Henselite Bowl Shot?

The Henselite administration of 2024 shocked the bowls world: Henselite, the iconic Australian manufacturer of lawn bowls, went into voluntary administration.

Updated December 2024: good news – Henselite survived. See the update at the end of this post.

In August 2024 Henselite the iconic Australian manufacturer of lawn bowls, entered into in voluntary administration.

A short history of Henselite

Henselite was founded in Melbourne in 1918 by the Hensell family, and for more than a century it was one of the best-known names in lawn bowls. Four generations of the family ran the business before it was sold to the Paterson family in 2021. Production moved to a new factory in 2023, which the company itself said took longer and proved more complex than expected. Bowlers all over the world, including thousands here in the UK, play with Henselite bowls, so news of trouble at the company was always going to cause concern.

What the Henselite administration meant for bowlers

During the Henselite administration, the questions we heard most in our Enfield shop were simple ones. Will my bowls still be supported? Can I still get new Tigers? Should I buy a different make? Our advice at the time was not to panic. A well-made set of bowls lasts for decades whatever happens to the company that made it, and bias and size never change. Administration is also not the same as closure: its aim is to find the best way forward for the business, and very often that means a sale or new investment rather than shutting down.

Update: what happened after the Henselite administration?

Henselite came through administration. In its own words, “with a change of ownership, a new investor came on board”, and the business has carried on making bowls under the Henselite name, with production in Melbourne. For bowlers, the important part is simple: Henselite has not disappeared, new sets are still being made, and spares, stickers and support are still available. You can read the company’s own account in the Henselite story.

Buying Henselite bowls today

We still stock and order new Henselite bowls, including the popular Tiger and Classic ranges. If you already own Henselites and want to check your size or bias, or are thinking of trading up, call us on 020 8362 1780 or visit our Enfield shop. We also often have good second-hand Henselite bowls in stock, a great way to start with a classic brand for less.

This post was first published on 14 October 2024. Last updated 1 October 2026.