Erskineville Oval, Sydney

Erskineville Oval
Location 149 Mitchell Road, Erskineville
Owner City of Sydney
Operator City of Sydney
Capacity 2000
Surface Grass
Construction
Broke ground 1885
Opened 1885
Renovated 1937, 2006
Tenants
Newtown Jets (NSWRL) (1913–1954)
Alexandria Rovers

Erskineville Oval is a rugby league ground in the Sydney suburb of Erskineville, New South Wales, Australia. The ground features a small grandstand of approximately 1−2000 capacity, with an encircling grassy hill. The ground was enclosed until 2004, when it was opened to the public as the City of Sydney took over control from the defunct City of South Sydney.

History

The land that is now Erskineville Oval was on part several land grants from 1794 but was undeveloped until 1882, when 22 acres bounded by Ashmore, Binning, Swanson and Copeland Streets and Mitchell Road was proclaimed as "Macdonaldtown Park", with the trustees appointed in 1885.[1][2] The name was changed to Erskineville Park when the municipality name changed in 1892.[3]

In 1937, part of the park was resumed for the Erskineville Housing Scheme and the sports oval was reconstructed on the remaining eastern section. In 2006 the City of Sydney commissioned a major upgrade to provide interim training facilities for the South Sydney Rabbitohs during the refurbishment of their headquarters at Redfern Oval.[3]

Ground Usage

The ground hosted the Newtown Jets home games in the Sydney Rugby League premiership from 1913 until 1954. The last ever first grade rugby league match to be played at the ground was on March 26 1954 when Newtown played against Canterbury-Bankstown. Newtown won the match 16-13. [4]

The ground is currently a home ground for Souths Juniors as well as The Alexandria Rovers who play in the Sydney Combined Competition, and until the upgrade of Redfern Oval was completed, the ground was used as a training venue for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. There are current plans to make some minor improvements to the ground (fixing the lighting, painting the stadium seats etc.).

References

  1. ↑ "NOTIFICATION OF RESUMPTION OF LAND UNDER 44 VICTORIA No. 16". New South Wales Government Gazette (422). New South Wales, Australia. 20 October 1882. p. 5571. Retrieved 16 July 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "Government Gazette Appointments and Employment". New South Wales Government Gazette (310). New South Wales, Australia. 31 July 1885. p. 4829. Retrieved 16 July 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. 1 2 "History of Erskineville Oval". City of Sydney. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  4. ↑ http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/venues/erskineville-oval/results.html

Coordinates: 33°54′7″S 151°11′27″E / 33.90194°S 151.19083°E / -33.90194; 151.19083

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