Established in 1875 as the
proudly serving Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay
12 NOVEMBER, 2025
Bowls club rolls to a century The Newport Bowls Club is celebrating its centenary year with a photo exhibition at a nearby gallery. Rolled 100 is an exhibition of images taken by well known Hobsons Bay photographer, Wendy Rowe, that is currently on display at Outside Gallery, just over the fence from the club’s greens. Exhibition curator Donna Jackson said Rowe’s 11 pictures captured many different aspects of the 100-year-old club. “One is about the friendship and support the community gets from bowls club and the important role it has in our community as a place of sport and friends,” Jackson said. “The other is that there are people of all different abilities who plays bowls. “She’s also captured it as a venue for local music events where we have international stars and locals playing blues and roots music at monthly Way Out West events.” Rolled 100 is on display until February. Details: https://www.newportbowls. com.au/
Photographer Wendy Rowe with some of the photos she’s taken of the Newport Bowls Club that are currently on display to celebrate its 100th birthday. (Damjan Janevski) 506665_06
Another rope fire By Cade Lucas Residents living near the old Kinnears rope works in Footscray are demanding something be done about the disused factory after another suspicious fire there last week. Firefighters were called to the scene on the corner of Ballarat Road and Farnsworth Avenue just after 6.30pm on Tuesday 4 November, following reports of flames and smoke coming from the site. The fire was brought under control by 7.20pm and then turned over to police who
began investigating the fourth suspicious fire at the Kinnears site in the past 18 months. On 13 July, an abandoned warehouse on the site caught fire, while 12 months earlier, two fires occurred there within the space of two days, on 31 July and 2 August. All four fires are still being investigated, as are any possible links between them. In March 2017, three people squatting on the site were murdered when a fire was deliberately lit. Nearby residents claim the site is used for all-night dance parties that can last
until 7am. Star Weekly understands that eight raves had been held at the site this year alone, with complaints made to police and Maribyrnong council. A Victoria Police spokesperson said police had received several noise complaints about unauthorised gatherings at the factory. “Generally when police are made aware of a party, regular patrols are conducted of the area to ensure community safety,” the spokesperson said, adding that unauthorised gatherings were ultimately a
matter for council. Maribyrnong mayor Pradeep Tiwari said illegal activity at the site was a matter for police and that council’s role related to planning and compliance. “We have engaged with the property owner regarding site security and future development and will keep working with them and relevant authorities to address safety risks as well as to expedite future development on that site,” Cr Tiwari said. Site owner, 3L Alliance, didn’t respond to requests for comment.
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