Bass Valley Wonthaggi District Football League
| Most recent season or competition: 1995 | |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1955 |
| First season | 1955 |
| Ceased | 1955 |
| No. of teams | 7 (1995), 19 (historical) |
| Country | Australia |
| Last champion | Wonthaggi Rovers (1995) |
| Most titles | Wonthaggi Rovers (8) |
| Related competitions | Alberton FL |
The Bass Valley-Wonthaggi District Football League was an Australian rules football league based in the Bass Coast region of West Gippsland, Victoria.
History
The Bass Valley-Wonthaggi District Football League was formed from a merger of the Bass Valley Football Association and the Wonthaggi District Football League before the 1955 season. The founding clubs were Bass, Bena, Dalyston, East Wonthaggi, Glen Alvie, Inverloch, Korumburra Butter Factory, Loch, Nyora, Phillip Island and Shop Assistants. The early years of the competition were marked by change. After the inaugural season, the Butter Factory team disbanded and East Shops (later Wonthaggi Rovers) was formed by way of a merger of East Wonthaggi and Shop Assistants.[1] Prior to the 1957 season Nyora were forced into recess due to their inability to field a reserve-grade side. Inverloch merged with Kongwak due to a lack of club officials[2] and Bass merged with Kilcunda.[3]
The BVWDFL entered a period of stability after the 1957 season. The league's numbers were boosted by the addition of Lang Lang from the West Gippsland Football League in 1967[4] and Wonthaggi Blues from the South Gippsland Football League in 1969.[5] The 1971 grand final between Wonthaggi Blues and Wonthaggi Rovers - the first grand final meeting between the two crosstown rivals - was drawn, with the Blues winning the replay.[5]
Lang Lang returned to the West Gippsland FL in 1981, with Korumburra taking their place a few years later in 1984. An increasing gap between the larger towns and smaller, rural areas proved to be the league's downfall. Glen Alvie folded after the 1987 season and Loch after 1993. Wonthaggi Blues sought to join the higher-standard Gippsland Latrobe Valley Football League, a request which was granted in 1994, leaving the BVWDFL with only 7 teams. Following a VCFL review, the BVWDFL was disbanded after the 1995 season. Phillip Island and Kilcunda-Bass joined the West Gippsland FL and the remaining 5 clubs joined the Alberton Football League.[6]
Clubs
Final
| Club | Jumper | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in comp | BVWDFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Most recent | ||||||||
| Bena | (1955-60s)(1960s-95) | Bulls, Beanmen | Korumburra Showgrounds, Korumburra | BVFA | 1921 | 1955-1995 | 1 | 1984 | Moved to Alberton FL after 1995 season |
| Dalyston | Magpies | Dalyston Recreation Reserve, Dalyston | W&DFL | 1898 | 1955-1995 | 6 | 1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1976, 1989 | Moved to Alberton FL after 1995 season | |
| Inverloch-Kongwak | Demons | Inverloch Recreation Reserve, Inverloch | – | 1957 | 1957-1995 | 7 | 1957, 1966, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1986 | Moved to Alberton FL after 1995 season | |
| Kilcunda-Bass | Cats | Bass Recreation Reserve, Bass | – | 1957 | 1957-1995 | 3 | 1960, 1969, 1980 | Moved to West Gippsland FL after 1995 season | |
