Tennis in the Hills

For those of you who have been glued to your screens watching the Australian Open in Melbourne

this January here are some early photos of our tennis clubs in the Mundaring Shire.

In the early years of the Shire’s history most of the “villages” in the Shire had tennis clubs as both

sport as well as the church was where the locals would socialise.

As well as the community courts some families would build their own courts on their property.

Private tennis court at the Fischer household in Darlington

Mixed Doubles in Darlington early 1900s

Smiths Mill, later known as Glen Forrest started their tennis club in the early 1900s. The cricket ground was opened in 1902 and later funds were raised from dances in the Octagonal Hall to build a tennis court and the courts were officially opened by M.H Jacoby on 9th January 1904.

Many early tennis courts were surfaced with crushed termite mounds but this one was of rolled gravel with hoop iron strips laid down to mark out the courts. Later it was replaced with grass.

Glen Forrest Tennis players 1953

The early community of forest workers at Mundaring Weir worked long and hard but also enjoyed

their sport at the weekend. Tennis was played on a clay court behind the Weir Hall from 1920s

through to the 1940s both by members of the tennis club and visitors to the Weir. By the1950s

there was only one tennis court and it was rarely used and no longer maintained after the1960s.

Now it is used as a car park for visitors at the Mundaring Weir Hotel.

Craigie House (now Mundaring Learning) was built for Ted Jacoby the brother of Fred and

Mathieson. This house was an operating boarding and guest house. 1924 advertisements mentioned

as well as electric lights and water laid on for the bedrooms, a tennis court was available for the

guests use.

Ted Suarez and Harry Jacoby at Craigie House circa 1924

Fun Day at Mundaring Tennis Club 1950

Try playing tennis in these outfits!

This year, Mundaring and Hills Historical Society will be focusing on the history of sport and sporting clubs in the Shire. If you can help with any photographs or witty stories, please don't hesitate to contact us.