The iconic Hampton Bowls and Community Club in southeast Melbourne has gone into voluntary administration, as members try to raise $150,000 to save it — and they plan to do so without pokies.
Hampton Bowls, which is the largest bowls club in Bayside, made the call to abandon pokie machines and pursue a “sustainable model without reliance on income from gambling”.
The club opened in 1948 and “proudly boasts a diverse membership and equal representation of women”, according to a statement on its website.
On Monday, Hampton Bowls announced it had gone into voluntary administration due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
The club is required to raise $150,000 by August 23 or its doors will close forever.
“With a new Board in place and support from Bayside City Council, a new club has been launched and, within a week, club members have already contributed over $50,000 in the effort to save this iconic Hampton club,” the club explained in the same statement.
In order to continue operating without pokies, the club needs to raise another $100,000.
“We believe that our club members can raise another $50,000, and are reaching out to our community for the final $50,000,” the club said.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has so far…