St James Park, Hawthorn

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St James Park
St James Park 2026 4.jpg
St James Park, Hawthorn
Interactive map of St James Park
Location Hawthorn, Victoria
Coordinates 37°49′12″S145°01′17″E / 37.81993112004654°S 145.02128017693727°E / -37.81993112004654; 145.02128017693727
Public transit Melbourne tram logo.svg ■ St James Park/Burwood Rd
Operator City of Boroondara
Construction
OpenedFebruary 1861;164 years ago (February 1861)
Tenants
Swinburne University Football Club (VAFA)

St James Park (formerly known as West Hawthorn Reserve) is an Australian rules football and cricket venue located in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn. [1] The name also refers to the wider public park in which the main oval is located. [2]

The ground was formed in 1861 and was originally known as the Hawthorn Cricket Ground. It was the home ground of the Hawthorn Football Club for its inaugural season in 1902. [3]

As of 2026, St James Park is the home of the Swinburne University Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). [4] The club nicknames the ground "The Pig Pen" or "The Porktress". [5]

History

In 1858, the Road Board (under the Boroondara Road District) sought to secure certain grounds opposite the residence of James Frederick Palmer, the president of the Victorian Legislative Council. [6] The land was originally reserved by the Crown and known as West Hawthorn Reserve or Hawthorn Recreation Reserve. [6] [7] It was gazetted as a public reserve in February 1861. [7] Cricket was first played at the ground in the 1870s, while football was recorded for the first time in 1881. [8]

By 1900, the Hawthorn Cricket Ground was fenced and had six entry gates. [8] Victorian Junior Football Association (VJFA) club West Richmond used the ground during the 1900 season. [9]

In April 1902, the Hawthorn Football Club was formed and entered the Metropolitan Junior Football Association (MJFA), playing its home matches at the Hawthorn Cricket Ground. [10] After one season, Hawthorn moved to Richmond Racecourse because of conditions imposed by the Hawthorn Cricket Club. [3] [11]

Both the Diggers Football Club and the West Hawthorn Presbyterian Football Club were given permission to use the ground during the 1924 season. [12]

The Hawthorn War Memorial was opened at St James Park in 1929. [13]

The "St James Park" name originated from the St James Park Football Club, which played at the ground in 1887. [6] [14] It was not used as an official name until the 1970s. [15]

On 1 September 1982, St James Park was placed on the Victorian Heritage Register. [16]

St James Park has been utilised by Hawthorn West Primary School (formerly known as Hawthorn West State School) for sporting activities as early as the 1920s. [7] [12]

References

  1. ↑ "St James Park". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "St James Park sportsground". City of Boroondara. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 "History". Hawthorn Football Club. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  4. ↑ "Swinburne Razorbacks celebrate 30 years". VAFA. 7 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "ABOUT THE CLUB". Swinburne Razorbacks. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "St James Park". City of Boroondara. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "St James Park Master Plan". City of Boroondara. 10 September 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  8. 1 2 "St James Park, Hawthorn" (PDF). GML Heritage. December 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "WEST RICHMOND v MONTAGUE". The Herald. 2 June 1900. p. 4. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Richter, Armin (1998). "Formation And Origins Of Hawthorn FC". Early History of the Hawthorn Football Club 1873–1935. Archived from the original on 23 September 2006. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "HAWTHORN v BOROONDARA". The Herald. 16 May 1903. p. 4. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  12. 1 2 "SPORTS GROUND ALLOCATIONS". The Argus. 28 March 1924. p. 5. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "Governor's Stirring Speech". The Age. 11 March 1929. p. 10. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "Saint James Park Football Club / Saint James Football Club (Vic)". Footypedia. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  15. ↑ "Hawthorn's Parks, Gardens and 'Public' Property" (PDF). Hawthorn Historical Society. May 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  16. ↑ "St James Park". Victorian Heritage Database. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
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