Walter Lindrum

"The greatest billiards player who ever lived." - Sir Donald Bradman.

Walter Lindrum

Held the World Professional Billiards Championship from 1933 until 1950.

Walter Lindrum

Set 57 world records in billiards, some of which still stand.

Walter Lindrum

Inducted into The Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985 and elevated to “Legend of Australian Sport” in 1998.

Walter Lindrum - The Official Website

Walter “Wally” Lindrum was thought by many as the greatest billiards champion the world has ever known. There is not another sportsman in history that has as many records that remain unbroken. This website is dedicated to the loving memory of Walter Lindrum, one of Australia’s greatest sporting legends. Our mission is to ensure that Walter's remarkable talent along with his unbeaten records in the game of billiards are never forgotten, help promote Australian cue sports, and inspire those that have a love and passion for Billiards to achieve great success in the sport.

- Tammy Lindrum, Great-niece of Walter Lindrum. Managing Director and Founder of Lindrum Legends. Registered company & Trademark owner of Walter Albert Lindrum, Dolly Lindrum and Lindrum Legends

TIMELINE

Walter Lindrum

57 World Records in Billiards Raised over £2 million for Charity

Presenting the research project of a lifetime. The story of the greatest billiards player of all time. Covering his unique upbringing, illustrious career, and post-retirement charitable endeavours, this is a testament to a man who gave the sport and his country his very best.

View Timeline

Billards Records

A Record-Breaking Tour

In the final match of the Manchester 1930 tour against Willie Smith, two-time world billliards champion, Walter Lindrum set numerous records: the highest individual aggregate (36,256), the largest winning margin (21,285), a record match average (262), and a record number of four-figure breaks (11).

World Record Break

In January 1932, in a match against reigning world champion Joe Davis, in London, Walter Lindrum occupied the table for 2 hours 55 minutes, for about 1900 consecutive scoring shots and compiled a world record break of 4137, which included 15 sequences of nursery cannons to accumulate 2578 of his points.

More Prominent Records

Walter Lindrum holds the record break for each country that he played in, the fastest century break (46 seconds) and 1011 points in 30 minutes. In 1933 on a tour to South Africa, Walter Lindrum claimed a new world record for fast scoring when he completed 1000 points in 28 minutes in Johannesburg.

Photo Gallery

Captain Treacy, President of the Australian Amateur Billiards Council welcomes Walter Lindrum home after his first trip to England in 1930, Dolly as a child

Walter Lindrum preparing for an exhibition

Walter Lindrum with his father, brother, and nephew

Walter Lindrum with his Mother, and Niece Dolly

Walter Lindrum & his Niece Dolly at Home

Walter Lindrum & his niece Dolly Lindrum

Walter with Sir Robert Menzies & Pattie Menzies

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The Latest

Unveiling of Walter Lindrum's Eurythmic Painting

Neil Wilson, Chairman of the Victorian Racing Club, unveils the painting of legendary racehorse Eurythmic at the Chairman's Lounge at Flemington. Eurythmic (1916–1925) was famous for his surge of speed at the finish. Upon retirement at the age of six, he was Australia's greatest stake-winner, with total winnings of £36,891. The painting was donated to the VRC by Dolly Lindrum and comes from Walter's collection. The painting hangs next to both the records achieved by the horse and Walter Lindrum.

Dolly Lindrum Perpetual Trophy

Commemorating the launch of the Dolly Lindrum Perpetual Trophy for the Australian National Women’s Billiards Championship on July 18, 2024.

Congratulations to the 2024 winner, 16-year-old Lilly Meldrum, with Julie Watson the runner-up in a close contest. Lilly is pictured with Tammy Lindrum and the trophy.

A big thank you to LaTink for being the event's major sponsor and to Billiards Australia for donating the Century Break prize of $1000, which will be offered again for next year's championship.

Walter Lindrum - History's Finest Cueist

Images and Videos of Walter Lindrum

By Tammy Lindrum

A special page dedicated to Walter Lindrum OBE (1898–1960), featuring a stunning slider of our favourite photos of Walter and recommended videos. Be immersed with his compelling life story and mastery of the beautiful game of billiards.

Walter Lindrum, wizard of billiards, born on 29 August 1898

Walter Lindrum – The Greatest Billiards Player of All Time

By Tammy Lindrum

Walter Lindrum – Fifty-seven world records, with some still standing today. Considered to be one of Australia’s all-time greatest sportsmen, Walter Lindrum was in a league of his own on the billiards table. His talent for the sport was a product of both genetics and environment, and his rise to the top is nothing short of fascinating.

Portrait of Dolly Lindrum, niece of Walter Lindrum

A Tribute to the life of Dolly Lindrum

By Tammy Lindrum

Dolly Lindrum May 13, 1922 – January 10th, 2019. Walter Lindrum was a billiards genius, and perhaps his greatest fan, Irene May Ellis, a.k.a. Dolly Lindrum, kept his loving memory alive for her entire life. We lost Dolly on the 10th of January 2019, aged 96 years, which was one of the saddest days of my life.

Tammy Lindrum, Great-niece of Walter Lindrum, Founder of Lindrum Legends

By Tammy Lindrum

I was fortunate to be born into a family of champions, which gave me so much to appreciate about sport and everything that can be achieved with the right mindset. I am forever proud of the amount of money raised for charity by both Horace, my dad, and Walter, my great uncle, during their lives.

Ruby Roberts, the lady billiards champion - Travel Diary 1910-1911

Ruby Roberts’ Diary of Travels abroad 1910-1911

By Tammy Lindrum

We are grateful to Graeme and Mary Walters, who preserved and typed up Ruby Roberts’ travel diary, and gave us approval to publish her accounts. Now the world will know more about one of Australia’s most accomplished female billiards players.

Walter Lindrum and Don Bradman playing billiards

Walter Lindrum OBE and Sir Don Bradman

By Tammy Lindrum

Walter Lindrum OBE and Sir Donald Bradman are two iconic figures in Australian sports, each excelling in their respective fields. Both rose to stardom on their first visits to England, Lindrum with his record break of 3262 and 67 breaks over 1000 (more than any other player had achieved in a lifetime) in his 1929-1930 English Billiards season, and Bradman with his record innings of 334 and an astounding batting average of 139.14 in the 1930 Ashes cricket series.

Robby Foldvari, Triple World Billiards Champion (walterlindrum.org)

Walter Lindrum and I: A Unique Trip Down Memory Lane – by Robby Foldvari

By Robby Foldvari

Lindrum and Foldvari are the only two players from Australia who have won the World Professional Billiards Championship. They are linked forever with this accolade; however, their lives and careers are remarkably different.