Whanganui Tennis Club

The Whanganui Tennis Club, along with the Parnell and Thorndon Tennis Clubs, are the oldest in New Zealand, and among only a few others in the world from these times still in existence.

The Whanganui Tennis Club was founded by at least 1880. The distinctive Anson Trophies illustrated, first presented in 1881 for handicap competitions, include an Opal Brooch for women, which the club believes is probably the oldest trophy awarded for a women's tennis competition anywhere in the world. Perhaps it is the oldest trophy ever awarded for women's sport!

100 YEARS OF TENNIS 1880-1980: Scans of a 16-page history of the Whanganui Tennis Club booklet, researched and written by Dorothy McKinnon, and published in 1980.

AGM's: Scans of notices, minutes, and annual reports from 1980 onwards, also reports and letters from the late 1990's re amalgamation of Whanganui's tennis clubs

LETTERS: Early letters about the Whanganui Tennis Club.

PORTRAITS: Photos of members and players from the early 1900's

ARCHIVE: Historical items.

RECORDS: There are lots of other records of the club in various files and books. Here are some photos. Later in 2005 they will be transferred to the Whanganui District Museum archive.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS FROM THE EARLY 1900's

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS FROM THE 1990'S

ROSA ROACH'S NOTEBOOK: Rosa Roach kept this Tennis Diary fro 1984 to 2004. It includes news clippings and members photos.

LES WRIGHT: In 2000, Les Wright was awarded the inaugural NZ Tennis/Air NZ Club Volunteer of the Year title. This is his nomination, prepared by Michael Smyth. It contains photos of WTC improvements and presentation of Award.

CLUB SIGNAGE/ADVEERTISING PROMOTION 1991: This promotion was coordinated by Barbara Griffin in 1991. It contains many photos and details of the club at that time.

COURTS 1998: Photos of the laying of courts 10, 11 & 12

COURTS 1999: Photos of the resurfacing of courts 5,6 & 7

CONTROL ROOM OPENING 2000: Photos of the Club's Control Room Opening Day, on 9 December 2000.

PHOTOS FROM 1999 - 2000: Photos collected by Michael Smyth.

PHOTOS FROM 2001: Photos collected by Michael Smyth.

LATEST PHOTO ALBUMS OF CLUB DAYS: View the latest photos of tournaments and club days.

VICTORIA CLUB ARCHIVES: Photos and mementos from the Victoria Club.

MAORI IN WHANGANUI AND AOTEAROA TENNIS: Dick Garratt, President Aotearoa Maori Tennis, has located and supplied copies of early photos featuring Whanganui Maori players

The Wanganui Tennis Club's records and archives, including many originals of the above, are now stored at the Whanganui District Museum