| Korumburra | Bullants | Korumburra Recreation Reserve, Korumburra | WGFL | 1911 | 1984-1995 | 1 | 1992 | Moved to Alberton FL after 1995 season | |
| Phillip Island | Bulldogs | Cowes Recreation Reserve, Cowes | W&DFL | 1932 | 1955-1995 | 4 | 1962, 1964, 1981, 1990 | Moved to West Gippsland FL after 1995 season | |
| Wonthaggi Rovers (East Shops 1956-57) | Tigers | Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, Wonthaggi | – | 1956 | 1956-1995 | 8 | 1956, 1974, 1975, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995 | Moved to Alberton FL after 1995 season | |
Former
| Club | Jumper | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in comp | BVWDFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Most recent | ||||||||
| Bass | Bass Recreation Reserve, Bass | W&DFL | 1910 | 1955-1956 | 0 | - | Merged with Kilcunda to form Kilcunda-Bass after 1956 season | ||
| East Wonthaggi | Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, Wonthaggi | W&DFL | 1920s | 1955 | 0 | - | Merged with Shop Assistants to form East Shops after 1955 season | ||
| Glen Alvie | (1955-68)(1969-87) | Hawks | Glen Alvie Recreation Reserve, Glen Alvie | BVFA | 1900 | 1955-1987 | 0 | - | Folded after 1987 season |
| Inverloch | Light with dark sash[7] | Inverloch Recreation Reserve, Inverloch | W&DFL | 1926 | 1955-1956 | 1 | 1955 | Merged with Kongwak to form Inverloch-Kongwak after 1956 season | |
| Kilcunda | W&DFL | 1910 | 1955-1956 | 0 | - | Merged with Bass to form Kilcunda-Bass after 1956 season | |||
| Korumburra Butter Factory | BVFA | 1955 | 0 | - | Folded after 1955 season | ||||
| Kongwak | RN Scott Reserve, Kongwak | BVFA | 1920 | 1955-1956 | 0 | - | Merged with Inverloch to form Inverloch-Kongwak after 1956 season | ||
| Lang Lang | Lang Lang Showgrounds, Lang Lang | WGFL | 1900 | 1967-1981 | 0 | - | Returned to West Gippsland FL after 1981 season | ||
| Loch | Dark with light vee (c.1955-64)(c.1965-93) | Saints | Loch Recreation Reserve, Loch | BVFA | 1890s | 1955-1993 | 2 | 1965, 1967 | Folded after 1993 season |
| Nyora | Nyora Recreation Reserve, Nyora | BVFA | 1880s | 1955-1956 | 0 | - | Entered recess after 1956 season due to lacking a reserve side. Re-formed in Ellinbank & District FL in 1967. | ||
| Shop Assistants | Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, Wonthaggi | W&DFL | 1930s | 1955 | 0 | - | Merged with Wast Wonthaggi to form East Shops after 1955 season | ||
| Wonthaggi Blues | Blues | Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, Wonthaggi | SGFL | 1950 | 1969-1994 | 7 | 1971, 1972, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1991, 1993 | Moved to Gippsland-Latrobe Valley FL after 1994 season | |
Premierships
| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Location | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Inverloch | 15.9 (99) - 13.8 (86) | Phillip Island | [5] | |
| 1956 | East Shops | 6.4 (40) - 4.12 (36) | Dalyston | [5] | |
| 1957 | Inverloch-Kongwak | 13.13 (91) - 13.11 (89) | Kilcunda-Bass | [5] | |
| 1958 | Dalyston | 12.15 (87) - 6.10 (46) | Phillip Island | [5] | |
| 1959 | Dalyston | Wonthaggi Rovers | [5] | ||
| 1960 | Kilcunda-Bass | 12.16 (88) - 13.8 (86) | Phillip Island | [5] | |
| 1961 | Dalyston | 10.10 (70) - 8.7 (55) | Glen Alvie | [5] | |
