Welcome to the TSB Bank Bowls Museum online collection!
Set against the background of Mount Taranaki, ours is the only Bowls Museum in the world and contains over 8000 exhibits of the game as played by the men and women in New Zealand. Bowls is the 3rd largest participation sport in New Zealand and is played world wide. Old trophies from historical events, the Library of Jubilee, and other historical bowling information complete the museum. Set in park surroundings near to historic New Plymouth Bowling Club.
The museum commenced in a private capacity 1980 and was donated to New Zealand Bowls in 1993. There is good parking adjacent to the museum.
Our aim is to compile and display lawn bowls activity in New Zealand since 1890. We also aim to assist with publication of facts on New Zealand lawn bowls for use by lovers of the game.
Browse our collections and please get in touch if you have stories to add to the items featured. You can visit us at the museum in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. We are open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 2.30pm and for special events.
Featured Item
G Sigley Wanganui - MS
A wooden lawn bowl with an ivory centre fringed by a border of ringed, scalloped ornamentation on the wood. On one side of the bowl the ivory insert…
Featured Collection
Tools of the Game
The tools of the game reflect changes in the manufacturing process... alongside the ingenuity of bowlers over the years.
The earliest bowls…
Recently Added Items
NZ Bowling Association - report regarding construction of banks in permanent materials
1 sheet of printed paper
Bowling Greenkeeper Seminar June 1999 Nelson
black and clear plastic folder with bound information
Bowling Greenkeeper Seminar June 2000 - Auckland
spiral bound green cover with black printed title and information