Queenborough Oval facts for kids
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"The Bay"
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| Location | Sandy Bay, Tasmania |
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| Owner | Hobart City Council |
| Operator | Hobart City Council |
| Capacity | 8,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 1916 |
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| Hutchins Football Club - Old Scholars Football Association South Hobart/Sandy Bay Cricket Club - TCA |
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Queenborough Oval is a well-known sports ground in Sandy Bay, Tasmania. It is the main home for the Hutchins Old Boys Football Club and the South Hobart/Sandy Bay Cricket Club. This oval was once a major venue for the Tasmanian Football League. It was the home ground for the Sandy Bay Football Club from 1945 until 1997.
After the Sandy Bay Football Club closed in 1997, the Hutchins Old Boys Football Club moved here in 1998. They had been at their old ground, Hutchins War Memorial Oval, for 43 years. Queenborough Oval is located about 5 kilometers south of the Hobart city center. You can find it at the corner of Nelson Road and Peel Street in Sandy Bay.
Contents
Queenborough Oval: A Historic Sports Ground
From Cemetery to Sports Field
Queenborough Oval has a very interesting past. It was originally part of a large cemetery called Queenborough Regional Cemetery. This cemetery opened in 1873. Two local businessmen bought the land to create a burial site for people in the Queenborough area.
By 1913, the cemetery company ran out of money. The whole area became overgrown and uncared for. In late 1915, the Hobart City Council bought the land. They started building sports grounds in 1916. The lower part became Lower Queenborough, and the current Queenborough Oval was built above it. The rest of the cemetery was used until 1934. It was later cleared in 1961 to build The Hutchins School. Today, some headstones from the old cemetery are still in a small garden across from the oval.
Early Days and Football Beginnings
Football started at Queenborough Oval in 1916. The Sandy Bay Rovers Football Club played there first. They were part of the Queenborough Football Association. After World War Two, the Sandy Bay Football Club was formed in 1945. They made Queenborough Oval their home in the Tasmanian Football League.
In 1965, the ground got some upgrades. A grandstand was built, which was later named the Palfreyman Stand. New clubrooms and terracing for spectators were also added. Queenborough Oval was famous for its long hedges. These hedges ran along the fences on the Nelson Road side and at the Peel Street end. Kids often played in "The Hedge End" during match days.
Challenges and Changes
By the late 1970s, Queenborough Oval faced some problems. It was becoming clear that the ground was too small for major TFL football. There wasn't enough space to expand or improve the facilities.
In 1980, local newspapers suggested Sandy Bay Football Club should move. They thought the club should go to North Hobart Oval or a larger area. This was because of the small playing field and not enough facilities for fans and players. Sandy Bay did move to North Hobart Oval in 1983. However, they played part-time at Queenborough for two more seasons. They returned permanently in 1986.
By the early 1990s, the ground was again criticized. Sandy Bay moved back and forth between North Hobart Oval and Queenborough Oval. The club eventually closed at the end of the 1997 TFL Statewide League season. The last TFL match at Queenborough Oval was on July 27, 1997. Sandy Bay lost to Glenorchy in front of 1,333 fans. It was a sad end to their 53 years at the ground.
Other Exciting Matches
Queenborough Oval also hosted other big sporting events. On May 25, 1968, the famous New Zealand All Blacks rugby team played Tasmania there. The All Blacks won with a score of 74–0. They scored 18 tries in that match!
A few weeks later, on June 8, 1968, an international soccer friendly took place. The Welsh club Cardiff City played against Tasmania. Cardiff City won the match 5–1. About 4,500 people came to watch this exciting game.
Queenborough Oval Today
Today, Queenborough Oval is still a busy sports venue. The Hutchins Old Boys Football Club uses it for the Old Scholars Football Association. They moved here in 1998. The ground has hosted many finals for this competition. It also hosts STJFL football games. The South Hobart/Sandy Bay Sharks also call Queenborough Oval home for the Tasmanian Cricket Association.
