From 1929 til now
The WTC was formed in 1929 by the late Messrs Tillman and Radford and operated for two years at the Waimairi School in Tillman Ave, after which land was purchased and it moved to Watford Street.
It was incorporated in 1934 and it is this date we recognise.
Two courts were laid, and a small clubhouse was bought from the Addington Tennis Club for ten pounds and moved to the site by the late Mr R Banks. Two more courts were added within the next ten years, and then in 1949 a further two courts were laid and a new clubhouse was erected.
In 1959 the building of a new clubhouse began and was officially opened in December by the then patron, the late Mr R banks.
During the whole time of the Club’s use of the present site, drainage was a recurring problem necessitating frequent upgrading to keep the courts playable. In 1980 after consultation with the Christchurch Drainage Board whose stormwater drain passes through our land, and consulting engineers, a decision was made to excavate and rebuild the courts with good drainage and new asphalt courts. Work began in April 1981and was completed in November that year. Tennis was maintained by using courts at St Andrew’s college one morning a week.
New courts at Waimairi Tennis Club, New Zealand
In late 1987 planning commenced to lay six synthetic grass courts over the asphalt. A financial proposal was put to the AGM in July 1988 and approval saw the grass laid later that year.
In 1992 a proposal was developed to purchase land from the adjoining properties alongside our driveway to enable the construction of a seventh court and new clubhouse. The AGM approved the plan that year and the new court and clubhouse were opened in 1994 coinciding with the 60th Anniversary celebrations.
During the 1980’s and early 90’s the club owned gaming (pokie) machines at a central city hotel. The cash flow from these machines enabled the purchase of land and the construction of the extra court and new clubhouse to be erected debt free. Today the Club relies on gaming machine grants to balance the books.
Also important sources of income come from sponsorships. In 1991 Christchurch Elecrical became a major sponsor and still continues to this day.
From small beginnings and a low point in the 1970’s when we had 5 men and about 20 women members, we prospered and grew. By 2000 we were the largest club in Canterbury by membership and we have held that position to this day, with a couple of recent exceptions when we were pipped for the honour.
The club launched its website in May 2004 to extend its marketing reach.
That same year the club went back to the neighbour along the driveway to purchase more land to enable space for a coach’s office and equipment storage, and compliance for court lighting.
After extensive Resource Management consent hearings, court lighting was installed on six courts in March 2005. Court lighting allowed the club to hold winter night time competitions, commonly known as business house, commencing in May 2006. The Coach’s office was completed in August 2007 once again after lengthy resource consent opposition from neighbours.
In 2007 work began to progressively replace the wearing synthetic
court surfaces, this time with a two-tone coloured synthetic grass. Waimairi led the way as the first club in Canterbury to install blue.
Five courts were completed in time for the 75th anniversary celebrations in 2009.
In 2010 we were badly impacted by the earthquakes which caused cracking in the court substrate, but after the second major shake in February 2011 courts 2, 3, and 4 were rendered unplayable by liquefaction. Tennis carried on with the help of St Paul’s Tennis Club for coaching and social play, while winter business house was continued at Te Kura Tennis Club’s courts. By May 2011 an insurance settlement was agreed, and banked, and temporary repairs were carried out.
In January 2018 groundworks began on all seven courts, and four Rebound Ace rubber underlay hard courts in a bright purple colour, and three synthetic grass all weather courts were laid soon after. New court fencing and gate designs were added and the whole redevelopment was officially opened in November 2018.
The court lighting was upgraded to LED in 2020.
The Club reviewed its management structure to reflect the commercial environment it found itself in. Various requirements were imposed on sports clubs such as Health & Safety, incident and accident reporting, and Charities Trust reporting. A Club Manager was appointed in a part-time capacity in January 2021, followed by a Marketing Coordinator in July 2023 to raise our social media profile.
Over the 90 years since incorporation 23 presidents have presided over the affairs of the club. Life membership has been conferred on 32 members to recognise their long service to the club.