A feature of the Shoalhaven Lawn Tennis Club in the 1890s was the fact that a tournament was held to decide the club captaincy.

Winners of the coveted titles in 1894 were Harry Morton and Tot Thorburn.

From her home, Meroogal, Tot could look down on what today is Nowra's tennis headquarters in West Street.

However in her day there was a court built on the Thorburn property.

It is interesting to learn that there was lawn tennis in that era, and one could speculate on the quality of the courts.

However there are references to a team coming from Sydney to play, and fixtures organised against Kangaroo Valley, Moss Vale and Kiama.

In May 1902 a court was opened for the newly formed Nowra Federal Tennis Club in Plunkett Street opposite the courthouse.

At that time the club had 40 members, and it planned to tar-pave the surface in the spring.

Just after World War I, Nowra Bowling Club also had courts.

One of the most prominent players during the 1920s was Eric Ashcroft who represented the State against Queensland in 1923.

Described as a "moving spirit" in the formation of the Shoalhaven Tennis Club in his era, he played a key role in the acquisition of the courts in Worrigee Street.

Ashcroft was pitted against international James O. Anderson  when these courts were officially opened on May 31, 1924.

Gate-takings on that day amounted to £40, which went some way in recouping the £700 that had been spent on the four courts, clubroom and wire netting fences.

When it became evident in 1928 that Nowra would have electric lighting, moves were made to have these courts set up for night tennis.

In this era many tennis courts were constructed on private property, adjacent to family homes.

One of the earliest would have been at Bomaderry, where Jack and Lil Pallett had a court near their home which can still be seen in Bolong Road near Ingrams.

Her husband died during World War I, but Mrs Pallett continued to play until 1940 when she was in her seventies.

Although there was a club attached to her court, she had the enthusiasm to walk to Nowra for various competitions.

Other courts that were obviously privately owned, included Leatheam's, Scarlett's (in Douglas Street) and Lymbery's.

Mr Scarlett was a prominent person in the sport, being on the committee of the ACT Lawn Tennis Association.

Bomaderry Waratahs won the 1935 winter competition, their home court being at the rear of the local post office.

The association's program booklet for 1936 indicated there were 26 participating teams from around the Nowra district.

Of the churches, All Saints', Methodists, Presbyterians, St Michael's and Berry Methodists all had their own courts.

Other teams and their home courts were:

Bolong (opposite school), Bomaderry (railway station), Coolangatta (Bevan's farm), Dingadee (William Watts, Numbaa), Glenchatten (Strongs Road, Jaspers Brush), Numbaa (public school), Wandandian (opposite school), while Sussex Inlet played at Tomerong.