Kensington Oval, Dunedin facts for kids
Kensington Oval (formerly the South Dunedin Recreation Ground)
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| Ground information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kensington, Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Establishment | 1860 (as South Dunedin Recreation Ground) |
| Domestic team information | |
| Otago (1864–1878) | |
The Kensington Oval is a well-known park and sports field in Dunedin, New Zealand. It's located in the area called Kensington. For a long time, it was known as the South Dunedin Recreation Ground. People sometimes call it The Oval, but this name is less common now. This is because there's another sports ground in Dunedin called the University Oval.
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About Kensington Oval
The Kensington Oval is officially part of Dunedin's Town Belt. The Town Belt is a green area that wraps around the city. This park is shaped a bit like a triangle. It covers about 9.25 hectares, which is like 22.8 acres.
Where is the Oval?
The Oval is surrounded by important roads. These include Princes Street and the northern part of Anderson's Bay Road. The Dunedin Southern Motorway also runs nearby. The name "Kensington Oval" was chosen on March 22, 1864. This was when they decided to make the main cricket pitch into a formal oval shape. The old name quickly stopped being used after that.
Boer War Memorial
At the northern corner of the Oval, you can find a special memorial. This monument remembers the Boer War. It was designed by a sculptor named Carlo Bergamini. The memorial was put in place in November 1906.
History of Sports at the Oval
The Kensington Oval has a long history of hosting sports. It was especially important for cricket in its early days.
Early Cricket Matches
The very first important cricket match played here was in February 1864. This game was between the Otago team and the Canterbury team. It was actually the first "first-class" cricket match ever played in New Zealand. First-class cricket is a high level of the sport.
The Otago team played eight more first-class matches at the Oval. Their last big game there was against Canterbury in February 1878.
Challenges and Changes
The playing field at the Oval wasn't always perfect. Sometimes, old tree roots stuck out of the ground. This made the pitch uneven and even dangerous for the batsmen. In 1879, the Otago Cricket Association asked the Dunedin City Council to make improvements.
However, the Council decided not to fix the ground. They also refused to let only cricket be played there. Because of this, the Otago Cricket Association looked for a new place to play. Around 1899, the fences that made the oval shape were taken down.
The Oval Today
Even though big representative matches are no longer played at Kensington Oval, it's still very busy. Many local clubs and teams use it for cricket games. It has two grass pitches and three artificial ones. There's also a pavilion building for players.
In the summer, the Oval is used for softball. In the winter, it becomes a field for football and rugby union. It remains a popular spot for community sports.
