East Fremantle Oval
Encyclopedia
East Fremantle Oval is an Australian rules football
ground located in East Fremantle, Western Australia
. The ground was opened in 1906, and underwent a large redevelopment in 1953. It current serves as the home ground of the East Fremantle Football Club
in the West Australian Football League
(WAFL). East Fremantle Oval has a capacity of around 20,000 people, but has hosted in excess of this number previously, with a record crowd of 21,317 for a match between East Fremantle and in 1979.
. A sum of £3,579 over three years was expended on improvements to the reserve, which including the establishment of a bowling green, bandstand, croquet lawn, tennis courts and cricket pitch. The football ground was completed in 1906, and opened by the Governor of Western Australia
, Sir Frederick Bedford
, on 2 June 1906. The Western Mail
reported: "The ground had been laid out in good taste, and with a view to the requirements of the public." The first WAFA game at the ground was held the following weekend on Saturday, 9 June 1906, with defeating by 18 points, 7.7 (49) to 4.7 (31).
The ground was also utilised by the East Fremantle Lacrosse Club as one of its home venues, and hosted a "Test match
" between two Fremantle and Perth sides in 1908.
In 1924, the ground hosted what was to be the final edition of the West Australian State Championship with defeating Goldfields Football League
side Boulder City 12.12 (84) to 8.13 (61). Pat Rodriguez
kicked seven goals for the Maroons.
Supported by the East Fremantle Town Council, the ground underwent extensive redevelopment from 1949 to 1953. The redeveloped ground was opened by William Wauhop, the Mayor of East Fremantle, on 25 April 1953, with the president, Pat Rodriguez
, and secretary, Billy Orr, of the WANFL in attendance. The first match on the new ground was played on the same date, with East Fremantle defeating by two points.
The ground had a reputation, particularly before the construction of the public stand in 1971, as one of the windiest grounds in the competition. The West Australian
said after the first game in 1953: "Visiting teams are certain to be worried by the wind factor at East Fremantle Oval, which is comparatively high and unsheltered from sea breezes."
Pink Floyd
played a concert at the ground on 24 February 1988 as part of their A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour.
In 1995, the ground hosted the Fremantle Football Club
's first-ever game against another Australian Football League
club – a practice match against on 11 February, with the Dockers winning 14.11 (95) to 6.9 (45) in front of a crowd of 15,921 people. The ground also hosted a match in the 1995 Ansett Cup
, with defeating Fremantle 19.7 (121) to 13.8 (86) with a crowd of 10,028 people. Stewart Loewe
kicked nine goals.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
ground located in East Fremantle, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The ground was opened in 1906, and underwent a large redevelopment in 1953. It current serves as the home ground of the East Fremantle Football Club
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WAFL). East Fremantle Oval has a capacity of around 20,000 people, but has hosted in excess of this number previously, with a record crowd of 21,317 for a match between East Fremantle and in 1979.
History
In 1903, the East Fremantle Municipal Council received two grants of land, totalling 15 acres, for the establishment of a recreation reserve near the Canning RoadCanning Highway
Canning Highway is a mostly 4 lane single carriageway major arterial road in Perth, Western Australia. The speed limit is 60 km/h. It is located south of the Swan River and links Perth with Fremantle, running between The Causeway in Victoria Park and Queen Victoria Street in...
. A sum of £3,579 over three years was expended on improvements to the reserve, which including the establishment of a bowling green, bandstand, croquet lawn, tennis courts and cricket pitch. The football ground was completed in 1906, and opened by the Governor of Western Australia
Governor of Western Australia
The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
, Sir Frederick Bedford
Frederick Bedford
Admiral Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford GCB, GCVO was Governor of Western Austria from 24 March 1903 to 22 April 1909.-Naval career:Bedford joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14, and later served in the Crimean War....
, on 2 June 1906. The Western Mail
Western Mail (Western Australia)
The Western Mail, or Western Mail, was the name of two weekly newspapers published in Perth, Western Australia.-West Australian newspapers:...
reported: "The ground had been laid out in good taste, and with a view to the requirements of the public." The first WAFA game at the ground was held the following weekend on Saturday, 9 June 1906, with defeating by 18 points, 7.7 (49) to 4.7 (31).
The ground was also utilised by the East Fremantle Lacrosse Club as one of its home venues, and hosted a "Test match
Test match
Test match in some sports refers to a sporting contest between national representative teams and may refer to:* Test cricket* Test match * Test match * Test match...
" between two Fremantle and Perth sides in 1908.
In 1924, the ground hosted what was to be the final edition of the West Australian State Championship with defeating Goldfields Football League
Goldfields Football League
The Goldfields Football League is a regional Australian football league based in the Kalgoorlie region, Western Australia. Originally founded in 1896 as Hannans District Football Association, the league enjoyed a seat and full voting rights on the Australian National Football Council until 1919...
side Boulder City 12.12 (84) to 8.13 (61). Pat Rodriguez
Pat Rodriguez
Richard Patrick Gerald "Pat" Rodriguez was an Australian rules footballer and administrator.-Playing career:...
kicked seven goals for the Maroons.
Supported by the East Fremantle Town Council, the ground underwent extensive redevelopment from 1949 to 1953. The redeveloped ground was opened by William Wauhop, the Mayor of East Fremantle, on 25 April 1953, with the president, Pat Rodriguez
Pat Rodriguez
Richard Patrick Gerald "Pat" Rodriguez was an Australian rules footballer and administrator.-Playing career:...
, and secretary, Billy Orr, of the WANFL in attendance. The first match on the new ground was played on the same date, with East Fremantle defeating by two points.
The ground had a reputation, particularly before the construction of the public stand in 1971, as one of the windiest grounds in the competition. The West Australian
The West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
said after the first game in 1953: "Visiting teams are certain to be worried by the wind factor at East Fremantle Oval, which is comparatively high and unsheltered from sea breezes."
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
played a concert at the ground on 24 February 1988 as part of their A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour.
In 1995, the ground hosted the Fremantle Football Club
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
's first-ever game against another Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
club – a practice match against on 11 February, with the Dockers winning 14.11 (95) to 6.9 (45) in front of a crowd of 15,921 people. The ground also hosted a match in the 1995 Ansett Cup
1995 Ansett Australia Cup
The 1995 AFL Ansett Australia Cup was the Australian Football League Pre-season Cup competition played in its entirety before the Australian Football League's 1995 Premiership Season began. It culminated the Final in March 1995....
, with defeating Fremantle 19.7 (121) to 13.8 (86) with a crowd of 10,028 people. Stewart Loewe
Stewart Loewe
Stewart Loewe is a former Australian rules football champion of the St Kilda Football Club.Nicknamed "Buckets" for his big hands and the way he was able to mark the ball with ease, Loewe debuted in 1986 for the St Kilda Football Club after being recruited from Mount Eliza...
kicked nine goals.
External links
Further reading
- (1996) East Fremantle Oval feasibility study / Town of East Fremantle, East Fremantle Sharks. East Fremantle, W.A.: The Town,.