The rapid growth of pickleball across Western Australia has helped revive Nollamara Tennis Club, which was facing possible closure just five years earlier due to declining membership and financial difficulties.

Established approximately 60 years ago, the club had fallen to just 18 members and was struggling to meet its operating costs, including affiliation fees with Tennis West.

Club president Kirk Sanders introduced pickleball as a way of attracting new players, approaching the local council to have additional court markings installed and receiving assistance from local MP Amber-Jade Sanderson to purchase equipment.

The decision proved successful, with participation increasing from eight to approximately 20 players within three weeks.

By October 2026, the club had more than 2,000 registered players and over 400 financial members, a substantial increase from the 18 members recorded five years earlier.

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, played on a smaller court using paddles and a perforated plastic ball. Its relatively simple rules and social format have helped attract participants across different age groups and sporting backgrounds.

Although invented in the United States in 1965, the sport experienced considerable international growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia's first national pickleball tournament was held in 2018, when participation was estimated at only a few hundred casual players. By 2026, approximately 200,000 people were estimated to be playing nationally.

Pickleball WA president Peter Withnell estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 people were participating across Western Australia.

The sport has expanded beyond traditional tennis clubs, with purpose-built facilities such as the Perth Pickleball Centre in Wanneroo, along with courts introduced at schools and mining accommodation sites.

While initially particularly popular among people aged over 55, pickleball has increasingly attracted younger players and former competitors from other sports.

Western Australian siblings Andy and Aleisha Horridge are among those who have pursued competitive pickleball after previously playing tennis.

Andy was ranked fourth nationally and had competed professionally for several years, while Aleisha was Australia's highest-ranked female player under 18.

Both competed in the National Pickleball League, a professional competition established in 2022, with Andy also representing Australia internationally.

The sport's growing international following has prompted discussions about its possible inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, although no decision had been confirmed.

For Nollamara Tennis Club, the introduction of pickleball has provided a substantial increase in membership and financial stability, allowing the long-established community sporting facility to continue operating.