Concept: Archery
Summary
Archery appeared formally in Tasmania in 1857
Details
It was first a woman's sport, with clubs formed in Hobart, Launceston and the north-west.But it fell from popularity in favour of tennis.
However, in the 1890s the New Town club was formed, with members competing in lily-white dresses with yellow sashes.
Archery faded again, but was revived in 1950 with several clubs formed. The first state championship was held in 1962. Three main clubs continued, Taroona, Burnie and Paringa in Launceston, and in 2003 there were about a hundred registered archers, with Clint Freeman of Paringa the most distinguished. In 1998 he shot five world records in a single day, becoming the highest-scoring archer of all time. In 2003 Freeman was the first Tasmanian to win the World Archery Championship.
Alison Alexander and David Young