Melbourne Showgrounds

[newcs]

Were the Melbourne Showgrounds ever used for VFL football.
The main arena used to have harness racing (trots).
Looking at this footage, the middle of the track would have been about the right size for a football oval, it seems a bit too small for harness racing.

 

[millsy29gopies]

Was going to be the Olympic Stadium at one stage.

 

[newcs]

A bit of net surfing and I have found a lead.
http://footystats.freeservers.com/Special/night-trivia.html

the VFL versus the VFA on Show Night at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds in 1936 and several matches during the 1950 ANFC Carnival in Brisbane. These were followed by an Essendon v Richmond game in 1952 and a Fitzroy v Collingwood match in 1953, both at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

In regards to harness racing, the Showgrounds was only used when Moonee Valley not available due to day races races being held on the same day.

 

[Mr Ripper]

In regards to harness racing, the Showgrounds was only used when Moonee Valley not available due to day races races being held on the same day.

Post 1976. The showgrounds had the full time gig previous to this, aside from the fortnight when the show was on.

 

[CrazyJoeFevola]

<||> CARLTON in practice at the Showgrounds demolished ESSENDON, 17.6-108 to 6.5-41 …

I found this in the 'footystats diary' from 1992. Was pre season footy regularly played at the showgrounds in the 1990s?

 

[Silent Alarm]

Is it true the Melbourne Showgrounds are 'private property?'

I went for a walk through there a few months ago, or tried to, and some old prick basically told me to leave and thought I was up to no good. It's surely public domain isn't it? Gates were open.

Does anyone have any photos of it recently or previously? I remember seeing some classic grandstands but they were pulled down maybe four or five years ago. The new rectangular arena looks great too, would be a good basis for a small soccer ground.

 

[CrazyJoeFevola]

Silent Alarm there's a thread on the austadiums forum featuring what the old arena looked like before it was demolished. The capacity would've been surprisingly high.

I think it's crown land but operated by the agricultural society.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Is it true the Melbourne Showgrounds are 'private property?'

I went for a walk through there a few months ago, or tried to, and some old prick basically told me to leave and thought I was up to no good. It's surely public domain isn't it? Gates were open.

Does anyone have any photos of it recently or previously? I remember seeing some classic grandstands but they were pulled down maybe four or five years ago. The new rectangular arena looks great too, would be a good basis for a small soccer ground.

They are owned by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, so yep private

 

[bombersfan4000]

In the late 80s & early 90s pre docklands there was talk of building a 80k stadium there for Essendon to play out of.
Showgrounds stadium

They were huge plans to build one of Australia’s premier sporting stadiums at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

In the mid-1990s a proposal for a covered 80,000 seat stadium were unveiled.

The state-of-the-art stadium would host at least 27 AFL games a year plus 20 national soccer matches and 10 rugby league games, according to plans at the time.

The Essendon Football Club and National Soccer Federation were quick to support the plan.

A smaller stadium was of course built at Docklands instead.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifesty...t/news-story/a45f8d0b4902f1744b5ce9100af9b77c
there is a bit more info floating around