Melbourne Cricket Ground
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The Melbourne Cricket Ground is a sports stadium situated in Melbourne, Australia. It holds host to a number of sports, including cricket, AFL and soccer. It has a capacity of 100,000, the largest ground in Australia. The ground was opened in 1854 and has held host to a number of events, including the 1956 Olympics, the 1992 Cricket World Cup Final, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and a number of AFL Grand Finals.
MCG – THE MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND – A CHRONOLOGY (1853 - 2004)
1853 • Permissive occupancy of the present site of the MCG in the ‘Police Paddock’ was granted to the Melbourne Cricket Club by Lt-Governor CJ La Trobe on 23rd September.
1854 • The land for the ground was cleared and leveled and the First Members Pavilion was erected at the MCG. The first cricket match on the current MCG was played between the members on 30th September.
1856 • The 1st first-class cricket match on the MCG is the inaugural Victoria vs. New South Wales match played March 26 and 27th.
1858 • The famous football match between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College was played on Richmond Paddock, just outside the MCG on August 7th.
1859 • The first football match on the MCG was a match between Melbourne Football Club and South Yarra played on July 12th.
1861 • RC Bagot, afterwards first secretary of the VRC who designed both Flemington and Caulfield racecourses, re-designed and drained the MCG.
• The first Trustees, chosen by the Club, were appointed by the Government: Hon. WC Haines, John Goodman, Thos. Hamilton (President of MCC) and Fred A Powlett.
• A celebration of Caledonian Games, including “football” was held on the ground from December 26-28.
1862 • HH Stephenson’s XI began a match against Victoria on New Year's Day, the first time an English team had played on Australian soil.
1866 • An Aboriginal team under TW Wills played against an MCC team on the MCG before 11,000 spectators on December 26th-27th. The Aboriginal team played on the MCG a further three times to 1869.
1867 • RW Wardill made the first century in an Inter-colonial match against NSW at the MCG, on 26th December.
• Royalty visited the ground for the first time: Prince Alfred the Duke of Edinburgh was received at the MCG in March.
1868 • On November 30th, Scotch College held its first sports meeting on the MCG. This was the first Public School Sports Meeting ever held in the colony.
1869 • In July, the first bicycle race in Victoria, in tandem with a race at Croxton Park, was held at the MCG.
1876 • The ‘reversible’ stand was built at the northern end of the ground.
1877 • Commencing on March 15th, the first ‘Test’ match between Australia and England was played at the MCG (The term ‘Test’ did not become common until 1894.) During the same match, Charles Bannerman scored the first century in Test cricket.
1878 • In March, the Moonlight Concerts run by Julius Herz were held on the ground for the first time.
• On June 29th, Waratahs from Sydney played Carlton at the MCG under Rugby rules. On July 1st, the two teams played under Victorian Rules at the same venue.
1879 • On January 4th FR Spofforth took the first hat-trick in a Test against England at the MCG.
• Night football was first played on the MCG under electric light on August 6th,
• Collingwood Rifles v East Melbourne Artillery. Melbourne played Carlton under lights on August 13th.
1881 • A new Members' Pavilion was constructed alongside the first MCC Pavilion. The Foundation Stone was laid by Princes Albert Victor and George of Wales on July 4th. The Pavilion was opened in time for the match between Victoria and Alfred Shaw’s English XI on December 16th.
• Sightboards first used on the MCG.
• Wickets and goal posts which previously ran east-west were changed to run north-south.
• A telephone was installed at the MCG.
1882 • A scoreboard, showing the batsman's name and how he was dismissed, was erected. (Reputed to be the first of its type in the world.)
1883 • Billy Bates becomes the first bowler to perform a hat–trick for England during the 2nd Test of the1882/3 tour in January 1883. This is the only hat-trick performed in a Test at the MCG by a member of the visiting team.
1884 • The reversible stand was burnt to the ground, and replaced by a stand known as The Grandstand. It survived until demolished for the construction of the Northern/Olympic Stand in 1954.
1885 • In October, a team from the USS Enterprise, played the first recorded baseball match at the MCG against a team chosen by MCC.
• Melbourne Football Club lose their ground in Yarra Park and a separate Melbourne Football Ground was established at the Friendly Societies Ground, where Olympic Park is situated today.
• Carlton Football Club play their first home matches on the MCG.
