The Australian National Bowls Championships and the Australian Open are organised by Bowls Australia. Bowls dates back to 1845 in Australia but it was not until 1910, during the 1910 Carnival of bowls that South Australia proposed the formation of the Australian Bowling Council (consisting of the six states) which duly formed the following year in 1911. The first National Singles Championships were held in 1913, with each state holding the Championships in turn. The Championships were also known as the Carnival at one stage.