded in August 2004. We held our Centennial celebrations in September 2004.
Congratulations to Abbie Palmer who has just won the Auckland Under 13 Age Group Championships.
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