Founded in 1985, the Newcastle National Park Croquet Club (NNPCC) has grown from a modest group of croquet enthusiasts using a single bowling green to a thriving club with over 120 members. In 1993, the club expanded its facilities by taking over the premises of the Newcastle Women’s Bowling Club. The club’s facilities, including its clubhouse and grounds, are now featured on the Croquet Australia website.
The NNPCC currently occupies a spacious and well-equipped clubhouse that includes a kitchen, toilets, office, and equipment sheds. To support lawn maintenance, the club has installed an automatic watering system utilizing spearpoint water technology.
Over the years, the NNPCC has played a pivotal role in the development of croquet in the Hunter and Newcastle regions. Several nearby croquet clubs were founded with the support of NNPCC members and their equipment. Although some members have chosen to join these new clubs for convenience, NNPCC maintains cordial relationships with all local croquet clubs in the Newcastle and Hunter areas.
The NNPCC offers a diverse range of croquet activities, including Association Croquet (AC), Golf Croquet (GC), Gateball, and Ricochet. Among these, Golf Croquet is the most popular, with over 30 players regularly participating in social events. The club operates six days a week, offering various croquet sessions for players of all skill levels.
The club’s four courts accommodate up to 8 players per court for Golf Croquet, allowing for a total of 32 participants at any given time. By introducing tertiary-coloured balls, the club can increase its capacity to 48 players. This participation rate is significantly higher than that of other sports such as tennis, football, or soccer, given the same ground area.
Croquet at NNPCC attracts individuals from all walks of life, including older adults, people with disabilities, youth, and members of culturally diverse communities. It is one of the few sports where men and women compete together. Golf Croquet in particular, serves as an accessible and social game, typically lasting around an hour. This makes it a popular activity for older members, many of whom are single, providing them with opportunities for meaningful social interactions.
The club is surrounded by a large garden area, which is filled with both native and exotic plants. This diverse garden attracts a variety of bird species, and it is common to hear the calls of lorikeets and see kookaburras perched on our croquet hoops. The gardens are maintained by club members, many of whom no longer have gardens of their own. As demographics change and more individuals downsize into apartments, the club’s grounds serve as a valuable social and horticultural hub for members.
NNPCC regularly hosts both domestic and international competitions, including the prestigious Trans-Tasman Open Croquet Tournament on behalf of the Australian Croquet Association. The club also holds an annual carnival and has hosted several state and interstate events. In September 2025, NNPCC will be one of the host clubs for the Australian Golf Croquet Championships.
The NNPCC Committee is committed to continuously improving the club’s facilities and attracting new members of all ages. While croquet has traditionally been perceived as a sport for older adults, we are actively engaging younger players with some success. Our goal is to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment where all members can enjoy high-quality facilities and a positive croquet experience.