News

Jim Elphick Tennis Centre serves up a winner for Wagga Wagga

10 April 2025

A group of nine people standing and smiling around an unveiled plaque at the opening ceremony of the Bolton Park Sports Hub – Stage 1, Jim Elphick Tennis Centre. The plaque is mounted on an easel with red curtains pulled back. The background features a mo

ADVANTAGE WAGGA: (L to R) Cr Georgie Davies, Dr Joe McGirr MP, Mr Mick Marien, Mr Chris Elphick, Mr Darren Simpson (Tennis NSW), Mr Lawrence Robertson (Tennis Australia), Ms Melissa Achten (Tennis NSW), and tennis legends Casey Dellacqua and Tony Roche AO MBE, celebrated today's opening of the Jim Elphick Tennis Centre at Bolton Park.

A bold new chapter in regional sport has begun with the official opening of the redeveloped Jim Elphick Tennis Centre at Bolton Park today (10 April 2025).

The state-of-the-art facility positions Wagga Wagga as a premier destination for tennis and sporting events – from grassroots through to elite level. Delivered by Wagga Wagga City Council in partnership with the NSW Government and Tennis NSW, the $9.15 million transformation marks the completion of Stage 1 of the Bolton Park Sports Hub project.

The Jim Elphick Tennis Centre was officially opened by Independent Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr MP, representing NSW Minister for Sport, The Hon Stephen Kamper MP. The launch was a celebration of community and sporting heritage, with appearances from tennis greats Tony Roche AO and Casey Dellacqua, Tennis NSW President Melissa Achten and CEO Darren Simpson, Tennis Australia’s Director of Pathways Lawrence Robertson, and local dignitaries including Deputy Mayor Councillor Georgie Davies.

The event featured a Welcome to Country by Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Mary Atkinson and a Smoking Ceremony led by Wiradyuri man Luke Wighton.

Also attending were family members of both the late Jim Elphick – fondly known as Wagga’s ‘Mr Tennis’ – and the late Joe Schipp, former Member for Wagga Wagga and passionate supporter of local tennis, with a centre court named in his honour.

The new-look centre features eight International Tennis Federation-standard cushioned acrylic hard courts, two cushioned warm-up courts, and five synthetic grass courts for community use. It also includes a dedicated netball court, a multi-use court, and a modern clubhouse offering premium facilities and sweeping views of the tennis precinct and Robertson Oval.

Mayor Dallas Tout said the redevelopment is a milestone for the city. “This project solidifies Wagga Wagga’s reputation as a leading sports and events destination. We're thrilled to welcome players, officials, and visitors from across the country.”

The Centre will soon host its first high-profile event; two back-to-back women’s ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments in September as part of the Australian Pro Tour. The event is expected to attract rising international talent and generate more than $750,000 for the local economy.

Tennis NSW President Melissa Achten praised the Jim Elphick Tennis Centre redevelopment’s project’s collaborative spirit. “This regional hub was made possible through partnerships between Council, the NSW Government, Tennis NSW, and the local community. It’s a game-changer for regional players.”

Wagga Wagga Tennis Association President Michael Marien welcomed the upgrade. “From grass in 1929 to today’s international-standard surfaces, the local tennis community is excited to play and compete here.”

Above all, the Jim Elphick Tennis Centre stands as a tribute to the city’s proud tennis legacy and a springboard for its sporting future.

To book a court or learn more, contact Marc Geppert at geppert.marc@wagga.nsw.gov.au or 0408 680 984.

This article was first published via Council News - 12 April 2025 edition.

A First Nations man conducts a smoking ceremony, with white smoke rising from the green gum leaves he is holding, while a woman in a black suit with dark hair and white sneakers walks through the smoke..
A crowd of people in a mixture of bright, casual clothes, stand outside a white building with a black roof and a large sign on the side that says Jim Elphick Tennis Centre.
An elderly gentleman is holding a yellow tennis ball as he signs it, while surrounded by four early teen children who are all dressed in brightly coloured sports gear and wearing white ball caps.
Two men dressed in navy and wearing cream-coloured broad brimmed hats, stand beside a woman with a bright green shirt, dark hair and glasses. Together they are having a discussion while they stand in front of a dark grey building.
A First Nations woman dressed in a brightly coloured pink jacket and multi-coloured scarf, with medium length grey hair and wearing glasses, is standing in front of media microphones, speaking. She is holding her hand out in friendliness as she performs a Welcome to Country.
A First Nations woman in a black blazer and bright yellow shirt is smiling and speaking into media microphones delivering a speech, while her hand is raised in friendliness towards the audience.
A young girl aged approximately ten is swinging a tennis racquet in preparation to hit a yellow tennis ball in flight. She is dressed in brightly coloured sporting gear and running across a new blue tennis court.
A man dressed in black slacks, a light blue business shirt and wearing a cream-coloured broad brimmed hat, stand beside a young girl with blonde hair, dressed in white. Both are holding a tennis racquet and are standing on a blue tennis court, ready to play.
A tall man with dark hair and wearing a navy suit and blue shirt, is standing in front of media microphones, delivering a speech which he is holding a written copy of in his hands. In the background is brightly coloured marketing materials that include the words ‘Work Out Your Way’ written in white text on a bright pink background.