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Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a cricket ground located in the inner-Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, Victoria.[2]

Key Information

The oval's location near the St Kilda Junction gave rise to its name is within the large Albert Park sporting precinct. The oval is the administrative headquarters of Cricket Victoria and hosts a large number of matches for the Victoria men's and women's teams.[2]

History and description

[edit]
The Junction Oval in 2005, taken prior to the redevelopment.

The St Kilda Cricket Ground was established on its present site in 1856. The first grandstand at the ground was purchased from the old Elsternwick racecourse and erected in 1892 at the southern end of the ground. A new grandstand was built in 1925–26 at a cost of £7000, designed by the architect E J Clark and built by H H Eilenberg. It was originally called the G P Newman Stand but has been renamed the Kevin Murray Stand after one of the Fitzroy Football Club's most famous footballers before being renamed as the Shane Warne stand in 2024.[3] A second brick stand designed by E J Clark to complement the Murray Stand was built by H H Eilenberg in 1933–34 at a cost of £7500. It was named the Don Blackie–Bert Ironmonger Stand in honour of the St Kilda Cricket Club and Test cricketers. Both grandstands still stand today and have been restored and are in use. A new £6000 manual scoreboard and kiosk at the northern end of the ground was built in 1956–57, the cricket club's centenary year.[4] The scoreboard is a landmark of the St Kilda Junction area. The remainder of the ground is grass embankments, other than the southern practice wicket area. Older structures were demolished during a rationalisation of the ground, after they were declared a fire hazard by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in 1988.[5] It is a very picturesque venue, with a top-quality turf playing area and a modern backdrop of tall buildings and parkland.[2] The current capacity of the ground is 7,000.[1]

Cricket great Shane Warne had a long association with the St Kilda Cricket Ground. He made his first class debut at the ground for Victoria in 1991, and played there on numerous occasions between 1989 and 2006 for his club side, St Kilda. In 2010, the club proposed renaming the ground the Shane Warne Oval, but the change never occurred.[6] In 2013, Warne spoke on behalf of the campaign to preserve the ground's suitability as a venue for first-class cricket.[7]

In December 2014, the Victorian government announced it would contribute $25 million to the Oval's redevelopment to allow it to become the administrative and training headquarters of Cricket Victoria.[1] By the end of 2015, Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia, in combination with the Melbourne Cricket Club, contributed the extra $15 million necessary to allow the redevelopment to proceed.[8] The redevelopment of the venue incorporated several new features such as a national centre for cricket training and programs, on-site accommodation for visiting teams and officials, medical and training facilities including an extensive outdoor turf training area and 10-lane indoor centre and administrative facilities and offices to house Cricket Victoria and be rented to external parties.[1][9][10] The redevelopment allowed the oval to become a boutique-size alternative venue for first-class cricket with a capacity for up to 7,000 spectators.[11]

The upgraded venue was unveiled ahead of the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and New South Wales on 3 March 2018.[12] The Melbourne Stars played the first men's Big Bash League match at the venue against the Perth Scorchers on 2 January 2022 as part of their BBL11 Campaign.[13]

Cricket

[edit]

Junction Oval was founded in tandem with the St Kilda Cricket Club, who have called the ground home since its opening in 1856.[4] The club plays in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition and has a rich history of success at the venue. Prior to the redevelopment in 2015–18, the venue had hosted 28 first-class cricket matches, including 25 Sheffield Shield games.[14] The lack of upgrades to the oval meant that by 2005 the venue failed to meet first-class standards, though in retaining its charm it was compared to the Basin Reserve in Wellington.[15]

The new grandstand constructed in the redevelopment, also the headquarters of Cricket Victoria.

The need for a first-class standard cricket ground in Victoria, in addition to the 100,000 seat capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), became increasingly apparent as the state team was forced to host Sheffield Shield finals in interstate locations.[16] Consequently, the redevelopment of the ground in the mid-2010s allowed Victoria and other teams to host matches at an appropriately-sized venue, relieving pressure on the MCG and enabling the oval to become capable of hosting Women's Big Bash League matches and other cricket competitions where necessary, as well as being the administrative headquarters of Cricket Victoria. The venue is referred to as the CitiPower Centre.[9] Prior to redevelopment, Victoria utilised the oval during the 2005–06 season when the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was being prepared for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. In the early 1990s it was used regularly because of the construction of the Great Southern Stand at the MCG. It also played host to the 2008/09 Sheffield Shield final, won by the Bushrangers, due to the unavailability of the MCG, because of the Bushfire relief concert.

