Glenferrie Oval facts for kids
Glenferrie Oval in 2009
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| Former names | Hawthorn Football Ground Ausdoc Oval |
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| Location | 34 Linda Crescent, Hawthorn, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 37°49′14″S 145°1′58″E / 37.82056°S 145.03278°E |
| Owner | City of Boroondara |
| Operator | City of Boroondara |
| Capacity | 10,000 |
| Field size | 160 m × 105 m (525 ft × 344 ft) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 1903 |
| Tenants | |
| Hawthorn Football Club Administration & Training (1906–2006) VFL/AFL (1906–1973) |
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Glenferrie Oval is a famous Australian rules football ground in Hawthorn, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is well-known as the historic home of the Hawthorn Football Club. The club played their games here from 1903. They were a VFL/AFL club at this ground from 1925 to 1973.
Even after they stopped playing matches there, the Hawthorn Football Club used Glenferrie Oval. It was their main place for administration and training until 2006. The club then moved to a new facility at Waverley Park before the 2006 AFL season.
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History of Glenferrie Oval
Before settling at Glenferrie Oval, the Hawthorn Football Club moved around a lot. They played their home games at different grounds each season. In 1903, they played at John Wren's Richmond Racecourse. The next year, in 1904, they moved to the Richmond Cricket Ground.
In 1905, the Hawthorn Football Club joined with another club called Boroondara. They started playing at Boroondara's home, the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. Hawthorn also changed their team colors to black with a red sash, like Boroondara's. They kept the name Hawthorn FC.
Becoming the Hawks' Home
The Hawthorn council opened Glenferrie Oval in October 1905. It was first called the Hawthorn City Sports Ground. The council wanted a senior football club to use it as their main home. The Hawthorn FC and Hawthorn Rovers merged to form the Hawthorn City Football Club. They made Glenferrie Oval their new home ground. Later, the "City" part was dropped, and they became simply the Hawthorn Football Club.
From 1906 to 1973, the Hawks played all their home games at Glenferrie Oval. This ground was in the middle of the busy suburb of Hawthorn. Its location, very close to the Glenferrie train station, was important. It helped the club join the VFA in 1914 and then the VFL in 1925. These leagues wanted a team to represent the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Glenferrie Oval was seen as the best ground for this at the time.
Ground Improvements Over Time
When Hawthorn joined the VFA in 1914, new dressing sheds were built. These sheds were later moved and still exist today at Rathmines Road Reserve. In 1922, the ground was made wider by 30 yards and longer by 50 yards. This gave it the size it has today.
The 1922 improvements also brought the first main stand to Glenferrie Oval. This wooden stand was called the Kennon-Owen Stand. It was bought from the East Melbourne Cricket Ground when that ground closed. This stand was later replaced in 1966 by the Dr A S Ferguson Stand. This new brick stand could seat 1450 people.
A special grandstand, built in 1937, was designed in an art-deco style. It was later named the Michael Tuck stand, after a famous player. This stand held the team's changerooms and offices. Today, it is protected as an important historical building. In 1963, a large scoreboard was put up at the eastern end of the ground.
The ground was quite small compared to other VFL stadiums. But its close-up feel, with stands and the train line around it, created an amazing atmosphere. The Hawks played 584 matches at Glenferrie Oval. Their last game there was in August 1973. Hawthorn won against South Melbourne by 37 points. Almost 10,000 people watched that game.
The Hawthorn Football Club kept using Glenferrie Oval for training and their offices until 2006. They then moved these facilities to Waverley Park.
About the Ground Today
Glenferrie Oval is located between the Belgrave/Lilydale railway line and nearby streets. This tight space meant the ground could not easily get bigger. Fans sometimes called it the "sardine can" because of its small size.
The ground still has some important features:
- The heritage registered art deco Michael Tuck Stand, built in 1938. It is named after Hawthorn legend Michael Tuck.
- The Victorian Weightlifting Stadium.
The social club, built in 1963, was sold by the Hawthorn Football Club in 2008 and later taken down. The Ferguson Stand, built in the 1960s, was also demolished in 2023.
Glenferrie Oval Now
Today, Glenferrie Oval is open for everyone to use. People enjoy various fun activities and sports there. In March 2010, the playing field was re-covered with couch grass for public use.
The Hawthorn Football Club still visits the ground for special events. They often host Supporters' Days there when they win the AFL Premiership. For example, thousands of fans gathered at the oval in 2014 to celebrate a win.
The City of Boroondara is working to improve the area around the oval. The Ferguson Stand was removed in 2023. The council plans to create a new public open space where the stand once stood. They are also planning to fix up the Michael Tuck Stand. After these changes, the ground will again be used for senior Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) matches.
Record Crowd
- 36,767 people watched Hawthorn play Carlton in a VFL match on April 17, 1965.
See also
- Kennedy Community Centre
- Waverley Park
