KGV Oval facts for kids
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 KGV Oval
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| Location | Glenorchy, Tasmania |
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| Coordinates | 42°49′53″S 147°16′37″E / 42.83139°S 147.27694°E |
| Owner | Glenorchy City Council |
| Operator | Glenorchy City Council |
| Capacity | 18,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 1950 |
| Tenants | |
| Glenorchy Football Club – Tasmanian State League, Southern Football league, Southern Tasmanian Junior Football League Glenorchy Cricket Club – TCA Southern Football League (HQ) |
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KGV Oval is a well-known sports ground in Glenorchy, Tasmania. It's the main home for the Glenorchy Football Club and the Glenorchy Cricket Club. It also serves as the headquarters for the Southern Football League.
This oval has hosted many important football games. It was once a key venue for the TFL and is now used for the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League finals.
KGV Oval is located very close to Glenorchy's main area. It's about 7 kilometres from Hobart city. With a capacity of 18,000 people, it's one of the biggest sports venues in Tasmania. Only North Hobart Oval and Aurora Stadium can hold more spectators.
It's important not to confuse KGV Oval with KGV Park. KGV Park is a separate soccer ground next door. It's the main home for soccer in Tasmania.
Contents
History of KGV Oval
Early Days and Naming (1950s)
KGV Oval first opened in 1950. The Glenorchy Council built it to create a top-quality Australian Rules football ground. It was first home to the Glenorchy Rovers Football Club. This club moved from a nearby ground called Eady Street.
In 1957, the Rovers club joined with another team, New Town. They became the Glenorchy Football Club. This new club then made KGV Oval its home.
The oval was named in honor of King George V. He was a popular king in Australia. He even visited the country before he became king. You can find several places in Glenorchy named after him.
Big Changes in the 1980s
KGV Oval was updated in 1982. There was a big effort to make it the main football ground in Tasmania. This plan aimed to move important games away from North Hobart Oval. However, this idea didn't happen.
During these updates, large dirt mounds were added. These were meant to become grassy banks for fans to sit on. Some terraced seating was also put in. A new scoreboard was built on one side of the ground.
The Cresswell-Beakley Stand Fire
On October 10, 2007, a terrible fire happened at KGV Oval. It destroyed the Cresswell-Beakley Stand, which was 45 years old. This happened just weeks after the Glenorchy Football Club won a big championship.
The fire caused about $600,000 worth of damage. The fire was believed to have started from materials inside the stand. It then spread to the unique curved wooden ceiling and the seats.
After much discussion, the damaged stand was taken down in April 2008.
A New Stand for KGV Oval
Construction of a new Cresswell-Beakley Stand began in early 2009. It was finished by November of that year. The new stand is much better. It has covered seating for 500 people.
It also includes modern rooms for events and businesses. There are new change rooms for the Glenorchy Football Club. Plus, it has public toilets and easy access for people with disabilities.
The first official match played with the new stand open was on April 11, 2010. It was a Tasmanian State League game between Glenorchy and Hobart.
SFL Moves and More Upgrades
On December 23, 2009, it was announced that the Southern Football League would move its offices to KGV Park. They also decided to play their biggest games there starting in 2010.
During the 2010 Tasmanian State Election, the government promised $650,000 for new lights. These lights would be good enough for television broadcasts. They also funded a new electric scoreboard.
Lights On in 2011
Work on the ground's new lights started in late 2010. The lights were first used on April 2, 2011. This was for the opening game of the 2011 TSL season. Glenorchy won the game. A record crowd of 8,480 people came to watch.
Facilities at KGV Oval
KGV Oval has a large playing field. It measures 160 meters long by 134 meters wide. It's the third biggest football venue in Tasmania by capacity.
There are two main grandstands at the oval. The newer Cresswell-Beakley Stand was built in 2009. The Anfield Street Stand was built in 1981. Between these two stands are the Glenorchy Football Clubrooms. These were built in 1968.
The clubrooms have change rooms, offices, and a social club. They also have the main food kiosk. Near the river end of the ground, you'll find the Glenorchy Cricket Club rooms. These include change rooms and cricket nets.
KGV Oval at Austadiums
Images for kids
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The destroyed original Cresswell-Beakley Stand, opened in 1962 at KGV
