Torrensville Bowling Club has officially moved into its new $9.6 million home on the southern banks of the River Torrens at Thebarton, Adelaide.
Now known as RiveDome, the 7,000-square-metre precinct was entirely funded and delivered by the South Australian government as part of the South Road Darlington upgrade project.
The site features a new 12-rink bowling green, modern clubrooms, a car park, and a reassembled canopy from the club’s former South Road home.
Club president Brenton Rolton said the club is gradually settling into the new venue, with regular bowls events now taking place on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
“[The club] is something that’s not in the 1950s. We’re pretty lucky,” he said.
The relocation was prompted by the state government’s decision to build new tunnels, which required the land beneath the club’s former site.
“We always knew we were at risk of being moved,” Rolton said.
“At first, we thought they’d just move us back from the road a bit … as the original plan was just to widen South Road. But then they brought in new plans to put in tunnels … that would go straight through the greens and underneath our club.”
Adding to the pressure, the nearby Thebarton Oval became a point of interest for the Adelaide Crows, who were exploring a lease that would overlap the bowling club’s main green.
“Council was likely to get more value from leasing to the Crows than keeping us there,” he said.
“We were told we’d have to leave anyway, but the Crows just pushed things along.”
While early relocation discussions under a previous state government included options to merge with another club, Rolton said those talks ultimately broke down. However, the project gained traction under a new state government, with strong backing from the local member and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis.
“He promised to find land and relocate us, and that’s exactly what happened. It’s worked out well for us,” Rolton said.
To reflect the new space, the club has also introduced a name change to RiveDome.
“We know we have to be more than just a bowls club,” Rolton said.
“We understand we’ve got to be more for the community. It’s not about taking away the identity of the bowling club, it’s more about involving the community and making it feel like it’s not just a bowls club, but a place where you can have events. That’s where the RiveDome name came from.”