Albert Ground, Sydney facts for kids

The Albert Ground was a special place for cricket in Sydney, Australia, many years ago. It was located in a suburb called Redfern and was used for cricket matches between 1864 and 1877.

History of the Albert Ground

This picture shows an important cricket match in 1876. It was between the New South Wales team and the Victoria team at the Albert Ground. These matches were called intercolonial cricket because they were played between different colonies (states).

Cricket has been played in NSW since 1803. At first, games were held in places like Hyde Park and The Domain. But these places weren't ideal. They were open areas where people and animals could walk onto the field. This made it hard to keep the playing area clear or to charge money for people to watch the games.

When the Albert Ground opened in Redfern on October 29, 1864, it seemed like these problems were solved. The ground was built as a way to make money. It was in a swampy part of Redfern at the time.

Despite being in a swampy area, the Albert Ground had big advantages over other cricket spots in Sydney. It was easy to get to and had good facilities for both players and fans. There was a grandstand (a big seating area) in one corner. A special building called a pavilion ran around three sides of the ground. English cricket players who visited in 1863-1864, led by George Parr, even planted a row of trees there.

The cricket pitch itself was made of a soft, spongy type of grass called couch grass. This made it a slow pitch, which was good for bowlers (the players who throw the ball). The Albert Ground was also the home of the Albert Club, one of Sydney's strongest cricket teams. This club had three teams of 11 players. Their players wore white caps, white pants, and blue shirts. One of their most famous players was a great bowler known as 'The Demon' Fred Spofforth.

However, the Albert Ground was set up as a business to earn money. This meant that groups like the NSW Cricket Association had to pay high fees to use it. The cost was so high that until the early 1870s, the NSWCA still tried to use The Domain whenever possible, even with its problems. But as matches between different colonies became more important and popular, the NSWCA had to use the Albert Ground for these big games. In total, five important "first-class" matches were played at the Albert Ground between 1870 and 1877.

In the late 1870s, the company that owned the Albert Ground closed down, and so did the ground itself. The NSWCA then started using the Garrison Ground at Moore Park. This ground was later renamed the Association Ground and then the famous Sydney Cricket Ground. Eventually, the Albert Ground was taken down.

Today, the area where the Albert Ground once stood is roughly bordered by Elizabeth, Phillip, Kettle, and Moorehead Streets in Redfern. Now, you'll find houses, a community center (PCYC South Sydney), and some empty, fenced-off land there.

Important Cricket Matches Played Here

Below is a list of the "first-class" cricket matches that took place at the Albert Ground. These were important games, usually between teams from different colonies or against touring international teams.