From the arrival of tennis in the late 1870’s tennis became the social game and courts began to spring up everywhere at bowls clubs, churches, stand alone tennis clubs were formed and home courts became very popular.

The tennis boom globally saw the expansion of equipment suppliers and after reading Siegfried Kuebler’s Book of Tennis Rackets, in which there hundreds of racquet makers listed, very little is known about the Australian industry.

Up to the mid 1920’s most racquets were being imported from England and the USA, but tennis’ popularity reached levels which justified local production of racquets and balls.

The racquet left was in all probability made in Australia and sold to a Company in France called Orion. Notice that it is a very early flat top and has a kangaroo graphic. Fellow collectors date this from around 1910, although being a 7 ply design it may be mid 1920’s.

The objective of this site is to try and source photos of and list as many models as possible which can be done from old ads, catalogues and even old receipts that people may have at home.

One thing you will notice about the Australian racquets is that many are wonderfully presented with colourful decals or patina often over the frame, throat and shaft. Compared to other countries in the 1920’s-1940’s period, the local racquet industry was experiencing hot competition where customer presentation was concerned and this level of finish, in our view is unique to Australia, with all manufacturers presenting outstanding graphical finishes.

Another really interesting aspect to early wood racquets is the collectibility of photo decal and signature racquets. Many players were endorsed by sporting goods companies from the very early days and while you will find many from the 50’s featuring Frank Sedgman, Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Rod Laver and John Newcombe on Australian made racquets and many Australians found there way onto USA sold racquets thanks to companies such as Chemold and Rawlings which included other Aussies such as Owen Davidson and Tony Roche.  Very rare,  are the early 30’s and 40’s racquets featuring Australian players such as James O. Anderson, Dinny Pails and Nancye Bolton.  The development of a list of local talent on locally made racquets is a project in the pipeline.

Also alive and well in the 1930’s was inventiveness.  The Empire Racquet company in Sydney created an adjustable balance system inside the racquet handle which featured a wind up device. At around the same time Harry Webeck invented a mercury tube system inside the racquet which permitted the weight of the racquet to change during the motion of a shot.

A project very close to fruition which we are pleased to support is the production of a book about the Alexander Tennis Racquet Company which is being compiled by a family member  in Tasmania. We will happily provide information readers can supply which will make the book a valuable account of Australia’s early Tennis days.

Below is a list of known small and large companies that produced tennis sporting goods in Australia, some photos of various vintage tennis racquets made here and a brand listing from a 1939 Melbourne Sports Depot retail catalogue which is a wonderful record of brands and individual model names. Please note that we included a picture of a Dunlop Maxply which, although were sold here in the thousands, were in fact made in the UK and imported here from early 1930’s to late 1970’s.

While we are aware that tradesmen and even some companies made racquets in the late 1880’s to 1900’s we simply don’t have any reference at this time, hence the Kangaroo racquet may well be one of the earliest made in Australia.

The main companies in Australia that produced wood racquets from the 1920’s onwards were:

Alexanders – Tasmania (1921 from a merge between two companies,factory 1926)

Brewers – Victoria (c1928)

Chesterfield – New South Wales (c1923)

Hedley’s- Victoria (early 1930’s)

Oliver – Sth Australia (c 1930’s)

Slazenger /Dunlop – Victoria/ NSW (c 1930’s)

Spalding – Victoria (c1925)

Other smaller Australian companies producing locally or which began to market Australian designed racquets produced offshore are listed below. More information and photos are required given the obscurity and short life span some of these Companies. The other factor is whether some of these locally produced wood racquets were actually produced in-house or sub contracted to larger firms for manufacture.

ARCO (Australian Racquet Company) SA – (First stainless steel racquet made in Australia in 1970’s.)

Campbell’s – Qld

Empire (NSW c 1930’s)

Emrik (c late 1970’s)

Fin- Australian owned Taiwanese made (c early 1980’s)

Master Racquets- QLD (First Aluminium extrusion racquets mid 1970’s)

Moon Racquet Company (VIC mid 1930’s)

Olympic Racquet Company (Petersham NSW)

Speedwood Racquet Company (NSW )

Spider Web – Victoria (mid 1930’s)

Stella- imported from various countries (VIC)

Taskers- Victoria (started late1950’s by staff ex Hedleys- brands Champion & Southern Star)

Tasmania Racquet Company (pre Alexanders Patent Racquet Company) TAS

We intend developing sections for each company over time and would appreciate any contributions to the list above and information about the racquets produced, brand names etc.

Learn more under the manufacturers heading.