The Rosebud R.S.L. was founded on 6 May, 1946 – and they hit the ground running!
In July, 1946, The Frankston Standard reported that a Civic Centre was proposed for Rosebud. “The Citizens’ League, in conjunction with the Amusement Committee of that body, are preparing the way for a memorial hall, R.S.L. club rooms, culture centre, and Baby-health centre.”
Without having clubrooms, the R.S.L. held their September monthly meeting in the schoolroom. The R.S.L. leased the Rosebud Yacht Club premises in the late 1940s. But in November, 1946, the R.S.L. used The Mornington Post to rally support for a working bee on their new clubrooms. The location of the clubrooms was not stated, but of course, all the locals would have known exactly. In November, 1947, The Peninsula Post reported that the Shire council was to inform the Lands Department that the R.S.L. was waiting to secure private land in order to shift their clubrooms from the former Yacht Club House site, and they were hopeful of success in the near future. In October, 1951, the Rosebud R.S.L. received its ‘marching orders’ from the Lands Department, with the result that its clubrooms were to be shifted to a new site in Rosebud Parade. After having to deal with the bureaucratic Lands Department, the Rosebud R.S.L. must have been relieved to be finally able to open its new clubrooms in Rosebud Pde, in 1952.
In 1939, the Forestry Pulp and Paper Company of Australia purchased John R. Raper’s property, bounded by Jetty, Eastbourne and Boneo Roads and the Drum Drum Allocation Creek. They planted pine trees there over the next three years.66 The Pine Plantation was destroyed by fire in 1959. After the fire, the owners of the plantation decided to sell the property. However, they imposed a condition that no one purchaser was allowed to acquire more than five blocks of land. This condition was put in place to ensure that the land was distributed fairly to prevent any one person or company from having too much control over the area. In 1974, a new club building was constructed after the purchase of five blocks of land. The construction process took place over a period of time and the building was finally ready for occupancy that same year. The purchase of these blocks of land was crucial in making the construction of the new club building possible.
The Rosebud RSL has a rich history of leadership, with David Maynard Crichton serving as its inaugural President from 1946 to 1950. Over the years, 23 more Presidents have taken the helm, each contributing their unique vision and style to this esteemed organisation. Bruce Turner holds the position of President, a role he has held since 2013. His leadership has been marked by innovation and a commitment to the Rosebud RSL’s values.
Our signature mural on the western wall of the club that was completed in September 2019. We are very proud of this artistic representation of what we as the RSL is all about. The mural is 33 meters long and 5 meters high. Our thanks go to Blackbook Ink who completed the project. It has definetly been a major talking point and still is to this day.
We recently achieved another amazing artistic representation – the WW1 Soldier carved by Brandon Kroon @bkcraving. This sculpture is now on display in our memorial area of the grounds.
Our club has been undergoing a series of positive changes and upgrades since 2020, with more exciting plans in the pipeline. We are thrilled to announce that our new fun-filled Kids Playroom is opened from 5th February 2024 and we are excited to be providing endless entertainment for our young family members. We are dedicated to creating a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone, and we are confident that these new developments will enhance your overall experience at our club. Stay tuned for more exciting news!
Special thanks to Murray Adams – Researched for the Dromana & District Historical Society, January, 2024
