Our History

Bathurst Panthers has a proud history, tracing its roots back to the 1920s with the founding of the Charlestons Rugby League Football Club. Although our club as it stands today was officially formed in 2000 through the amalgamation of the Bathurst Leagues Club and Penrith Panthers Leagues Club, the spirit and legacy of those early days continue to inspire us.

Charlestons achieved a memorable milestone in 1979 with a hard-fought 11–9 Premier League victory over Cowra at the Bathurst Sports Ground. This success laid the foundation for what would eventually become the Bathurst Penguins Rugby League Football Club in 1989, following a pivotal merger with the Bathurst Leagues Club. The Penguins, named after the Leagues Club’s emblem symbolizing resilience and strength, quickly made their mark, reaching two lower-grade grand finals in their inaugural year and securing their first Premier League title in 1994.

Under the leadership of notable coaches like Paul Upfield, Dave Scott, and former NRL player John Fearnley, our club continued to grow. The next chapter in our history began in 2000 when we proudly became Bathurst Panthers, uniting the strengths of our past with the future.

The mid-2000s saw us achieve back-to-back Premier League grand final victories against Lithgow Workmen’s Club in 2006 and 2007, a testament to our determination and skill on the field. In 2018, we broke a 12-year Premier League premiership drought with a thrilling 12–10 win over the Cowra Magpies at Sid Kallas Oval, led by our captain-coach Doug Hewitt.

As we continue to build on this rich legacy, the Bathurst Panthers remain committed to honoring our history while striving for future successes on the field.