 | |
| Former names | Park Street Oval |
|---|---|
| Address | 494 Park St |
| Location | Brunswick East, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 37°46′45″S144°58′17″E / 37.779173°S 144.971511°E |
| Owner | City of Merri-bek |
Park Street Reserve is a public park located in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick East. [1] It was formerly an Australian rules football and cricket ground, known as the Park Street Oval. [2] [3]
The Brunswick Football Club (BFC) was formed in 1865 and competed in the Victorian Junior Football Association (VJFA). [4] It joined the Victorian Football Association (VFA) for the 1897 season, continuing to play its home matches at Park Street Reserve. [5]
In early 1907, the BFC announced its intention to move to Brunswick Park, located 5.3 kilometres (3.3 mi) away in Victoria Street. [6] It was rumoured that Victorian Football League (VFL) club Carlton was considering moving from Princes Park to Park Street because of strained relations with the Carlton Oval Committee. [7] The Coburg Leader wrote that "it would be a godsend to Brunswick and the local council if the Carlton team were to play on the Park Street Reserve". [8] Carlton ultimately remained at Princes Park. [9]
Park Street hosted its final VFA match on 7 September 1907, which saw Brunswick defeat North Melbourne by 67 points. [10] After the BFC moved to Brunswick Park for the 1908 VFA season, some of the club's practice matches were still played at Park Street Reserve, including one against Carlton District in 1919. [11] [12] Other non-VFA matches were played at the ground until at least 1937. [13] [14] The ground also continued to host cricket matches. [15] [16]
As of 2025, Park Street Reserve has been significantly reduced in size and no longer includes an oval. [17]