Friendly Rivalries - Sport & Recreation at the Parliament
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TitleFriendly Rivalries - Sport & Recreation at the ParliamentDescriptionIn January 1902, Referee magazine reported on a visit to NSW Parliament House by ‘A Number of Victorian legislators … the principal object of their visit is to wipe the floor with the athletic reputations of the law-makers of this fair State.’
The Victorians took on the NSW Members at billiards, bowls, bat and ball. Competition matches in these sports and recreations were frequently played between parliamentarians from different states, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, contributing to long-standing friendly rivalries fought out through various sports.
These popular sports and recreations were also commonly played between NSW parliamentarians, fostering camaraderie and networking away from the often adversarial environment of the Chamber.
As facilities at NSW Parliament House expanded, two Heiron and Smith billiard tables were installed in the Refreshment Room building. A bowling green and tennis court were added in 1901, and were used well into the twentieth century, even hosting a 1971 match played by Australian Wimbledon tennis champion Evonne Goolagong.
Friendly Rivalries - Sport & Recreation at the Parliament. NSW Parliament, accessed 26/07/2026, https://images.parliament.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/4022
