Hobart Real Tennis Club

Address:
45 Davey St,
Hobart,
TAS 7000
Email: pro@hobarttennis.com.au
Phone: (03) 6231 1781 ​
Website: https://hobarttennis.com.au/
Court opened: 1875
Historic highlight: Hobart was the first tennis club in Australia

Court History

The Court was built in 1875 by Samuel Smith Travers, a trader and pastoralist, who had emigrated to Tasmania from England with his family in 1870 and settled in Hobart, his family residence being in Davey Street adjoining a brewery (circa 1830), which he purchased from a Joseph Clarke and he had the Court constructed on land at the rear of the brewery at a cost of 1,575 pounds. The brewery was gradually transformed into what are now the Clubrooms. Travers engaged a professional from England, Thomas Stone, and whilst it was Travers’ private Court, it became the home of the Hobart Tennis Club which was formed in 1875.

In 1885 Travers, who was experiencing financial difficulties, sold the court to the Hobart Tennis Association, now the Hobart Real Tennis Club. The aforementioned Joseph Clarke, who was introduced to the game by Travers, later moved to Melbourne and had a Court built in Exhibition Street, which ultimately was transferred to the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club, which in 1975 relocated to Richmond.  Thomas Stone moved to Melbourne as the Professional when their Court was opened in 1882.

Multiple times world champion Robert Fahey commenced his playing career at the Hobart Real Tennis Club and in terms of Professionals the Club was served for over 62 years (1902 -1964) by Percy Finch and for 19 years by Barry Toates. (1967-1977 & 2007-2016).

Previous
Next

Court Dimensions

Please check out our dimensions page for the in depth dimensions data.