DAREBIN HERITAGE
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Memories of Darebin
  • Children's Resources
  • Newspapers
  • Ask a Question
  • Publications
  • Links
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Sport & Leisure

Articles

  • Biographies
  • Buildings
  • Crimes and Criminals
  • Darebin at War
  • Events
  • Industry & Business
  • New articles
  • Oral Histories
  • Places
  • Sport & Leisure
    • Football
    • Cricket
    • Athletics
    • Bowls
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Music
    • Scouts & Guides
    • Theatre
    • Water Sports
    • Baseball
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Roller Skating
    • Motorbikes & Cycling
  • Transport
  • Wurundjeri

Sport & Leisure

  • Albert Ernst Victor Hartkopf

    Albert Hartkopf was one of the great all round sportsmen of his day. Born to German migrants in 1889,...
  • Alex (Alec) Gray

    Alex (Alec) Gray was one of Northcote’s most notable citizens during his lifetime. He was adept in many...
  • Alphington Football Club

    At a meeting of delegates on Wednesday 22nd March 1911 it was decided to establish a new Football Association...
  • Alphington Ladies Bowls Club

    The Alphington Ladies Bowls Club was founded in 1928 and has been Darebin’s most successful club, having won...
  • Alphington Scouts

  • Alphington Swimming Pool

    Alphington swimming pool – situated at the south end of Alphington Park by the Yarra River - was a popular...
  • Athletics at Edwardes Lake Park

    The focus of track and feld activity in Preston and Reservoir has long been Edwardes Lake Park. An athletic...
  • Belmont Hotel

    The first known references to the Belmont Hotel were in February 1857 when the Argus ran an articles calling...
  • Bertrand John Deacon

    Bert Deacon was born in Northcote in 1922 before moving to Preston in 1927. With his father a notable...
  • Captain Frederick Charles Standish

    Captain Standish was the judge at several of the early race meetings held at the Red House, a hotel located...
  • Chandler Family of Reservoir Football Club

    In the history of the Reservoir Football Club, one family name resonates like no other, that of the Chandler...
  • Charlie Stewart

    Charlie Stewart was a stalwart of Preston Football Club, as a player, coach and supporter. He played 94 games...
  • Croxton Park Case

    A race meeting on December 28, 1872 at the Croxton Park Racing Club was the source of a controversy that was...
  • Croxton Park Hotel

    The Croxton Park Hotel began life on 27 April 1844 when Robert Duff was granted a license for a hotel on...
  • Croxton Park Racing Club

    The Red House had shown enough promise as a sporting venue to prompt a syndicate of four...
  • Croxton Youth Club

    Croxton Youth Club was formed in the late 1950s by six young people who lived in the area. The club...
  • Darebin City Bowls Club

    The Darebin City Bowls Club is the result of an amalgamation between two clubs from the city of Darebin: the...
  • Darebin Women’s Sports Club

    The Darebin Women’s Sports Club has Australian football, soccer, cricket, eight ball and Gaelic...
  • Elfreda Marie Schwaebsch

    Born Elfreda Marie Schwaebsch in St Kilda in 1904, Freda was the first child of Carl August Adolph and his...
  • Ernest Charles (“Son”) Yeomans

    Ernest Charles Yeomans was always known as “Son” and it is quite probable that few who knew him...
  • Faircote Bowling Club

    A combination of the names of two neighbouring suburbs, Northcote and Fairfield, curiously the Faircote...
  • Fairfield Bowling Club

    The Fairfield Bowling Club started its life on the 21st of January 1913 as the Fairfield Bowling, Croquet and...
  • Fairfield Canoe Club

    The Fairfield Canoe Club was formed in 1919. Its first home was the Fairfield Boat Shed but friction with...
  • Fairfield Football Club

    A photograph of The Fairfield Football Club, Premiers of Victoria sub-District League taken in 1947.
  • Fairfield Park Boathouse

    Fairfield Boathouse was established in 1908 by John St Clair as a picnic, camping and refreshment room area....
  • Fairfield Swimming Pool

    The Fairfield Swimming Pool was constructed by the City of Heidelberg in 1925 at the height of the Yarra...
  • First Preston Scouts Football Club

    The First Preston Scouts Football Team were premiers in their league in 1930 & 1931. Back row 4th from...
  • Fitzroy Racecourse

    In 1891 W. Byrne and P. Callaghan purchased 30 acres of land on the west side of St. Georges Road to...
  • Football in Darebin

    Australian Rules Football was first played in Melbourne in 1858 and its popularity quickly spread throughout...
  • Frank Leslie Lugton

    Frank Leslie Lugton (1893-1916) was a promising young cricketer with the Northcote Cricket Club, a member of...
  • Frank Seymour

    While Frank Seymour (1907-1987) never made his mark in the VFL, that competition’s loss was Northcote...
  • Frank Thorn

