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In 2025, the Bannockburn Cricket Club celebrates 150 years since it was formed in 1875 as the Wabdallah Cricket Club.
On the 23rd of January 1875, a meeting took place in Leigh Road (now Bannockburn) where the Wabdallah Cricket Club was formally established.
On the 26th of January 1875, the Geelong Advertiser reported the following;
“An adjourned meeting of the cricketers was held at Leigh Road, on Saturday evening. There was a good attendance, and a large number of members were enrolled.
It was decided to name the club the Wabdallah Cricket Club, and it was arranged to play the first game under the auspices of the club on Wednesday (tomorrow) afternoon.
Messrs Cotton, Halpin, Kelly, Bamfield, and Moreillon were elected a committee to make all the necessary arrangements. Mr Cotton was appointed Treasurer, and Mr J. Goller hon. Secretary.
The other officer bearers will be elected immediately after the first game. A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman Mr Halpin, terminated the meeting.”
Eventually in the early 1900’s, renamed the Bannockburn Cricket Club. The club has always played at its present venue, Victoria Park, Bannockburn.
Matches were first played on coarse matting wickets until later years, when a malthoid surface was placed over the concrete strip.
The Club began playing in the Geelong Cricket Association until it joined the Leigh Cricket Association/ Southern Leigh Cricket Association in 1922, before returning to the Geelong Cricket Association in 2007/2008 Season.
The mainstays of the club included Herbert Lumb, Doug Costain, Lou Pilloud, Harry Andrews, Hughie Bufton, Colin Benham (a great cricketer and a League footballer) and brothers Jim, Jack and Joe Lowndes.
During the Second World War, the Club went into recess, eventually reforming at the end of the War until the early 1950’s. at this point, when temporary lack of players caused it to withdraw from competition.
However, due to the efforts of the older members, the club re-entered competition after two years in the wilderness (Beaurepaire 1995). In the 19609s, the club won four A Grade Premierships in the Leigh Cricket Association (LCA) and in the 1970s they won two more.
In 1991, the club ran a competition with the Bannockburn Primary School in search of a new club mascot/logo.
The outcome of the competition saw us become the ‘Roosters’ before another change in the season of 95/96 to what we are known as now, ‘The Bulls’.
In 1995/96, the club won its first A Grade LCA premiership in 18 years before winning it again in 1997/1998. 2021/2022 saw the introduction of two women’s teams to the Barwon Women’s competition, with the D Grade team winning a premiership in their inaugural year.
