Albert Ground, Sydney facts for kids

The Albert Ground was a special place where cricket games were played in Sydney, Australia. It was located in a suburb called Redfern. This famous cricket ground was used for about 13 years, from 1864 to 1877.

The Story of Albert Ground

A picture from 1876 showing a big cricket game. It was between teams from New South Wales and Victoria at the Albert Ground.

Cricket has been a popular sport in NSW for a very long time. People first played it in places like Hyde Park and The Domain. But these places were not ideal for big games. They were open areas where people and animals could walk onto the field. It was hard to put up fences to keep them out. It was also difficult to charge money for tickets, which was needed to help the sport grow.

Opening the Albert Ground

The Albert Ground opened its doors on October 29, 1864. It seemed to solve many of these problems. The ground was built in a wet, swampy part of Redfern. It was created as a way to make money from cricket matches.

Even though it was built in a swampy area, the Albert Ground had many good things about it. It was easy to get to, right in the middle of Sydney. It also had great facilities for both players and fans. There was a grandstand for spectators and a pavilion building around three sides of the field. Special trees were planted by English cricket players who visited in 1863-1864.

The Pitch and Players

The playing surface, called the pitch, was made of soft, matted couch grass. It was a slow pitch, which meant it was good for bowlers. The Albert Ground was home to the Albert Club, one of Sydney's strongest cricket teams. This club had three different teams of 11 players. Their players wore white caps, white pants, and blue shirts. One of their most famous players was a bowler nicknamed 'The Demon', whose real name was Fred Spofforth.

Why the Ground Closed

The Albert Ground was set up as a business to earn money. They charged fees for teams to use the ground. The NSW Cricket Association found it very expensive to play matches there. Because of the high costs, they often used the less suitable Domain ground when they could.

However, big games between different colonies became very important and popular. So, the NSWCA had to use the Albert Ground for these special matches. Five important "first-class" cricket games were played there between 1870 and 1877.

In the late 1870s, the company that owned the Albert Ground closed down. The ground was then shut forever. The NSWCA started using a different ground called the Garrison Ground. This ground was later renamed the Association Ground and then the famous Sydney Cricket Ground. Eventually, the Albert Ground was completely taken down.

Where is it Now?

Today, the area where the Albert Ground once stood is no longer a cricket field. It is located to the east of Redfern Oval. The space is now filled with houses, a community center called PCYC South Sydney, and some empty land.

Important Cricket Matches

Here are some of the important "first-class" cricket matches that were played at the Albert Ground: