History of Tall Gums Sports Centre

Tennis had always been part of both Stuart and Kay’s lives.  Over the years their expertise in coaching, coach education and administration in tennis grew to the point where they felt that they had the ability to take the next step to contribute to tennis development in the Walloon area and the surrounding country areas, the areas that the families of both Stuart and Kay have a strong, historic connection.  Ipswich residents had had many opportunities to access tennis, while this area, which was at the time in the Moreton Shire Council region was sorely neglected.

The property where Tall Gums is situated was purchased in 1985.  The Moreton Shire Council Development application to build Tall Gums was granted on 3rd October 1986.  The building permit to commence work on the centre was approved on the 21st January 1987.  Council permission to commence operations at the centre was on the 25th June 1987.

Tall Gums was built on a financial shoestring.  Members of both families contributed considerable time and labour doing all sorts of jobs to get the centre constructed.  Everything which could be completed by us was done in an attempt to limit the amount of money to be borrowed from the bank.  Eventhough these borrowings were still high, the centre would not have gotten off the ground without the original family labour involvement.  Family labour involvement still continues today as Kay’s mother and father ‘work’ at the centre doing all sorts of jobs which keep the centre well maintained.

We chose the site for Tall Gums because of its ‘character’, an undulating block with a watercourse through the middle.  The watercourse allowed us to install dams which have become the water supply for the preparation and maintenance of the courts, the watering of the trees and plants we have nurtured around the extensive grounds.

The ‘character’ of the block caused many difficulties in building Tall Gums.  The property was basically untouched and required the removal of a lot of rubbish scrub, standing, dead trees and fallen trees.  Extensive earthworks were required to achieve the desired result of flat areas for the courts, clubhouse and car park.
At the time of opening the centre, there were three clay courts completed, the southern courts 1, 2 or 3 and the clubhouse and the first playground.

Since that time, courts 4 & 5 or ‘out the back’ as they are so famously known on the northern side of the clubhouse and the beach volleyball court were built in late 1994, early 1995.  The clubhouse roof was extended at the same time to produce a spectator viewing area.  Court 6 was progressively built over several years, finally being completed in 2013, a big job.

As in the past, the building of courts 4, 5 & 6 and the beach volleyball court was carried out mainly by our own labours.

The playground was re-designed and rebuilt in 2005.  An additional spectator area for court 4 was built in 2009.

At Tall Gums we continue to do work on projects, sometimes only little things which add to the comfort of players and spectators alike as part of our ongoing commitment to improvement of the centre.

Several weddings have now been conducted at Tall Gums.  The setting is magnificent and the bridal parties and their guests were most complimentary.

It is easy to take for granted what we have here at Tall Gums.  Visitors to the centre from all over the district, statewide, interstate and overseas are overwhelmed by the tranquility, natural beauty, kangaroos roaming, native birds, quality courts and professional coaching and administration they find at the centre.  Their comments to us are always positive and complimentary.

We believe we have achieved our goal of creating a pleasant environment in which to play, enjoy and develop tennis.  Our efforts to further progress the tennis centre will continue into the future, hopefully for a long time yet.