KGV Oval
Encyclopedia
The KGV Oval is the home headquarters of the Glenorchy
football and cricket clubs, as well as the Southern Football League
The ground is a former TFL
and now Tasmanian State League and also a Southern Football League
finals venue.
It is located in the heart of Glenorchy
less than 1 kilometre from the Glenorchy CBD
, 7 kilometres from Hobart City.
It is also the third largest capacity venue in Tasmanian football after North Hobart Oval
(18,000), and Aurora Stadium
(20,000).
(Glenorchy gained City status in 1964) to provide a professional standard Australian Rules venue for the Glenorchy District and was originally home to the former Glenorchy Rovers Football Club which had relocated from the nearby Eady Street Ground.
After a merger between Rovers and TFL club New Town after the 1956 season, the club was known as the Glenorchy Football Club
and it relocated to KGV from 1957 onwards.
It was named in remembrance of King George V
, former King of Australia
, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
, and the Commonwealth Realms.
He was a popular monarch in Australia, and there are several locations in Glenorchy named after him.
KGV Oval was redeveloped in 1982 when there was a considerable push from both the TANFL
and the Glenorchy City Council
to make KGV the home of TANFL
football away from a decaying North Hobart Oval
but the plan failed to materialise and was later shelved by the late 1980s.
Large gravel mounds were installed around the Elwick Road side of the ground to eventually be covered in grass as a bank for spectators and some terracing was installed at the KGV Avenue end (next to the Cresswell-Beakley Stand) with seating and a new scoreboard built on that side.
Just three weeks after the Glenorchy Football Club
celebrated their first premiership since 1999 by defeating bitter rivals Clarence in the SFL Premier League
grand final, in the early hours of 10 October 2007, a disastrous fire swept through and destroyed the 45-year old Cresswell-Beakley Stand.
The blaze caused $600,000 damage and was believed to have been caused by local youths setting fire to materials in the back corner of the stand, which spread to the curved wooden ceiling (which was unique in its design, intended to cover the roofing trusses to eliminate bird excretia from gathering on the seating) and ignited the seating below.
After many months of posturing on what to do with the remains of the stand it was eventually demolished in April 2008.
The new grandstand includes covered seating for 500 spectators, multi-purpose function and corporate rooms,new Glenorchy Football Club changerooms, public toilets and disabled access.
Its first match that it was officially opened for use was the Round 2, Tasmanian State League
match played between Glenorchy
and Hobart
on 11 April 2010.
would relocate their offices and biggest games from North Hobart Oval
to KGV Park as of the 2010 season.
During the 2010 Tasmanian State Election campaign the re-elected Bartlett Labor government announced $650,000 for television quality lights and a new electric scoreboard.
, Glenorchy 36 point winners in front of a record crowd of 8,480.
(18,000), and Aurora Stadium
(20,000).
There are two main grandstands at the venue, the new Cresswell-Beakley Stand at the KGV Avenue end was built in 2009, and the Anfield Street Stand on the broadcast wing was built in 1981.
Between these two stands are the Glenorchy Football Clubrooms which was built in 1968. The clubroom complex includes changerooms, offices, a social club, and the main kiosk.
On the broadcast wing near the river end is the Glenorchy Cricket Club clubrooms/changerooms and cricket nets.
Glenorchy Football Club
The Glenorchy District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:...
football and cricket clubs, as well as the Southern Football League
Southern Football League (Tasmania)
The Southern Football League is an Australian rules football league which is based in Tasmania, Australia.- History :The Southern Tasmanian Football League was founded in 1996 with the league's original clubs being those of the recently defunct Tasmanian Amateur Football League – Southern Division...
The ground is a former TFL
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
and now Tasmanian State League and also a Southern Football League
Southern Football League (Tasmania)
The Southern Football League is an Australian rules football league which is based in Tasmania, Australia.- History :The Southern Tasmanian Football League was founded in 1996 with the league's original clubs being those of the recently defunct Tasmanian Amateur Football League – Southern Division...
finals venue.
It is located in the heart of Glenorchy
Glenorchy, Tasmania
Glenorchy is a business district and suburb in the northern part of greater Hobart, capital of the state of Tasmania, Australia. The land was originally used for agriculture but is now a largely suburban, working-class area...
less than 1 kilometre from the Glenorchy CBD
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
, 7 kilometres from Hobart City.
It is also the third largest capacity venue in Tasmanian football after North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania, used for Australian rules football.-History:North Hobart Oval started its existence as Hobart Town's brickfields in 1844 before becoming a convict women's housing site, an immigration depot and an invalid persons' depot before closing...
(18,000), and Aurora Stadium
Aurora Stadium
York Park is a sports ground in the Inveresk and York Park Precinct, Launceston, Australia. Holding 20,000 people—more than any other stadium in Tasmania—York Park has been known as Aurora Stadium under a six-year naming rights agreement signed with Aurora Energy in 2004...
(20,000).
1950-2007
KGV Oval was opened in 1950 by the then Glenorchy CouncilCity of Glenorchy
The City of Glenorchy is a Local Government Area of Tasmania which covers several northern suburbs of Hobart including the suburb of Glenorchy by the same name. The city is managed by Glenorchy City Council. Current mayor is Stuart Slade.- History :...
(Glenorchy gained City status in 1964) to provide a professional standard Australian Rules venue for the Glenorchy District and was originally home to the former Glenorchy Rovers Football Club which had relocated from the nearby Eady Street Ground.