1886 • In November the first Austral Wheel Race was held at the MCG.
1887 • The first recorded British Football Association rules (soccer) match on the MCG played between Victoria and New South Wales on July 16 was a 2-2 draw.
1890 • In March 1890 the Melbourne Football Club affiliated into the Melbourne Cricket Club. Melbourne Football Club abandoned playing its matches at the separate ground and played its home matches at the MCG from 1890.
1893 • The first Australasian Athletic Championships were held on the MCG in October.
1897 • An extension (double-deck) was added to The Grandstand.
1900 • The Grandstand at the MCG was wholly lit by electric light.
1902 • Hugh Trumble, a MCC player, performed the hat-trick to conclude the match against England at the MCG on January 4th. In 1904, in his final Test and 1st class match, he repeated this feat, the only bowler to take two hat-tricks in Ashes Tests.
• Moving pictures were being shown at the Ground.
• The first year that the VFL Grand Final was held at the MCG.
1904 • The open wooden stand on the southern side of the ground was erected.
1906 • The New Stand (known from 1912 as The Grey Smith Stand) was erected.
1907 • Australia's first international Lacrosse match against Canada was played at the MCG before a crowd of 30,000.
1908 • The first Australian Rules Football Carnival was held at the MCG in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Sport .
• The Harrison Stand was built in the Outer Ground and named in HCA Harrison’s honour during the Football carnival.
• A second scoreboard was completed.
• On September 1st, an exhibition gridiron match was played during a visit by the American fleet.
1910 • First Australian Lacrosse Carnival was held on the MCG.
• South Africa played its first MCG Test match, December 31 to January 4.
1911 • With the closure of the East Melbourne Cricket Ground, University Football Club played its home matches at the MCG until the end of the 1914 VFL season.
1912 • In the Davis Cup challenge round held on the MCC’s Warehouseman's Ground, Australasia were represented by three MCC members: Norman Brookes, RW Heath and AW Dunlop.
• The Wardill Stand was built in the public section on the southern side of the Ground.
1914 • Rugby League (NSW v England) played on MCG for first time.
1917 • On February 24, in Yarra Park at the back of The Grandstand, the Minister for Defence, Senator Pearce unveiled a memorial to the Soldiers who had fallen in the Great War. The temporary memorial, believed to be the first in Melbourne, was in the shape of a broken column. It was designed by A Phipps Coles and was a gift of the Timber Merchants’ Association and other groups.
• The MCC Patriotic Carnival held over a period of 11 days, included the sale of “The Blackham Ball”, the ball souvenired by Australian wicket keeper JM Blackham at the end of the famous Ashes Test match at the Kennington Oval in 1882.
• On December 10th, a crowd estimated at 75,000 attended a pro-conscription meeting at which the Prime Minister, WM Hughes, was the main speaker.
1920 •On May 31, HRH The Prince of Wales visited the ground for a children’s display
1921 • Arthur Mailey took 9/121 in a Test against England at the MCG.
1923 • Australia defeated China 2-0 in a soccer match on the MCG.
1925 • Broadcasting rights for football and cricket were given to the ABC.
• The concrete stand was built on the western side of the ground.
1926 • Victoria made 1107 against N.S.W., a world first class record.
• TRH The Duke and Duchess of York (Later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) visited the MCG for a children’s display on April 26th.
1927 • WH Ponsford scored 437 for Victoria against Queensland, the highest score on the MCG.
1928 • Sir Leo Cussen laid the foundation stone of the new (3rd) Members' Pavilion on February 25th.
1931 • First Test Match against the West Indies at the MCG.
1934 • A Victorian Women's Centennial Sports Carnival was held at the MCG.
• HRH The Duke of Gloucester visited in October for a children’s display on the MCG as part of the Victorian Centenary Celebrations.
1935 • First Women's Cricket Test to be held at the MCG, Australia v England, January 18th-21st ends in a draw.
• A memorial service held at the Ground on February 1, following the death of King George V, an Honorary MCC Member since 1881. A week later, 3900 members of the armed services honoured the King in a dignified but colourful parade on the Ground.
1936 • Opening of the Southern Stand.
1937 • The Third Test from January 1st-7th draws a world record crowd of 35,534.
• The Southern Stand completed for the Fifth Test
1938 • First-class cricket match between DG Bradman’s XI and KE Rigg’s XI held to commemorate the Centenary of the MCC. Referred to in the Press as “Australia v The Rest” the match ran from December 9 to 13 and was a draw.