| 1962 | Phillip Island | 7.11 (53) - 6.10 (46) | Inverloch-Kongwak | [5] | |
| 1963 | Dalyston | 8.8 (56) - 7.11 (53) | Phillip Island | [5] | |
| 1964 | Phillip Island | 6.15 (51) - 4.5 (29) | Inverloch-Kongwak | [5] | |
| 1965 | Loch | 15.6 (96) - 10.13 (73) | Inverloch-Kongwak | [5] | |
| 1966 | Inverloch-Kongwak | 9.9 (63) - 6.4 (40) | Wonthaggi Rovers | [5] | |
| 1967 | Loch | 12.12 (84) - 10.13 (73) | Inverloch-Kongwak | [5] | |
| 1968 | Inverloch-Kongwak | 10.15 (75) - 5.10 (40) | Wonthaggi Rovers | [5] | |
| 1969 | Kilcunda-Bass | Inverloch-Kongwak | Wonthaggi | [5] | |
| 1970 | ? | Kilcunda-Bass | [5] | ||
| 1971 | Wonthaggi Blues | 9.12 (66) - 10.6 (66) | Wonthaggi Rovers | [5] | |
| Wonthaggi Blues | 11.15 (81) - 9.9 (63) | Wonthaggi Rovers | [5] | ||
| 1972 | Wonthaggi Blues | 13.19 (97) - 10.11 (71) | Inverloch-Kongwak | [5] | |
| 1973 | Inverloch-Kongwak | [5] | |||
| 1974 | Wonthaggi Rovers | 10.6 (66) - 5.10 (40) | Kilcunda-Bass | [5] | |
| 1975 | Wonthaggi Rovers | [5] | |||
| 1976 | Dalyston | 11.12 (78) - 8.15 (63) | Lang Lang | [5] | |
| 1977 | Wonthaggi Blues | 15.21 (111) - 15.7 (97) | Glen Alvie | [5] | |
| 1978 | Wonthaggi Blues | 16.15 (111) - 6.14 (50) | Inverloch-Kongwak | [5] | |
| 1979 | Wonthaggi Blues | 14.11 (95) - 9.14 (68) | Kilcunda-Bass | [5] | |
| 1980 | Kilcunda-Bass | 22.13 (145) - 16.9 (105) | Phillip Island | [5] | |
| 1981 | Phillip Island | 14.10 (94) - 12.12 (84) | Wonthaggi Blues | [5] | |
| 1982 | Wonthaggi Rovers | 17.12 (114) - 6.17 (53) | Bena | [5] | |
| 1983 | Inverloch-Kongwak | 12.17 (89) - 6.7 (43) | Bena | [5] | |
| 1984 | Bena | 18.11 (119) - 4.7 (31) | Dalyston | [5] | |
| 1985 | Inverloch-Kongwak | 11.5 (71) - 8.9 (57) | Dalyston | [5] | |
| 1986 | Inverloch-Kongwak | [5] | |||
| 1987 | Wonthaggi Rovers | 16.9 (105) - 12.15 (87) | Korumburra | [5] | |
| 1988 | Wonthaggi Rovers | 7.13 (55) - 7.9 (51) | Dalyston | [5] | |
| 1989 | Dalyston | 17.12 (114) - 6.9 (45) | Wonthaggi Rovers | [5] | |
| 1990 | Phillip Island | 15.9 (99) - 13.8 (86) | Wonthaggi Blues | [5] | |
| 1991 | Wonthaggi Blues | 17.16 (118) - 18.10 (118) | Phillip Island | [5] | |
| Wonthaggi Blues | 13.14 (92) - 12.15 (87) | Phillip Island | [5] | ||
| 1992 | Korumburra | 11.14 (87) - 6.11 (47) | Dalyston | [5] | |
| 1993 | Wonthaggi Blues | 20.9 (129) - 12.13 (85) | Inverloch-Kongwak | [5] | |
| 1994 | Wonthaggi Rovers | 10.13 (73) - 10.11 (71) | Phillip Island | [5] | |
| 1995 | Wonthaggi Rovers | 15.17 (107) - 14.7 (91) | Phillip Island | [5] |
References
- ^ "Wonthaggi Rovers Reunite". Sentinel-Times. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "Club History - Inverloch-Kongwak Football Club". GameDay. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "About". Kilcunda Bass Football Netball Club. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "Brief History - Lang Lang Football Club". GameDay. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as "Bass Valley-Wonthaggi And District Football League (Vic)". www.footypedia.info. Archived from the original on 24 November 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "History - Dalyston Football Club". GameDay. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "Country Football Leaders". Weekly Times. 7 October 1951. p. 25.
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