After a merger between Rovers and TFL club New Town after the 1956 season, the club was known as the Glenorchy Football Club
Glenorchy Football Club
The Glenorchy District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:...
and it relocated to KGV from 1957 onwards.
It was named in remembrance of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, former King of Australia
Monarchy in Australia
The Monarchy of Australia is a form of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign of Australia. The monarchy is a constitutional one modelled on the Westminster style of parliamentary government, incorporating features unique to the Constitution of Australia.The present monarch is...
, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
, and the Commonwealth Realms.
He was a popular monarch in Australia, and there are several locations in Glenorchy named after him.
KGV Oval was redeveloped in 1982 when there was a considerable push from both the TANFL
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
and the Glenorchy City Council
City of Glenorchy
The City of Glenorchy is a Local Government Area of Tasmania which covers several northern suburbs of Hobart including the suburb of Glenorchy by the same name. The city is managed by Glenorchy City Council. Current mayor is Stuart Slade.- History :...
to make KGV the home of TANFL
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
football away from a decaying North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania, used for Australian rules football.-History:North Hobart Oval started its existence as Hobart Town's brickfields in 1844 before becoming a convict women's housing site, an immigration depot and an invalid persons' depot before closing...
but the plan failed to materialise and was later shelved by the late 1980s.
Large gravel mounds were installed around the Elwick Road side of the ground to eventually be covered in grass as a bank for spectators and some terracing was installed at the KGV Avenue end (next to the Cresswell-Beakley Stand) with seating and a new scoreboard built on that side.
Cresswell-Beakley Stand Destroyed By Fire
Glenorchy Football Club
The Glenorchy District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:...
celebrated their first premiership since 1999 by defeating bitter rivals Clarence in the SFL Premier League
Southern Football League (Tasmania)
The Southern Football League is an Australian rules football league which is based in Tasmania, Australia.- History :The Southern Tasmanian Football League was founded in 1996 with the league's original clubs being those of the recently defunct Tasmanian Amateur Football League – Southern Division...
grand final, in the early hours of 10 October 2007, a disastrous fire swept through and destroyed the 45-year old Cresswell-Beakley Stand.
The blaze caused $600,000 damage and was believed to have been caused by local youths setting fire to materials in the back corner of the stand, which spread to the curved wooden ceiling (which was unique in its design, intended to cover the roofing trusses to eliminate bird excretia from gathering on the seating) and ignited the seating below.
After many months of posturing on what to do with the remains of the stand it was eventually demolished in April 2008.
Cresswell-Beakley stand rebuilt
Construction of the new Cresswell-Beakley Stand began in early 2009 and was finished in November that year.The new grandstand includes covered seating for 500 spectators, multi-purpose function and corporate rooms,new Glenorchy Football Club changerooms, public toilets and disabled access.
Its first match that it was officially opened for use was the Round 2, Tasmanian State League
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
match played between Glenorchy
Glenorchy Football Club
The Glenorchy District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:...
and Hobart
Hobart Football Club
Hobart Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Hobart, Tasmania. They play their home fixtures at the TCA Ground on the Queens Domain, in Hobart and from 2009, the club has been a member of the Tasmanian State League.- Club history :...
on 11 April 2010.
SFL moves to KGV and more redevelopments proposed
It was announced on 23 December 2009 that the Southern Football LeagueSouthern Football League (Tasmania)
The Southern Football League is an Australian rules football league which is based in Tasmania, Australia.- History :The Southern Tasmanian Football League was founded in 1996 with the league's original clubs being those of the recently defunct Tasmanian Amateur Football League – Southern Division...
would relocate their offices and biggest games from North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania, used for Australian rules football.-History:North Hobart Oval started its existence as Hobart Town's brickfields in 1844 before becoming a convict women's housing site, an immigration depot and an invalid persons' depot before closing...
to KGV Park as of the 2010 season.
During the 2010 Tasmanian State Election campaign the re-elected Bartlett Labor government announced $650,000 for television quality lights and a new electric scoreboard.
2011
In the later months of 2010 work began on the grounds new lights. The lights were first used on April the 2nd for the opening game of the 2011 TSL season2011 TSL season
The 2011 AFL Tasmania TSL premiership season was an Australian Rules Football competition staged across Tasmania, Australian over eighteen roster rounds and six finals series matches between 2 April and 24 September 2011....
, Glenorchy 36 point winners in front of a record crowd of 8,480.
Facilities
The ground has a large playing surface measuring 160m x 134m (East to West) and is also the third largest capacity venue in Tasmanian football after North Hobart OvalNorth Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania, used for Australian rules football.-History:North Hobart Oval started its existence as Hobart Town's brickfields in 1844 before becoming a convict women's housing site, an immigration depot and an invalid persons' depot before closing...
(18,000), and Aurora Stadium
Aurora Stadium
York Park is a sports ground in the Inveresk and York Park Precinct, Launceston, Australia. Holding 20,000 people—more than any other stadium in Tasmania—York Park has been known as Aurora Stadium under a six-year naming rights agreement signed with Aurora Energy in 2004...
(20,000).
There are two main grandstands at the venue, the new Cresswell-Beakley Stand at the KGV Avenue end was built in 2009, and the Anfield Street Stand on the broadcast wing was built in 1981.
Between these two stands are the Glenorchy Football Clubrooms which was built in 1968. The clubroom complex includes changerooms, offices, a social club, and the main kiosk.
On the broadcast wing near the river end is the Glenorchy Cricket Club clubrooms/changerooms and cricket nets.