    Frank Thorn (1912-1942) was one of four Victorian first-class cricketers who are known to have lost their...
  • Gary Cosier

    Gary Cosier, born in 1953, was an aggressive middle order batsman and useful medium pace bowler who debuted...
  • George Watson (c.1828-1906)

    George Watson was the starter for most of the race meetings at the Red House, the hotel and sporting venue in...
  • History of cricket in Darebin

    The earliest record of an organised cricket club in Northcote originates from 1874. There is evidence of an...
  • Ivanhoe Imperial Football Club

    A photograph of Ivanhoe Imperial Football Club, Runners-Up 1954. Back Row (l to r): A.Mahon (trainer),...
  • J. Woods

    J. Woods was a footballer for the Northcote Football Club during the 1930s. He was described as having a...
  • Jack Potter

    Coburg born Jack Potter was a versatile sportsman, representing Australia at both cricket and baseball. In...
  • Jika Cricket Association

    Most land titles in Melbourne’s northern suburbs still cite Jika Jika as the parish in which they are...
  • Jim (J.J.) Morris

    Jim (J.J.) Morris was on of the great sportsmen of Northcote’s early days. In particular he was a superb all...
  • John (Jack) Ryder

    Jack Ryder played most of his long and distinguished career for the Collingwood Cricket Club but, in the...
  • John Thomas Harry

    John Harry was born in Northcote in 1857, living his entire life in Westgarth, whilst working as a saddler in...
  • Johnny Chester

    Johnny Chester grew up and went to school in Preston (Tyler Street, Bell Primary and Preston Technical...
  • Josiah (Joseph) Goyder

    Josiah Goyder bought the Pilgrim Inn in High Street, Northcote in 1865 and renamed it the Red House, having...
  • Kingsbury Bowls Club

    The club was formed in 1978 under the guidance of the R.V.B.A. It was local councillor Jack Slate, a member...
  • Lake Tyers vs. Northcote Football matches 1944-1950

    On the Kings Birthday holiday, Monday 12 June 1944, Doug Nicholls led a team of NSW Aboriginal footballers...
  • Leonard Weir

    Leonard Weir, like Margaret Nisbett, was a Preston born singer who founded a career from their singing. At...
  • Malcolm Gray

    Malcolm Gray was born in Preston in May 1940, the son of Alex (Alec) Gray, a prominent city real estate agent...
  • Margaret Nisbett, MBE

    At 18 years old, Preston born Margaret Nisbett was selected to play the role of Gilda in the opera...
  • Marriott’s Boathouse

    James Marriott opened his boathouse at the end of Alphington Street, Alphington in 1891. It flourished...
  • Normie Rowe

    Norman John Rowe was born on the 1st of February 1947 to Albert (Albie) and Constance (Connie) Rowe. He grew...
  • Nortcote Park Football Club

    The Northcote Park Football Club was formed in 1952. The Club had been previously known as the Prince of...
  • North Alphington Cricket Club

  • Northcote Amateur Cycling Club

    Cycling had played an active role in Northcote’s sporting life well before the Northcote Amateur Cycling Club...
  • Northcote Amphitheatre

    The Northcote Amphitheatre in Fairfield Park began life in 1983 as a temporary scaffolding arena seating 500....
  • Northcote Baseball Club - The early years

    1907 Although not a member of either A or B Grade baseball Northcote did play a practice match against...
  • Northcote Bowling Club

    The idea of a bowling club in Northcote was first mooted in 1903, when a group of prominent local businessmen...
  • Northcote Choral Society

    The Northcote Choral Society formed in February 1930 with conductor, James G. Neilson, who remained the...
  • Northcote Cricket Club

    The Northcote Cricket Club was founded in the mid 1870s. The club was briefly known as the Northcote Star...
  • Northcote Football Club

    In the second half of the nineteenth century, Australian Football became the number one pastime in Melbourne,...
  • Northcote Swimming Baths

    Swimming has always been a popular activity in Northcote and in the early days much of this took place in...
  • Oliver Gilpin

    Oliver Gilpin was a well known chain store proprietor in the early 1900s. Experienced in the drapers...
  • Pam Kilburn

    Through the late 1950s and 1960s Pam Kilburn provided Preston with an international class hurdles champion....
  • Percy Ogden

    Northcote born and bred, Percy Ogden was one of the area’s first football stars. He joined Northcote...
  • Plant's Paddock

    Plant's Paddock was located on the east side of High Street Northcote at the base of Rucker's Hill. Owned...
  • Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Company

    Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Company was formed in the mid 1880s in Launceston by James Joseph Pollard and...
  • Preston Bowls Club

    A bowling club in Preston had first been mooted as early as 1890, when a committee was assembled to discuss...
  • Preston Cricket Club

