Our Journey Through the Years

From a small local basketball club to one of the biggest clubs in the north-east Melbourne, explore the key milestones that have shaped Eltham Wildcats Basketball.

1964
  • First informal basketball games occurred at Eltham High School coached by David Hickman.
1965
  • U15 Boys ‘Eltham Eagles’ and ‘Eltham Falcons’ entered into the Winter Season 1965 of the Presbyterian Men’s Basketball Association.
1968
  • First formal Committee established.
1969
  • First ‘Home’ Court established at Try Youth Club, West Heidelberg.
1970
  • Eastern Districts Junior Basketball Association (EDJBA) formed.
  • First Eltham girls team entered into the EDJBA.
1975
  • First Eltham January  Tournament, conducted at the Bulleen stadium.
  • First team entered into the Victorian Junior Championship; immediate success by making the A grade finals.
1979
  • Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club recognised as an Association by Basketball Victoria.
1980
  • Eltham Leisure Centre, partially funded by Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club, opened.
  • Senior and primary competitions expanded.
  • The Wildcat Junior Administration Program established.
  • The first Referees Director appointed.
  • Entry into Victorian Senior Championship League.
1995
  • Eltham High School stadium constructed with 2 courts (now known as Courts 2 and 3).
1997
  • Referee Branch of the Year awarded by Basketball Victoria.
1999
  • Eltham Wildcats Basketball won Basketball Victoria’s Association of the Year award.
  • U14 Boys National Club Champions.
2001
  • Eltham High School stadium extended to third court (now known as Court 1).
2004
  • Referee Branch of the Year awarded by Basketball Victoria.
2005
  • Eltham Wildcats celebrated 40th year.
  • BigV Senior Women Champions.
2007
  • Eltham Wildcats grows to more than 1800 participant families.
2011
  • BigV Senior Women Champions.
2012
  • Eltham Basketball Club and Montmorency Secondary College opened new 2 court facility at Montmorency Secondary College (assisted by the Victorian State Government and Banyule City Council).
  • BigV Senior Women Champions.
2013
  • Eltham High School Court 3 dedicated as the “David Hickman Court”.
  • Eltham Wildcats Basketball won Basketball Victoria’s VJBL Large Association of the Year award.
2014
  • Eltham Wildcats commenced management of the canteen at Eltham High School Stadium. This continues to provided employment opportunities for young people.
2015
  • Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club celebrated 50th years.
  • Eltham High School stadium court 2 change rooms upgraded, funded by Eltham Wildcats and Eltham High School.  
2016
  • Eltham Wildcats commenced management of the Uniform Shop at Eltham High School Stadium. This also continues to provided employment opportunities for young people.
2017
  • Eltham Wildcats Basketball won Basketball Victoria’s Junior Program of the Year award.
  • Eltham Dandenong Junior Basketball Tournament awarded the Community Event of the Year by VicSport.
  • U14 Boys National Club Champions.
  • Eltham Wildcats awarded BigV Best Media promotions by an association.
2018
  • Eltham Wildcats Basketball awarded ‘Association of the Year’ by Basketball Victoria.
  • U14 Boys USA for Jr. NBA World Championships
2019
  • Eltham Wildcats began competing in the new NBL1 Competition which replaced SEABL.
  • Montmorency Secondary College and Eltham Wildcats promised Victorian State Government funding for a new 3 court stadium.
  • Eltham Wildcats Basketball invested $1.1 million to upgrade Eltham High School stadium facilities, assisted by a grant from the Victorian State Government.

These included:

  • Home and Away Change rooms, video room and referee room.
  • Expansion of the club office space and the Uniform Shop.
  • New Eltham High School PE staff facilities constructed by Eltham Wildcats.
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2021
  • Commenced construction of Montmorency Secondary College 3 court stadium.
  • Technical Officials Branch of the year awarded by Basketball Victoria.
2022
  • Technical Officials Branch of the year awarded by Basketball Victoria (Specifically for Scoretable and statisticians).
  • Eltham Wildcats achieves Inclusive Program of the Year by Basketball Victoria.
  • New Montmorency Secondary College stadium ‘Allan Robinson Basketball Courts’ completed and opened.
2024
  • Eltham Wildcats Men’s team won NBL1 South Championship.
2025
  • Eltham Wildcats celebrated 60th year.
  • Eltham Wildcats Youth League women’s team won BigV Youth League One Championship.
  • Our Aussie Hoops Cub Squad continued to feature in the top 3 across Basketball Australia for overall participation.
2026
  • Eltham Dandenong Junior Basketball Tournament achieved more than 1950 registered teams.
  • New Eltham Wildcats Basketball website launched.