1940 • On New Year’s Day the Victoria v South Australia match drew a crowd of 30,837, a Sheffield Shield record.
1942 • US Army Air Forces personnel moved into the MCG and name their base “Camp Murphy”.
• From November until January 1943 the MCG housed a RAAF Technical Training Unit.
1943 • First Division of the US Marine Corps used the MCG as one of its Victorian bases.
• RAAF No.1 Personnel Depot was established at the MCG after the Marines vacate the MCG.
1945 • RAAF vacate MCG on October 27th.
1946 • League Football returned to the MCG when Melbourne played Hawthorn on August 17th.
1948 • India played its first MCG Test match.
• First drawn VFL Grand Final in match between Melbourne (10.9.69) and Essendon (7.27.69). Melbourne won the replay 13.11.89 to 7.8 50.
• Testimonial to Don Bradman on the MCG. Bradman scored a total of 19 first-class and nine Test centuries at the MCG.
1954 • Lindsay Hassett Testimonial Match on January 15, 16, 18 and 19.
• Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, visited the MCG, where an assembly of ex-servicemen and women's organisations took place on February 25th. The Duke was made a life member of the Club.
• On March 4, the Queen and Duke returned to the MCG for the Education Department Children’s Display. Admission was by ticket only and there were 17,000 participants. The total crowd of 92,438 was, at this time, the second highest ever for an event at the MCG. (Tickets were so highly sought after that 28,971 attended the rehearsal by the 17,000 children on February 26.) All proceeds went to children’s charities. For many of the people in attendance, these Royal events marked their only visit to the MCG.
1956 • The MCG was the main arena for the Olympic Games and 107,700 attended the Opening Ceremony on November 22.
• On November 23 up to 85001 attended the first day of the Athletics.
• 102,800 attended the second day of the Athletics on November 24.
• 103,800 attend the third day of the Olympic Athletics on November 26.
• Up to 95,423 people attended the fourth day of the Athletics on November 27
• 107,100 attended the fifth day of the Olympic Athletics Carnival on November 28.
• A crowd of 100,100 watched the sixth day of the Athletics on November 29.
• 101,000 attended on November 30, the seventh day of the Olympic Athletics carnival.
• December 1, the final day of the Athletics saw a crowd of 104,400 in attendance. A demonstration baseball match was played between an USA services team and an Australian, earlier that day.
• 10,805 tickets were sold for the semi-finals of the Olympic Hockey tournament on the MCG on December 3. India beat Germany 1-0 and Pakistan beat Great Britain 3-2
• The Bronze medal playoff for the Hockey was held on December 4th before 15617 (plus officials and athletes). Germany defeated Great Britain 3-1.
• 16,626 tickets were sold for the Gold medal final in the Hockey (with additional officials and athletes in attendance) on December 5. India defeated Pakistan 1-0.
• 21,079 paid to watch the Olympic soccer semi finals on December 6. The USSR defeated Bulgaria 2-1 and Yugoslavia defeated India 4-1.
• 21,236 tickets were sold for the Bronze medal match in the Olympic soccer. Held on December 7. Bulgaria defeated India 3-1. This was preceded by an Australian Rules football demonstration match between amateur players from the combined VFL/VFA and the VAFA.
• 104,700 attended the Olympic Soccer final and the Closing Ceremony of the XVI Olympic Games on December 8. The USSR defeated Yugoslavia 1-0.
1958 • On March 3rd HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother visited the ground for a children’s display.
1959 • The religious leader, Billy Graham, held a crusade setting an all-time record for attendance at the MCG of at least 130,000.
• HRH Princess Alexandra of Kent visited the ground for the VFL Preliminary Final match on 19th September. 1960
• 90,800 people attended the second day of the 5th Test of the Australia v. West Indies series.
• Sir Donald Bradman made the inaugural presentation of the Frank Worrell Trophy (Australia v West Indies) at the conclusion of the Fifth Test, 15th February.
1962 • To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first English cricket tour to Australia a recreation match was held during New Year Test match.
1964 • Pakistan played its first MCG Test match.
1965 • RM Cowper made the highest Test score in Australia (307) v England at the MCG.
• Richmond Football Club played its first home match at the MCG against St Kilda.
