Longueville Sporting Club is bringing cultural gatherings, live entertainment and community activities onto its bowling greens, with an upcoming Armenian family event adding to the varied calendar at the venue affectionately known as The Diddy.
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The club at 243 Longueville Road will host Homenetmen Antranig’s Sunday on the Green on 15 November 2026, bringing families and friends together for an afternoon of casual lawn bowls, food and socialising. The event is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m., with tickets priced at $60 per person, including food.
Organised by the Armenian community group, the gathering welcomes people of all ages, whether they want to try lawn bowls or spend time with family and friends. The event listing invites participants to enjoy the outdoor setting without needing previous bowling experience.
Homenetmen is an international Armenian sporting and scouting organisation established in 1918. Its Sydney-based Antranig branch has longstanding connections to youth sport and scouting, with activities extending beyond athletic competition to community participation and cultural traditions.
The November gathering follows a spring calendar that included an Oktoberfest advertised for 3 October. Alongside regular entertainment and private functions, the two events reflect the different ways Longueville residents and community organisations use the club.
From lawn bowls to Oktoberfest
The club advertised its Oktoberfest with 10 beer tents, German inspired food and a music program featuring Sydney bands Highline and Lambros, alongside Masters of Oompa and DJs.
Outside major events, The Diddy maintains a regular entertainment calendar featuring weekend live music, Wednesday musical bingo and Thursday trivia. Its hospitality offering includes Lusso Kitchen, which has operated at the venue since 2021.
The club also hires out its facilities for birthdays, corporate functions and social gatherings. Its published hire arrangements list separate $200 fees for the lower green and the hall, providing organisers with indoor and outdoor options.
How a struggling bowls club found new life
The Diddy’s broader community role developed decades before its current events calendar.
Established in 1938, the club began as a traditional bowling venue with a membership centred on the sport. By the early 1990s, declining membership had raised concerns about its future, with proposals to repurpose the grounds under consideration.
Former club president and board member Ian Chapman became closely associated with efforts to revitalise the venue. During the club’s membership difficulties in 1991, Chapman helped recruit new members. A recollection shared at his 2023 memorial plaque unveiling described the club’s reliance on volunteer bar staff at the time.
Chapman also championed the conversion of the club’s former circular driveway into outdoor dining space, according to accounts shared during the 2023 tribute.
Community events, fundraising activities and connections with local sporting organisations formed part of the club’s revival. A memorial plaque recognising Chapman’s contribution was unveiled in 2023, acknowledging his role in helping preserve the institution and broaden its appeal.
The club’s nickname also comes from its earlier years. According to its official history, members shortened a familiar expression used when remembering former bowlers who had died, eventually giving the venue its enduring name, The Diddy.
Community groups make use of the grounds
Longueville Sporting Club’s facilities also accommodate local organisations whose activities extend beyond competitive lawn bowls.
Longueville Probus Club, formed in August 2024, lists The Diddy as the venue for its regular Tuesday afternoon social cards sessions. Its 2026 activities calendar also records the sporting club as the location of its September annual general meeting.
The Diddy’s community connections include local sporting clubs, schools and charitable organisations. Among those identified by the club are Lane Cove Cricket Club, Lane Cove Junior Rugby Club, Lane Cove Cats AFL and Greenwich Public School.
Homenetmen Antranig’s November gathering will bring an Armenian community organisation to the club’s grounds for an afternoon of family activities and lawn bowls. The organisation has a longstanding presence in Sydney’s Armenian community through its sporting and scouting programs.
Bowling greens with a broader purpose
Lawn bowls remains available at The Diddy, although sporting activities now share the facilities with functions and other events.
The club advises that its greens have multiple uses and that weekend social bowls can be difficult to accommodate because of competing activities. Published prices for social bowls are $5 for members and $10 for non-members, with participation dependent on availability.
The bowling greens, outdoor dining areas and function spaces allow the venue to accommodate sporting members, local organisations and private gatherings throughout the week.
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Sunday on the Green is scheduled for Sunday, 15 November 2026, from 4:00 p.m. at Longueville Sporting Club, 243 Longueville Road. Tickets are advertised at $60 per person, including food, with further information available through the event listing. Prospective attendees should confirm booking availability with the organiser.
Published 27-Oct-2026
