The Illawarra Suburbs Lawn Tennis Association (ISLTA) in 2012 celebrated their first 100 Years. Tennis was huge in the area, which covers the Council areas of Rockdale, Kogarah, Hurstville, and Sutherland.
Some extracts from the book “The First 100 Years.” By Frank Holden and Chris Maron
Herb Mangelsdorf, born 1913 and former Illawarra champion, reminisced in 2012 that in
large pockets of Illawarra there were courts in every third or fourth backyard in the boom years.
Building sites advertised in 1919 were of sufficient size to comfortably allow for a backyard championship tennis court.
Arthur Chapman (Sports Store, Rockdale) wrote “In the years 1950 to 1954 we had four full time stringers plus a boy who did the trebling, varnishing and name tags on the end of the racquet, all working flat out and often overtime towards the weekends. Sales of new racquets at the peak were fifty per week.”
Junior Branch at one time conducted what was thought to be the largest competion in the world, peaking at 404 teams in 1957. This meant that over two hundred courts would be needed – not a problem.
Northern Branch (1924-1984) courts were basically in just five suburbs –
Bright-Le-Sands, Bexley, Kogarah, Arncliffe and Rockdale. 105 different locations in just five suburbs.
There were 12 tennis courts in this suburb, Bexley North.
Six players from Illawarra Association have represented Australia in the world’s prestigious tennis competition: the Davis Cup. Jim Willard, John Bromwich, Ken Rosewall, Ray Ruffles, Dick Crealy and Todd Woodbridge.