Brisbane's historic Coorparoo Bowls Club has been saved from demolition after a local investor agreed to purchase the site in a $6 million deal. The agreement means the club's two bowling greens will remain, while the clubhouse, bar and kitchen are expected to undergo renovations.

The Coorparoo Bowls Club has operated for 97 years and has become an established part of the local community. Its future had been uncertain following plans that would have seen the site cleared for high-rise residential development. The club's committee had spent several years campaigning to preserve the venue and retain bowls at the location.

The new owner is Brisbane investor Will Griffin, through Griffin Hospitality Group. The purchase was negotiated with Bowls Queensland and provides a pathway for the club to continue operating rather than being replaced by a residential development.

A key part of the agreement is the preservation of both existing bowling greens. One green will continue to be used for competition bowls, while the second will be available for casual players. Maintaining both greens means the site will continue to support organised bowls as well as recreational use.

Bowls Queensland chief executive Fletcher Dyson said the organisation had received offers worth more money but chose an arrangement that would retain bowls at the Coorparoo site. According to ABC Brisbane, the organisation turned down an offer that was $1 million higher in order to preserve the greens and maintain the venue as a community facility.

The new owner has also outlined plans to renovate the existing clubhouse, bar and kitchen. The intention is to modernise the facilities while retaining the character associated with the long-established club.

The planned renovations are expected to support a broader community role for the venue. The club could continue to operate as a place where people play bowls while also providing space for meals, social gatherings and family activities.

The existing Coorparoo Bowls Club committee will continue managing the club under a five-year lease. This arrangement allows the committee that campaigned to save the venue to remain involved in its future operations.

For club members, the agreement represents a significant change from the uncertainty surrounding the site earlier this year. The committee had faced the possibility of being evicted, but the purchase now provides a new ownership structure and a plan to keep the venue operating.

The club's long history is also an important part of the redevelopment plans. Rather than replacing the property completely, the new owner intends to renovate the existing facilities and maintain the bowling greens.

The deal highlights the role that established sporting clubs can play as community gathering places in Brisbane. Local bowls clubs can provide recreational activities for competitive players, casual participants and people looking for social connections within their neighbourhood.

With the $6 million purchase now completed, attention will turn to the planned renovations and the club's continued operation. Both bowling greens are expected to remain available, while the clubhouse facilities are upgraded.

The Coorparoo Bowls Club will therefore continue operating at its existing location, with the new ownership aiming to combine improvements to the facilities with the preservation of the venue's long-standing bowls tradition.