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150th Anniversary of the First Archery Tournament in Ballarat – 2014
On the 26th & 27th December 1864, a large Fete was held in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens to raise money for the erection of the Ballarat District Orphan Asylum.
This is only 10 years after Eureka.
The first two archery clubs in Ballarat, The Foresters Archery Club and Webster Street Archery Club (The Ladies Club) held a 100-yard shoot in the botanical gardens.
The entry fees paid on the day were donated to the Orphan’s building fund.
On the 27th December 2014, the Wendouree Archery Club recognized the 150th Anniversary of the first tournament with a Challenge shoot at the club grounds, Prince of Wales Park, Lake Gardens. Archers from across Victoria and new South Wales competed
As the orphanage no longer exists, the entry fees paid on the day were donated to the Pediatric & Adolescent Unit at the Ballarat Base Hospital with an official handover on Tuesday 10 February 2015. The amount raised including the profit from the catering was $250.
