Netball, then named Women’s Basketball, was enduring an on-going identity crisis in the middle of the 1900s and needed a home to expand its name, reach and reputation.
The centre opened in 1961, with four hard courts and 46 grass courts spread out just west of Subiaco, sitting as the centre piece amenity to Wembley as a new growth area for the time.
The official opening ceremony was adorned by a march to the ground by 3,000 Netballers, supporters and staff. They were led by the colourful and powerful junior and state representative players donning their iconic yellow and black netball skirts.
The inaugural season at the now Matthews Netball Centre, saw more than 1,000 players from 160 senior teams and 160 junior teams take to the court in April 1961.
With demand so high, the 1961 season created a “skirt blitz” for players needing appropriate skirts and uniforms. The WAWBBA pushed for all skirts to meet regulation length of no more than seven inches from the ground when kneeling.
The centre hosted the 1962 All Australian Carnival with state representative teams from all around the country making their way to Wembley. The competition played a key role in determining the All-Australian team for the First World Tournament in England.
Perth’s opportunity to host the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games opened the State up to the world. With this momentum, Matthews Netball Centre grew Western Australia’s international recognition further by hosting the 1967 World Netball Championships.
In 1971, the centre was officially renamed the Matthews Netball Centre, as women’s basket ball was finally replaced with the word netball. More notably, the name change honoured the work of former Western Australia Women’s Basketball Association President Maude Matthews, who dedicated her life to growing netball in the State.
Speaking in 1974 on the construction of the centre and the overwhelming support she and her association received in their opening season in 1961, Mrs Matthews revealed how proud she was of the centre and the growth of the sport in Western Australia.
“I must be one of the proudest women in the world when I think of that centre,” Mrs Matthews said.
“The growth of netball has been absolutely fantastic, and I never visualised how it would turn out.”
Becoming the centre stage to women’s sport in Western Australia going into the turn of the millennium, the widespread popularity of the sport and centre has seen many athletes from all walks of sport visit and train in the centre over the facilities lifespan.
The now heritage listed building received a major upgrade in 2011 to construct purpose built undercover areas, providing a kiosk and state-of-the-art training facilities for West Coast Fever and GIG WANL teams.
As Netball WA enters its centenary, we pay tribute to Matthews Netball Centre for its contribution to community netball. The centre’s legacy continues as the next generation of young netballers train toward the same dream, on the same courts, that past generations fought so hard for.
