Today, as the MCC celebrates its 184th birthday, we’re celebrating our ground managers and the impact they’ve had on the history of the MCG.
1. The creation of the MCG back in 1853
Whilst there were a few iterations of the ground prior to 1853, the current location of the MCG was established in September 23, 1853 when occupancy of the site in the ‘Police Paddock’ was granted to the MCC. A Members’ Pavilion was erected later that year, and the first cricket match at the location played on September 30, 1854 between MCC members.
From here on, the MCC maintained occupancy of the site, and continues to manage the MCG on behalf of the people of Victoria.
2. The evolution of the MCG scoreboard
In 1901 a brick scoreboard replaced a flimsy open-air structure on the western side of the Ground, which had serviced the Ground since 1881. This new brick scoreboard included much of the information that would populate scoreboards throughout the twentieth century, and may be viewed as a model for other scoreboards in Australia and abroad. It was demolished in 1926.
On the northern side of the Ground a wooden scoreboard was erected in 1907 and was later relocated to the western side of the stadium. It remained here until 1982, when it was replaced by the first full-colour video scoreboard in Australia. The old scoreboard is now in use in Manuka Oval in Canberra.
3. Major sport at the ‘G
The MCC was instrumental in bringing major sporting events to the MCG and maintain the stadium as the traditional home of some of the nation’s favourite sporting events.
The MCG is home to some momentous occasions in world cricket, specifically:
- Hosting the very first Test match (between Australia and England in 1877, and restaged for the Centenary Test 100 years later in 1977)
- Seeing the first century in Test cricket (by Charles Bannerman)
- Hosting the world’s first One-Day International cricket match in 1971
It is also the traditional home of the VFL/ AFL Grand Final since 1902 – with only a handful of played elsewhere due to significant events such as World War II, the redevelopment of the Southern Stand and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
A crowd of 35,000 attended the 1902 Grand Final, where Collingwood 9.6 (60) defeated Essendon 3.9 (27).
The MCC has been instrumental in the building and upgrading of the stands of the MCG. From the very first Members’ Pavilion right up to the 2006 Northern Stand redevelopment. Some notable grandstand and transformations include:
- The Reversible Stand of 1877. This was the first permanent public grandstand of the MCG, with is unique design allowing patrons to face into the MCG arena for the cricket, and outside to Yarra Park to watch the football
- The construction of the Southern Stand which began in 1936 and opened in 1937. This stand was financed by the MCC for the use of the Victorian public. This covered, two-level stand was indicative of the MCC’s attitude that, as a private body maintaining its ground on Crown Land, it had the responsibility of providing first-class viewing for the general public at no cost to the public purse.
- The 2003/06 Northern Stand redevelopment, which included a new museum space (the Australian Sports Museum) ahead of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
5. The installation of the iconic light towers
It’s hard to imagine the MCG without its six iconic light towers. Erected in 1984, the MCG’s light towers were switched on for the first time in December that year, and used for an event in February 1985 – a day/ night limited overs cricket match between Australia and England. Today, the only part of the MCG’s current architecture that is older and still standing on-site is a small portion of the 1880s wrought iron boundary fence.
Happy 184th birthday MCC!
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