Fawkner Park

About

Fawkner Park is a 41-hectare (101-acre) urban park and sports ground located in Melbourne's South Yarra and part of the City of Melbourne. It provides recreational areas for teams playing cricket, softball, soccer, Australian rules football, tennis, quadball and rugby. The park is located on the traditional lands of the Bunurong and is managed by the City of Melbourne. The park was added to the Victorian Heritage Register on 1 September 2016 in recognition of its historical, archaeological aesthetic significance.

Named in honour of John Pascoe Fawkner, a co-founder of Melbourne, the park was created in 1862.

It is trapezoidal in shape, gently sloping towards a flat area, and was originally used for over seven different activities at one time, in sections specified for the purpose. It was also commonly used for walks and promenading. The layout, designed by Nicholas Bickford, remains similar to that of the late 1870s, with pathways cutting through the park, edged with elm, oak and Moreton Bay figs.

Summer weekend cricket matches have an English 'village green' atmosphere, with spectators making use of the free on-site barbecues and picnic areas. During World War II, part of the park was used by the Defence Department, and softball facilities were incorporated, encouraged by the presence of American servicemen. After the war, the buildings were converted to a transit camp for migrants which closed in 1955.

Since the 1960s, the park was used extensively for a wide range of team sports as well as more passive recreational use.