1967 • On March 3rd the foundation stone for the new Western Stand laid by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
• The “Bushfire Test” between “Australia (South Africa)” and “Australia (New Zealand)” was held at the ground from April 7-10. Arranged between the two Australian touring teams to raise money for Tasmanian Bushfire Relief Fund.
1968 • The Western Stand (from 1986 known as the Ponsford Stand) was completed.
• Australian Galahs play Ireland in an “International” hybrid football match on 11th March before a crowd of 28636.
1970 • On April 5, Fitzroy defeated Richmond in the first VFL match on a Sunday, playing before HM Queen Elizabeth II, and TRHs The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and The Princess Anne and a crowd of 38,617.
• The record VFL Grand Final crowd of 121,696 was established.
1971 • After the Third Test was abandoned, the First Official International One-Day Limited-Overs Cricket Match was played between Australia and England on the 5th January.
1973 • The Eucharistic Congress was held at the MCG with three crowd over 100,000 in seven days. A crowd estimated at 120,000 attend the finale on February 25.
• First Test match at the MCG against New Zealand.
1974 • The David Cassidy concert was held, first rock concert on the ground.
1977 • The Centenary Test match was held at the MCG from 12th to 17th March. Australia won by the exact same margin as the First Test match 100 years previously.
• Drawn VFL Grand final between Collingwood and North Melbourne. North Melbourne won the replay.
1978 • David Bowie concert was held.
1979 • Linda Ronstadt concert held on February 24 (crowd 28307).
• First Melbourne Military Tattoo held.
1982 • First diamond vision electronic scoreboard was unveiled.
• A new wicket area was laid, the first Test pitches to have an underground heating system.
• Centenary of the Ashes Test was played.
1983 • 125th anniversary of Australian Rules Football was celebrated at a conference of sporting historians held at the MCG.
1984 • A One-day International cricket match crowd record of 86,133, was established at the Australia v West Indies match on 22nd January.
• Four soccer matches between Australia, Manchester United, Glasgow Rangers, Nottingham Forest, Juventus and Iraklis played on the MCG as part of the World Series Soccer from May 27 to June 17.
1985 • The Australia v England limited overs match on February 17 as part of the World Championship of Cricket was played under lights: the first time since 1879 that a major sporting fixture had been played under lights at the MCG.
• North Melbourne Football Club played their first home game, under lights, against Collingwood at the MCG.
• A "double-header" night of soccer was played under the MCG lights on May 26. Vasco da Gama (Brazil) v Udinese (Italy) and Australia v Tottenham Hotspur (England).
1986 • Opening of The Australian Gallery of Sport at the MCG on November 22, the 30th Anniversary of the Opening Ceremony of the XVI Olympic Games.
• During his Australian visit HH Pope John Paul II held an Ecumenical Service at the ground on November 27 and also hosted the Polish Community celebration at the MCG on November 28.
1988 . Melbourne Cricket Club’s 150th celebration dinner for 2220 members and guests held in a marquee on the MCG on November 15.
• The final of the Shell Bicentennial Women's Cricket Cup was held on December 18th. 1989
• 91,960 people attended the Victoria v South Australia State-of-Origin football match on July 1.
1990 • First Test match at the MCG against Sri Lanka.
• Demolition of the Southern Stand following the VFL Grand Final (roof removed before the VFL finals).
1992 • Opening of the Great Southern Stand and final of the Cricket World Cup, March 25th 87,182 people watched Pakistan defeat England.
• Essendon Football Club played their first home game at the MCG.
• Kimberley played Tiwi in an All-Aboriginal Australian Rules match on September 13th.
• Upgrade of the Mitsubishi Scoreboard.
1993 • Paul McCartney concerts held on March 9 (crowd of 49816) and 10 (40578)
• U2 concerts held on November 12 (crowd of 44339) and 13 (35742).
• Madonna concerts held on November 26(crowd of 50933), 27(50974) and 29(45332).
1994 • Rugby League State of Origin match, Queensland v NSW, played at MCG, June 8th, before a crowd of 87,161.
• Collingwood Football Club played its first MCG home match.
• Second electronic scoreboard (Sony) installed in the Olympic Stand.
• In the Boxing Day Test match against England, Australian spin bowler Shane Warne took first Test hat trick on the MCG since Hugh Trumble in 1904.