    The Preston Cricket Club can trace its history directly to a 1901 meeting at the Preston Shire Hall. At that...
  • Preston Cycling Club

    Preston Professional Cycling Club It is unclear when the Preston Cycling Club began but it is likely to...
  • Preston Districts Football Club

    This club was formed in 1905 and was originally known as the Preston Presbyterian Football Club. The club...
  • Preston Football Club

    The Preston Football Club, now known as the Northern Bullants, started life in 1882. In its long history it...
  • Preston Juniors Football Club

  • Preston Ladies Cricket Club

    In the early 20th century All Saint’s Anglican Church fielded a cricket club that was considered to be...
  • Preston Municipal Band

  • Preston Skating Rink

    A roller skating rink opened on the corner of Plenty Road and Seymour Street, South Preston in 1888 much to...
  • Preston Soccer Club in World War One

    During the 1st World War large numbers of people volunteered to enlist in the armed forces to defend ‘King...
  • Preston Swimming Pool

    In 1927 Preston Council secured a subsidy of £1,000 to start work on excavating land in St Georges Rd to form...
  • Preston Symphony Orchestra

    In 1949 it was decided to establish a symphony orchestra in Preston. By July of that year 35 musicians had...
  • Red House Hotel

    The sporting traditions of Darebin owe something to Josiah Goyder, who purchased the Pilgrim Inn in 1865, had...
  • Reservoir Bowling Club

    The Reservoir Bowling Club was formed at a meeting at the Preston Town Hall on November 6th 1958. The site...
  • Reservoir Football CLub

    Reservoir Football Club first participated in local Melbourne football in 1923. The Club played in the...
  • Richard (Dick) Telford

    Dick Telford (b.1945) was educated at Northcote High School while establishing a reputation as an outstanding...
  • Rodney Malcolm Hogg

    Rodney Hogg was born in Richmond in 1951 and would go on to a controversial career that started at Northcote...
  • Ron Bowtell

    Ron Bowtell, a wicket-keeper and opening batsman, played 205 consecutive games in Northcote’s first XI...
  • Rose of Northcote Football Club

    In the late 1880s the first incarnation of a club called the ‘Rose of Northcote’ started playing...
  • Rose, Shamrock and Thistle Hotel [1854 - ]

    At the April 1854 session of the Annual Licensing Meeting for the District of Bourke, ex convict Charles...
  • Roy Cazaly

    Roy Cazaly was a highly successful football player, with a career stretching from 1911 to 1941.In 1909 he...
  • Rudder Grange Boathouse

    The Rudder Grange Boathouse was located on the Yarra River at the end of Alphington Street, Alphington. Built...
  • Sir Macpherson Robertson

    MacPherson Robertson’s legacy is felt all over Melbourne and his legendary philanthropy touched Darebin...
  • Stokes swimming hole - Yarra River

    Stokes swimming hole was located on the Yarra River near Yarraford Avenue, Alphington. Due to changes in the...
  • Studley Park Boathouse

  • Swimming at Edwardes Lake, Reservoir

    As the name suggests, swimming has long been a popular past time in Reservoir, although never in the area’s...
  • Sylvia Cooke

    It's 21st June, 1982 and Arthur and I are going to Strathallan to visit Miss Sylvie Cook, and we're taking an...
  • The Northcote Dramatic Society

    The Northcote Dramatic Society was formed in 1945, just after World War Two, by librarian and artistic patron...
  • The Sansonetti Family

    The Sansonetti family came to Australia from Raiano, Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo in Italy in 1959. The...
  • Thornbury Bowls Club

    The history of the Thornbury Bowls Club starts with Oliver Gilpin’s purchase of an acre of the...
  • Toni "Lolly-Legs" Lamond

    Born Patricia Lamond Lawman on 29 March 1932 in Sydney, Toni became a veteran cabaret singer and entertainer....
  • Walter Lee

    Walter Lee was one of the great early footballers in Melbourne. Walter played 17 consecutive years of VFL...
  • Walter S. Stott

    The mid to late 1880’s were a boom time for land speculators in Northcote, with large blocks being sold off...
  • West Preston Cricket Club

    The West Preston Cricket Club began in 1916 as the West Preston Methodist Church Cricket Club. It's initial...
  • West Preston Lakeside Football Club

    The West Preston Lakeside Roosters, also known as the Lakies, is the result of a merger between two of...
  • William (Bill) Lawry

    William (Bill) Morris Lawry was born in Thornbury on 11 February 1937, the youngest of three children by 14...
  • William “Bluey” Summers

    William “Bluey” Summers was only 160 cm tall and weighed just 65 kg, but was described by former...
  • Yarra River

    The first known sighting by early settlers of the Yarra River was by surveyor Charles Grimes in 1803. Grimes...
  • Site Map
  • FAQs
  • Privacy Statement
  • Copyright and Disclaimer
  • Contact Us
Darebin Libraries