Warrnambool Bowls Club secures Timor Street home in $500,000 deal
A 15-year caveat will lock the Timor Street site into community recreation use as the club pursues major upgrades.
Zara Cuthbertson
May 12, 2026
A $52-a-year lease will be torn up and replaced with a $500,000 land sale, giving the Warrnambool Bowls Club ownership of its Timor Street home and paving the way for a long-discussed third green and all-weather roof.
What happened: Warrnambool City Councillors unanimously approved the sale of 81-85 Timor Street to the Warrnambool Bowls Club at last Monday’s meeting, ending a lease arrangement that still had 18 years left to run.
Under the existing deal, the club would have paid council $936 by the time the lease expired in 2043.
Push for ownership: Council chief executive Andrew Mason said the club had approached council seeking to buy the land so it could progress plans to improve its facilities.
“We've had the land independently valued, and have sought independent legal advice, and given that the land isn't required by council and will allow a community based club to progress development of this land, it's recommended that council proceed with the sale,” he said.
The background: A 15-year caveat attached to the sale will restrict the site to community bowling and public recreation uses, preventing housing or commercial redevelopment during that period.
Community consultation drew strong support, with 52 of 55 submissions backing the sale.
What did councillors say? Councillor Debbie Arnott said the current arrangement delivered little financial return to council.
“It’s a nominal amount, it’s barely $1 a week,” Arnott said.
She said the club’s $500,000 offer, to be paid in three instalments, would provide “a significant financial boost” while helping secure long-term community benefits.
Councillor Billy Edis said the current lease “encumbers any future development by the Warrnambool Bowls Club because they don't own the land.”
Questions raised: Not all councillors were immediately comfortable with the proposal.
Councillor Richard Ziegler said concerns had been raised about “the probity and the land values around this particular sale”, but after reviewing the independent valuation and legal advice, he supported the motion.
Councillor Matt Walsh said residents who objected on planning grounds would still have opportunities to raise concerns through any future planning permit process tied to clubhouse redevelopment plans.