Howlong Tennis Club replacement social rooms officially opened by Albury MP Justin Clancy

The opening of the town's replacement tennis club social rooms was slated for the end of the 2019-20 summer pennant season in March after its completion in late 2019.

The modern building, largely bankrolled by a NSW government grant of $198,000 and a top-up from Premier Gladys Berejiklian's discretionary fund to provide disabled facilities, replaces a former school house that was home for the club's 100-plus membership for decades.

"It was here for a long time," club president Kate Greenaway said.

"It was a good decision in the end that we decided to rebuild because the job of cleaning it up would have been terrible."

The new facilities were constructed by Howlong builder Jason Kohn to complement the club's six courts used for the Hume Saturday summer pennant and two weeknight competitions.

Member for Albury Justin Clancy, who attended the opening, said tennis was a great sport in small communities and it was important clubs had modern facilities.

"Howlong is rightly proud of their sporting facilities and the tennis club is a big part of that," he said.

"Particularly in country areas, the social element of tennis is crucial."

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Federation Council mayor Pat Bourke was also in attendance, along with councillor colleagues Shaun Whitechurch, David Longley and Norm Wales and general manager Adrian Butler.

Cr Bourke recounted a tennis tale of his own involving his father, Tom, who was a schoolboy champion in the 1950s when he went to boarding school in Sydney.

He also vivid memories from a similar opening at the Boree Creek courts when Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong played an exhibition match as part of the day's festivities.

"Tennis was a big part of our lives growing up," Cr Bourke said.

The opening was also a proud moment for Howlong-based Cr Longley, who has been a driving force in the Lowe Square sporting precinct with an official opening pending for a updated facilities for the town's football-netball club.

"They have been well and truly overdue," Cr Longley said.

"I've always said over time councils, Hume and Corowa, have underestimate the growth of this town.

"Infrastructure began to fall in a heap because they wouldn't recognise the growth.

"We're playing catch-up and there is still work to do."

Cr Longley confirmed he would be seeking re-election in September.

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