University Oval, Melbourne

University Oval

Location	Parkville, Victoria
Coordinates	37°47′40″S144°57′42″E / 37.79436098286525°S 144.9616213049002°E / -37.79436098286525; 144.9616213049002
Owner	University of Melbourne
Capacity	1,000
Record attendance	5,000 (University vs South Melbourne, 8 August 1885) [1]
Opened	1853;172 years ago (1853)
Tenants
University Blacks (VAFA) University Blues (VAFA) University Mugars (VAFAW) University Cricket Club (VPC)

University Oval (also known as the University Cricket Ground, Melbourne University Oval or Main Oval) is an Australian rules football and cricket venue located in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville. ^{[2] [3]} The ground is located within the main campus of the University of Melbourne. ^{[4] [5]}

As of 2025, the ground is home to the Melbourne University Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) and the University of Melbourne Cricket Club in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition. ^{[6] [7]}

History

The University of Melbourne was established in 1853, with a cricket club formed in 1856 and a football club formed in 1859. ^[8] In 1885, the University Football Club joined the Victorian Football Association (VFA), playing its home matches at the ground. ^{[9] [10]} The club went into recess at the end of the 1888 season. ^{[11] [12]}

Between 1894 and 1896, the Carlton Football Club played its home matches at University Oval until moving permanently to Princes Park for the inaugural Victorian Football League (VFL) season in 1897. ^[13] The University Football Club briefly competed in the VFL from 1908 until the end of 1914, but instead played at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. ^{[14] [15]}

After dropping out of the VFL, the club joined the Victorian Junior Football League (VJFL) with two teams – University A (University Blues) and University B (University Blacks) – that both played at University Oval. ^[16] By 1921, both teams had entered the Metropolitan Amateur Football Association (MAFA), which was later renamed to the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), and continued playing home matches at the ground. ^[17]

University Oval was again used for state-level football in 2016 and 2017, when the Melbourne University Mugars competed in the VFL Women's (VFLW). ^{[18] [19]}

References

1. "University v South Melbourne". The VFA Project. 8 August 1885. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
2. "University Oval". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
3. "University Oval". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
4. "Sport Precinct Refurbishment". Melbourne University Sport. 27 August 2025. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
5. "University Oval (Seniors and Reserves)". University Blues Football Club. Archived from the original on 10 July 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
6. Hatzoglou, Max (17 April 2023). "VAFA Round 1: SKOB win reigning-premiers clash, Melbourne Uni spoil Lions' entrance, hot start for PEGS, De La Salle". CODE Sports. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
7. "Victorian Premier Cricket Finals". Play Cricket. 4 April 2025. Archived from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
8. Bourke, Eleanor (15 December 2022). "Truth, understanding and transformation". Persuit. University of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
9. "MATCHES TO COME". Leader. 11 July 1885. p. 19. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
10. "University Cricket Ground". The VFA Project. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
11. "1889". Demonwiki. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
12. "Fitzroy v. University: rivalry and respect that began 136 years ago but remains strong today". Fitzroy Football Club. 8 April 1921. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
13. "Pre VFL Venues". Blueseum. 26 September 2025. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
14. Cherny, Daniel (23 August 1914). "Remembering football's forgotten club: 100 years since University". The Age. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
15. Gigacz, Andrew (28 January 2024). "The demise of University in the VFL". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
16. "1919 Reserves". Blueseum. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
17. "METROPOLITAN AMATEUR ASSOCIATION". The Argus. 1 August 1921. p. 5. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
18. "2016 VFL Women's regular season". GameDay. VFL / VFLW. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
19. "VFLW season preview". North Melbourne Football Club. 4 May 2017. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.