Wynnum Croquet Club celebrates 21 years, plus two more from Wynnum

Twenty one years later, the anniversary photograph showed a growing and thriving club, still proudly maintaining many of those traditions while becoming firmly established in the local community.

Wynnum's 1925 'Glum Ladies' photo captures history

The inaugural 1925 black and white photograph, affectionately known as the “Glum Ladies” photo, captured a small group of women dressed elegantly in long white dresses and an assortment of hats that would not have looked out of place at a garden party.

Their serious expressions reflected the style of photography of the day, where smiling for the camera was a rare event and holding still was practically an Olympic sport. In those early years croquet was very much a ladies’ pastime, played with grace and etiquette.

Wynnum croquet club celebrates a century of community

The 2025 centenary photo and the contrast could not be greater. More than 60 members gathered for the occasion, with men and women standing side by side in a celebration of the club’s modern era. The stiff poses of 1925 have been replaced with relaxed smiles, laughter and a sense of connection that reflects how the club has evolved over 100 years.

The three photographs together form more than a collection of images. They are a time capsule showing how the club, and the game itself, has changed from an all ladies sport into a welcoming community enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.