This year Netball Victoria celebrates its centenary year, marking a century of developing and supporting generations of netball athletes, officials and administrators across the state.
To commemorate this remarkable milestone, Netball Victoria is pleased to launch a dedicated content series that will delve into the state’s captivating netball history.
What are we celebrating?
The Melbourne Girls’ Basket Ball Association (MGBBA) was formed in 1922 with its first competition held in 1923. The MGBBA became the Victorian Women’s Basketball Association (VWBA), then in 1970 the VWBA changed its name to the Victorian Netball Association, the organisation we now know as Netball Victoria.
The history of netball in Victoria is a tapestry woven with passion, resilience, and camaraderie. Originally known as women's basketball in Australia until 1970, netball's roots trace back to the game of basketball, which was born in the USA in 1891.
In the UK, moves to transform the game's rules to encourage teamwork and control rough play led to the evolution of netball, with players restricted to designated areas on the court.
The game found a firm foothold in Ballarat in 1899, where teams from Loreto Abbey and Loreto Training School participated in some of the earliest matches in Australia.
By the early 1900s, netball had eclipsed hockey as the preferred sport for girls in Victorian primary and secondary schools, igniting a legacy that continues to thrive today.
What to expect
Over the coming weeks, netball enthusiasts and history buffs alike will have the opportunity to explore the evolution of our sport in Victoria.
Our new content series will share some of the insights, anecdotes, and artifacts that have shaped the organisation’s journey from its inception to the present day, including those currently on display in the Edith Hull Collection at the State Netball Centre in Parkville.
The collection's name pays homage to Edith Hull, an influential figure in the sport who served as President of the VWBA between 1934-1938 and 1947-1953. As Netball Victoria embarks on the upcoming series, we invite our netball community to immerse themselves in the history that has shaped our sport and share their own stories of the game they love.
