In 1949 the Mt Lawley Tennis Club, Kings Park Tennis Club and University Refectory Club were holding dances alternate weekends.
Margot Lang reminisced “when the Kings Park Tennis Club dance with Jackie Harrison’s band was a popular place for Nedland’s teenagers on Saturday nights, the girls would sometimes walk across Kings Park and down Jacob’s ladder to catch a trolley bus home on Mount Bay Road with never a worry about rapists lurking in the dark.”[1]
RHYTHM ROUNDUP
As long as there is dancing the old question will arise, ‘Is old time on the way out?’ Some say ‘yes’ and some ‘no’ but despite the surprising number of all-modern and 50/50 dances in the city at present, old time seems to be in Perth to stay. Pre-war it was difficult to find a weekly dance spot which provided an all-modern program, but today all moderns are in the vogue, and even so, old-time programs are as plentiful as ever. An interesting observation is that of Harry Phillips, English trumpeter who has played with Ambrose, Mantovani, the Skyrockets and other famous British combinations. Mr. Phillips, who has been in Perth for 6 months, said
‘In London, old-time is seldom seen nowadays. Perhaps at parties and odd dance hall an old-time dance is included to the program, but purely as a lark.’ Possibly in the same manner as we, in Australia introduce a polka during the night.
JACKIE HARRISON
The 10 year old boy who used to be heard frequently over the radio playing a harmonica, is now one of this State’s leading dance musicians, though still in his early teens. There is scarcely a dance patron in this city who does not know Jackie Harrison, the young clarinettist of Nedlands, who with his sister Jill at piano and brother Ray beating drums, came out easy winners in the 1948 Battle of the Bands conducted at the Capitol Theatre. Jack, whose versatility has gained him a lot of respect and admiration in the local dance band world, commenced learning the clarinet at a very tender age and later branched out leading the Harrison Trio. He was heard to good effect in the Jazz Jamboree and perhaps the most attractive of all his engagements to date, was this year’s Grad. Ball at Winthrop Hall where he led a 10-piece outfit. For some time past, he has been playing with the ABC Rhythmettes led by Harry Bluck. From the same station, Jack has been conducting a swing quartet at regular intervals. His more recent dance spots are Anzac House, King’s Park Tennis Club, Young Liberal League and also the Mt. Lawley Tennis Club.
‘QUAIL’ [2]
The Royal Kings Park Tennis Club in Perth was founded in 1899 as the Mount Tennis Club, making it the oldest tennis club in Western Australia.
- 1899: Established when West Perth residents secured a land grant in Perth Park (now Kings Park) and laid two initial asphalt courts. Sir John Forrest officially served the first ball to Lady Forrest.
- 1902–1903: The first grass courts and a croquet lawn were added, opening for play in 1903.
- 1905: The club changed its name to the King’s Park Tennis Club and launched the Perth Metropolitan Championships.
- 1904–1915: Lady members famously resigned en masse in 1904 after Saturday play was restricted exclusively to men. Later, the club felt the severe impact of World War I, with 53 members enlisting for active service.
- 1926–1935: A new members’ pavilion was constructed in 1926, followed by the historic McGibbon Stand in 1935 (named after long-time president and accountant Sinclair James McGibbon).
- 1947: Received royal patronage under King George VI, becoming the Royal King’s Park Tennis Club.
- 1956: The Mursell Stand was added. For many decades, the club served as the host for the prestigious WA Tennis Open—a major precursor to the Australian Open.
- 1962: Hosted the outdoor floodlit wrestling events for the British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
- 1971: Served as the venue for the Federation Cup.
- 2004: Hosted a Davis Cup world group qualifying match between Australia (featuring Lleyton Hewitt, Wayne Arthurs, and Todd Woodbridge) and Morocco.
- 2006–2007: Redeveloped into a modern multi-facility complex in partnership with Next Gen, adding a state-of-the-art health club, swimming pools, and squash courts while preserving the historic inner-city grass courts and heritage grandstands.
The tennis club was founded in 1899 when Sir John Forrest served the first ball to Lady Forrest. At this point there were only two asphalt courts and it was called the Mount Tennis Club.
By 1902 the first grass tennis courts and a croquet lawn had been laid and they were available on opening day of 1903. In 1904 lady members resigned en masse because Saturday play was reserved for the men.
The effect of the First World War began to be felt by 1915 as 42 members enlisted for active service. Fifteen did not return. Enlistments for active service soon increased to 53 and the club struggled due to the loss of members and subscription fees.
The Royal King’s Park Tennis Club is one of the world’s last great inner city grass court tennis centres.
[1] LANG, Margot The West Australian Magazine, 11.8.1990 page 17
[2] The Mirror Saturday 11 June 1949 page 13