HISTORY

In 1960 the College built a gymnasium, which was wide enough for basketball but was 12′ short of acceptable length. Peter Ladd, who lived on campus at the time, made contact with the Woinarski family, who were schoolmates of the Jennings boys, the builders. AV Jennings agreed to alter the building, which was of lightweight construction, at no cost to the college. AV Jennings could very well be considered as the FDBA’s first sponsor!

Teams from the YMCA and Seaford joined in, and most of the administration was done by the teams on a rotational basis, such as collecting fees and marking lines. The President of the College, George Jenkins, was very happy for the students to be involved in such activity as long as there was a formal structure and financial accountability in place. A staff team joined in the early 60s and helped in negotiations with other groups, who were constantly in competition for use of the gymnasium on the campus. This staff team remained a vital part of the competition until the early 70s. Spectating was not as common back then, when all spectators had to sit on the stage because there was no room between the court and the walls!

Along with Peter Ladd, another early identity of the FDBA was Mrs. Val Ward (dec), who was secretary of the Association for many years. John Holden, Frankston’s most decorated referee, came onto the scene in the early 60s. Many of the early referees came from Dandenong until John formed the Frankston Referees Association in the mid-60s. John’s ties with the FDBA are long and true. Having represented Australia at numerous Olympics and World Championships, his contribution to the FDBA is still felt to this day through his teaching of referees and critiquing.

In the early 70s, the Police and Citizens Club built the existing facility at the Towerhill Road site. This, along with Ballam Park Technical School, was the site of the FDBA until one of many approaches over the years to Frankston City Council was successful, and the two-court stadium at Bardia Avenue was built and opened on March 9, 1979.

At the time that ground was broken for the stadium, moves were also made to bring a senior representative team to Frankston. Jason Placas negotiated to bring Tony Gaze from Dandenong, along with the nucleus of his team. Four of these players were Frankston Junior players. The team competed in the VBA Championships in 1979 and 1980, and joined the Continental Basketball Association in 1981. After winning the CBA in 1982, the Frankston Bears joined the NBL in 1983 and competed at that level for two years before financial pressures became too much for the Association to handle.

In 1986 Frankston joined forces with the neighbouring Chelsea Association to form the Bayside Blues Basketball Club. This Club represented both Associations from 1986 to 1995, when Chelsea opted out because of financial commitments. The Frankston Blues are the representative arm of the FDBA, with Youth League teams developed from our junior program and senior Men’s and Women’s teams representing the Association at the elite level. The Blues Club has a strong tradition of excellence, with National Championships by our Women’s team in 1993, 1997, and again in 2004. The Men’s SEABL team has won six Conference Championships and were National Runners-up in 1995 and 1998.

In 2022, the Frankston Blues Men’s team qualified for the NBL1 National Championship Series via a wildcard entry following a strong NBL1 South campaign. They advanced to the national championship game before falling to the Rockingham Flames 85–74 at Melbourne’s State Basketball Centre. A result that capped an outstanding season and highlighted Frankston’s continued presence among Australia’s elite basketball programs.

In August 2018, Basketball Australia disbanded the SEABL – rejecting a proposal for a club-managed alternative. Shortly after, Basketball Victoria established a new senior elite competition which, in partnership with the National Basketball League (NBL), evolved into NBL1, debuting in 2019. The Frankston Blues joined NBL1 South as founding members and have remained a leading program in the competition.

With 44 Junior Blues teams competing under the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL), the Frankston Blues take great pride in developing young local talent. The program is built on a strong commitment to teaching man-to-man defence at the junior levels, with “motion” offence principles forming a vital part of the curriculum.

In 1992 the four-court extension to our stadium was completed and opened on October 17. This extension gave the FDBA six courts, a social room, and amenities to rival any in Australia. Frankston hosted the Under 14 Boys Australian Championships in 1996 and hosted the National Junior Classic for under 12s and 14s in the early 2000s.

In 2003 the FDBA contributed to the building and gained joint use of a brand new three-court stadium at Elisabeth Murdoch College in Langwarrin, allowing for growth of our Association in this important population growth corridor of Melbourne.

The Walking Basketball program commenced in 2021 – Providing a social, low-impact way for participants to stay active and engaged in basketball. Over time, it became clear that there was a need to bridge the gap for participants with disabilities, Inclusion Walking Basketball was officially launched on 15 July 2024.

All Abilities (Inclusion) Friday Night Games began on 9 May 2022, offering a relaxed, non-refereed environment with no registration required. As participation and awareness grew, the competition developed greater structure to support its expansion:

• 18 November 2022 – Transitioned to a two-team official competition with referees.

• 28 April 2023 – Expanded to a six-team Inclusion Competition, providing more players with the opportunity to participate in an organised league.

• 18 October 2024 – The competition was renamed the “Inclusion Competition”, aligning with contemporary standards and best practices in inclusive sport terminology.

Inclusion Holiday Camps launched on 28 June 2022, the All Abilities Holiday Camps were aligned with Frankston Basketball’s long-running mainstream camps, which had been a key part of the Association’s programs for over a decade.

The Bell Ball Basketball Program launched in November 2023, the Frankston and District Basketball Association (FDBA) launched an Australian-first basketball program for individuals who are blind or vision-impaired. Led by Programs Support Officer Tanya Thomas, the initiative was developed in partnership with Disability Sports Australia and Blind Sports Australia. The program began with the use of a soft ball containing a bell, paired with a lowered hoop equipped with a sound mechanism to help participants orient themselves toward the basket. As players gained confidence and skill, more advanced participants progressed to using a standard basketball with a bell inside.

The FDBA introduced Hoops for Wheelies (Wheelchair Basketball Program) on 13 October 2023. A wheelchair basketball program that broadened the Association’s inclusive offerings. This program also laid the foundation for the Frankston Blues to join the Victorian Wheelchair Basketball League (VWBL) in 2025.

Basketball Victoria’s Inclusive Basketball Association of the Year was awarded to Frankston Basketball on 1 May 2024, acknowledging the Association’s ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.

In 2024, the FDBA proudly announced that a combined total of $60 million in funding had been secured in partnership with all three levels of government.

In June 2025, the Frankston Basketball community temporarily farewelled its long-time home at Bardia Avenue, closing a historic chapter after decades of competition and connection. The stadium has long been the heart of local basketball, nurturing stars such as David Andersen, Ryan Broekhoff, Kelly Bowen, and Steph Reid. As banners, jerseys, and memorabilia were carefully lowered and packed away, the community looked ahead with excitement to the next chapter.

Set for completion in late 2027, the redeveloped Bardia Avenue site will feature a state-of-the-art 10-court facility, including a 1,000-seat show court. In the meantime, Association operations continue remotely, with games and competitions hosted across alternative venues throughout the Frankston area.

The FDBA has grown from these early beginnings to be one of the biggest basketball associations in Australia, with an association record 1162 teams competing and up to 10 locations used on a weekly basis as of 2025. It is an Association of which we are extremely proud and whose members are extremely grateful to all those who have contributed to its existence over the years.