Bowls
Bowls is a precision sport where players roll biased bowls towards a smaller target ball, aiming to finish closest to it.
1845 saw the first recorded game of bowls in Australia, with the game being played in Tasmania. 1
Discover more about bowls
Clearinghouse evidence base:
- Modified Sports - adaptations that make bowls more inclusive and accessible.
- Australian Sport History - history and Hall of Fame information about bowls.
Evolution:
- Australian Bowls Council [1911-1991]
- Australian Women's Bowling Council [1947-2002]
- Women’s Bowls Australia [2002]
- Bowls Australia [1991- ]
Participation
An estimated 189,000 Australians [aged 15+] participated in bowls at least once in 2025. 2
An estimated 66,000 Australian women [aged 15+] and an estimated 123,000 Australian men [aged 15+] participated in bowls at least once in 2025. 2
Explore further participation statistics for bowls through the AusPlay online portal., opens in a new tab
Governing body
Bowls Australia, opens in a new tab is the organisation recognised by governments at all levels as the national controlling body for the sport of bowls in Australia.
History
The first national body for bowls, the Australian Bowls Council, was formed in 1911. 1 The first women's national organisation, the Australian Women's Bowling Council, was established in 1947 3 and later became the Women's Bowls Australia. 4 In 2002, Women's Bowls Australia merged with Bowls Australia to form a single national organisation.1
Documents
The Clearinghouse for Sport has sought permission from relevant organisations for the inclusion of their documents in this archive. Copyright ownership remains vested with the organisation and as such permission from the copyright owner should be sought if you wish to communicate, adapt or reproduce these documents.
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2024-2025[PDF • 45.84 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2023-2024[PDF • 23.62 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2022-2023[PDF • 34.26 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2021-2022[PDF • 23.75 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2020-2021[PDF • 19.6 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2019-2020[PDF • 21.36 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2018-2019[PDF • 17.11 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2017-2018[PDF • 19.16 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2016-2017[PDF • 8.36 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2015-2016[PDF • 22.26 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2014-2015[PDF • 14.78 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2013-2014[PDF • 79.86 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2012-2013[PDF • 3.43 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2011-2012[PDF • 70.23 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2010-2011[PDF • 6.65 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010[PDF • 8.51 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2008-2009[PDF • 4.79 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2007-2008[PDF • 6.71 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2006-2007[PDF • 11.15 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2005-2006[PDF • 4.47 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2004-2005[PDF • 10.81 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2003-2004[PDF • 3.87 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2002-2003[PDF • 4.4 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 2000-2001[PDF • 3.15 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 1999-2000[PDF • 2.11 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 1998-1999[PDF • 994.01 kb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 1997-1998[PDF • 1.11 mb]
- Bowls Australia Annual Report 1996-1997[PDF • 851.4 kb]
- Women's Bowls Australia Annual Report 2002[PDF • 5.19 mb]
- Women's Bowls Australia Annual Report 2001[PDF • 949.54 kb]
- Bowls Australia Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy 2023[PDF • 4.47 mb]
- Bowls Australia Strategic Plan 2022-2025[PDF • 6.17 mb]
- Bowls Australia Strategic Plan 2020-2022[PDF • 13.53 mb]
- Bowls Australia Strategic Plan 2018-2022[PDF • 2.25 mb]
- Bowls Australia Strategic Plan 2013-2017[PDF • 2.31 mb]
- Bowls Australia Strategic Plan 2009-2012[PDF • 1.41 mb]
- Bowls Australia Strategic Plan 2005-2008[PDF • 973.57 kb]
- Bowls Australia National Facilities Strategy 2017[PDF • 2.26 mb]
REFERENCES
- History of Bowls in Australia, opens in a new tab, Bowls Australia, (accessed 14 September 2026)
- AusPlay Data Portal: Participation by activity, opens in a new tab, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 14 September 2026)
- Women's Bowling Council Formed,, opens in a new tab The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.), p.11, 29 August 1947
- 2001 Annual Report, Women's Bowls Australia, (2002).
Content disclaimer: See Clearinghouse for Sport disclaimer
Is this information complete? The Clearinghouse for Sport is a sector-wide knowledge sharing initiative, and as such your contributions are encouraged and appreciated. If you would like to suggest a resource, submit a publication, or provide feedback on this page, please contact us.
