In the interim, members will continue to bowl at the club until Christmas before moving to the Country Club at Bloomfield, owned by Orange Ex-Services’ Club, under a temporary arrangement.

Newstead Bowling Club chairman Gary Norton said board members were conscious of maintaining the vision of the club’s founding members.

“They have left us a legacy which was established 60 years ago and we need to have patience to see this through to its final conclusion,” Mr Norton said.

He said when the $2.7 million surplus from the sale of the historic Newstead building on the corner of Hill and Kite streets converted to a new “home” for Newstead, the facility would be the one of the state’s premier bowling venues.

Deputy mayor Chris Gryllis told the Central Western Daily although it was early days in the development of a sporting precinct for Orange, Newstead Bowling Club’s interest was welcome.

“We are always interested in proposals like this as there are certainly some synergies between the two proposals and where shared facilities can work it makes sense to have a close look at it,” Cr Gryllis said.

Cr Gryllis said Orange’s indoor aquatic centre, the PCYC and the airport terminal project were all examples of how well partnerships could work for the city’s benefit.

In October 2013 Orange City Council confirmed it was actively pursing suitable land for a rectangular field and sporting precinct so it could attract major sporting events to the city in the way Mudgee does with Glen Willow stadium and Dubbo with Apex Oval.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au