1995 • The Rolling Stones’ ‘Voodoo Lounge’ concerts held on March 27(crowd of 50934) and 28(37500).
• Opening Ceremony of the World Police and Fire Games was held on February 26 before an estimated 65,000 people.
1996 • VCA Centenary and AFL Centenary celebrations.
• AFL Centenary Ball held on the Arena on April 16 for over 3000 guests.
• Footscray Football Club played four home matches on MCG.
• Michael Jackson concerts held on November 22 (43014) and 24(48689).
1997 • “3 Tenors” Concert, held on March 1 before a crowd of 44730.
• Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Union Test Match, Australia v New Zealand on July 26 set a new record Australian Rugby crowd of 90,119.
• World Cup Soccer qualifying match between Australia and Iran on November 29 before a crowd of 85,022.
1998 • Elton John and Billy Joel Concerts were held on March 20 (crowd of 43272) and 21 (32956).
• Mushroom Records 25th Anniversary Concert was held on November 14 before a crowd of 55447.
1999 • Manchester United exhibition match against Socceroos was played on July 15 in front of 71,215.
• Australia played Ireland in International Rules Football Test on October 8 before a crowd of 64,404.
• On November 17 Australia played a soccer friendly against Brazil in front of 79,795.
2000 • Hawthorn Football Club played its first MCG home match.
• Return of the Olympic Flame to the MCG July 30.
• Olympic Football (Soccer) at the MCG. 327,010 attend Twelve men's and women's matches played over seven days between September 13-26.
2001 • Australia played soccer friendly against France on November 11 before 53,178 followed on November 20 by a World Cup Soccer qualifying match between Australia and Uruguay before a crowd of 84,656
2002 • Grocon named as building contractor for the Melbourne Cricket Ground northern side redevelopment by the Victorian government on June 27.
• Demolition of the Ponsford Stand after the AFL Grand Final as construction begins on the MCG Northern side redevelopment.
• Opening Ceremony of the 2002 World Masters Games on October 6th with a crowd of approximately 50,000 spectators and competitors.
2003 • The MCG celebrates its 150th birthday on September 23 with a black-tie dinner in the MCC Long Room attended by a who’s who of Australian sport.
• The MCG Tapestry, seven metres wide and two metres high, is unveiled on September 23 as the Melbourne Cricket Club’s contribution to the ground milestone.
• Over 35,000 people attend MCG Open Week from September 28 to October 4, a chance to farewell the Members Pavilion and Australian Gallery of Sport & Olympic Museum before demolition later that month.
• Statues of Australia’s golden girl Betty Cuthbert (August 8) and Australia’s greatest ever cricketer, Sir Donald Bradman, (May 14) are the first two of 10 to be unveiled as part of the Tattersall's Parade of the Champion project.
• A total of 179,662 people attend the Boxing Day Test match to witness Australian captain Steve Waugh’s penultimate match, and his final act at the MCG. Ricky Ponting starred with an innings of 257 as 29,262 took advantage of free admission on the final day to say goodbye to their hero in a nine-wicket win over India.
2004 • The Victorian Bushrangers win their first Pura Cup title since 1990-91 with a comprehensive win over Queensland by 321 runs.
• The Olympic Flame returned to the MCG on June 5 at half-time of the Hawthorn- Essendon match, as part of the build-up to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games in Greece. Torchbearers inside the MCG on the day were Betty Cuthbert, Matt Welsh, Herb Elliott, and Brooke Hanson.
• Statues of Australia’s finest all-rounder Keith Miller (February 16), former Essendon champion Dick Reynolds (June 20) and Melbourne legend Ron Barassi (September 22) are unveiled as part of the Tattersall's Parade of the Champion project.
• On September 23, one year after the ground’s 150th birthday, Victorian Premier Steve Bracks announced that the new western grandstand would again be named after Australian opening batsman, Bill Ponsford. Relocated foundation stones from the old Ponsford Stand and the 1906 Grey Smith Stand were unveiled by Governor John Landy.
• Port Adelaide, watched on by 77,671 fans, win its first AFL Grand Final and in the process denies the Brisbane Lions the chance of a record-equaling fourth premiership.
• Three days after the AFL Grand Final, on September 28, the MCG turf is ripped up as works commence on installation of the athletics track in preparation for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
• Demolition commences on the final stage of the redevelopment project, the eastern end of the Olympic Stand, in October.
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