(from Netball Australia Website)
** Photo: 1948 ACTWBBA Rep Team - Country Week Champs Sydney. **
Netball landed on Australian shores in 1897 and it wasn’t long until demand grew for one, national organising body.
The origins of Netball Australia technically began on 26 August, 1927, during an interstate women’s basketball carnival. Back then it was known as the All Australia Women’s Basketball Association. The founding members were New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.
Tasmania didn’t take long to join, competing in national tournaments from 1933 onwards. The Australian Capital Territory became a member in 1975, and the Northern Territory followed in 1977.
The game really changed in the 1970s. For one thing, netball was no longer referred to as “women’s basketball”. In fact the word ‘women’ was dropped all together and the organisation became the All Australia Netball Association.
After incorporating as a public entity in the 1980s, that name was eventually shortened to Netball Australia in 1993.
Netball's early history in the ACT reveals a vibrant spirit of competition and community. By the 1940s, ACT teams were traveling interstate to compete, often participating in New South Wales' "Country Week," which later evolved into the Netball NSW Championships. These events provided the ACT teams with vital exposure and competitive opportunities.
Players from the era fondly recall the camaraderie and adventure of these journeys. Traveling by train and staying at the YWCA were integral parts of the experience. Notable milestones include a 1944 trip to Sydney, where four teams from the ACT played matches against teams from Melbourne and Sydney. In 1945, an ACT team ventured to Melbourne for another round of competition.
These early forays laid the foundation for what would become a flourishing netball community in the ACT, connecting players across regions and setting the stage for future achievements.