The Junction Oval was converted into a full-time cricket venue as of 2015 as part of the redevelopment in 2015 until 2018.[17]

As a result of the redevelopment, the Victorian state team plays many home games in the domestic One-Day Cup and Sheffield Shield competitions at the oval. Success at the redeveloped ground came quickly for the Victorians, who won their sixth One-Day Cup and 32nd Sheffield Shield at the Junction Oval during the 2018–19 season.[18]

View of the Junction Oval for a One-Day match between Victoria and Queensland (2019)

Australian rules football

[edit]

While the redevelopment of Junction Oval ended the 145-year association of Australian rules football with the ground, the venue has a rich football history.[19]

On 28 May 1870, the first ever football match with historical senior premiership status was played at the oval between South Yarra and Albert Park, with Albert Park winning by three goals to one.

After entering senior competition, the St Kilda Football Club played its home matches there in 1874[4] and in 1875, when the club merged with University for one season to form a combined team, St Kilda cum University, due to a lack of players. As St Kilda moved to Alpaca Paddock in 1876 after returning as a standalone team, and a lack of players and financial problems meant that St Kilda went into recess during 1879, no further matches would be played there until St Kilda returned to senior competition in 1886.[20]

St Kilda subsequently played their home games at the venue until 1964 (except for in 1916–17, when the club was in recess due to World War I, and 1942–43, when the military occupied the ground during World War II). Before the 1944 season, the military vacated the Junction Oval, and because it was closer to South Melbourne's still-occupied home ground, the Lake Oval, than Princes Park was, the Swans started playing their home games at the venue: South Melbourne played 29 home matches for premiership points at the ground between 1944 and 1946. Other clubs who used the venue as a home ground included South Melbourne (1944–1946) and Fitzroy (1970–1984), while the first ever women's footy match was played there in 1921.[20]

St Kilda Football Club played 564 home matches for premiership points at the ground between 1897 and 1964. The Saints' final home game at the venue was on 22 August 1964, a 12-point win against Geelong, 12.18 (90) to 11.12 (78), in front of 37,100 fans. The club also played 16 away games at the venue: 13 against the Fitzroy and three against South Melbourne.[20]

The St Kilda Football Club left the venue after the 1964 season and moved to Moorabbin Oval, motivated by the desire to operate its own venue.[21][20][22][23]

In 1970, the Fitzroy Football Club relocated to the venue and stayed until the end of 1984.[22] Fitzroy played 135 home matches for premiership points at the ground between 1970 and 1984.[24] Fitzroy were evicted from the venue at the end of 1984 after a fifteen-year tenure, and moved their primary training and administrative base to Northcote Park and their home games to Victoria Park, sharing the venue with Collingwood Football Club.[25][26][27]

The final VFL game to be played at the Junction Oval was between St Kilda Football Club and Fitzroy Football Club in front of a crowd attendance of 15,156 on 1 September 1984 in Round 22 of 1984: Fitzroy defeated St Kilda by 57 points, 24.20 (164) to St Kilda 15.17 (107).[28][22]

The ground also hosted six VFL finals matches, including three Grand Finals (in 1898–1899 and 1944, all three being won by Fitzroy). Between 1870 and 1984, 845 senior matches in the recognised top level of Victorian football – 12 in the unaffiliated era, 99 in the VFA and 734 in the VFL/AFL – were played at the ground over 93 seasons of competition.

Junction Oval was also a regular venue for Victorian Football Association finals following the Second World War: it staged every top division VFA finals series, including Grand Finals, from 1945 until 1962, in 1966, and then again from 1970 until 1987.[29] The Sandringham Football Club played home games at the ground during the 1966 season.[30]

The Melbourne Football Club used the venue as a training ground and administrative base between 1985 and 2010, having previously trained at the Melbourne Cricket Ground,[31][32][33] and the annual 3RRR Community Cup football match was played there until 2007.

The last football tenant was the Victorian Amateur Football Association's Old Melburnians Football Club from 1992 to 2015, and they took on Old Caulfield Grammarians in the final Australian rules football match to be played at the Junction Oval on 22 July 2015.[19][17]

St Kilda Football Club Home VFL Match Record at the Junction Oval (St Kilda Cricket Ground)
Venue Played Won Lost Drawn Most Recent Home Match
Junction Oval 564
~ 		250
(44.33%) 		310
(54.96%) 		4
(0.71%) 		1964 Premiership Season Round 18
1897 to 1964
South Melbourne Football Club Home Match Record at the Junction Oval (St Kilda Cricket Ground)
Venue Played Won Lost Drawn Most Recent Home Match
Junction Oval 29
- 		20
(68.97%) 		9
(31.03) 		0
(0%) 		1946 Premiership Season Round 19
1944 to 1946
Fitzroy Football Club Home Match Record at the Junction Oval (St Kilda Cricket Ground)
Venue Played Won Lost Drawn Most Recent Home Match
Junction Oval 135
- 		75
(55.56%) 		59
(43.70%) 		1
(0.74%) 		1984 Premiership Season Round 22
1970 to 1984

Record attendances

[edit]

The record attendance at the ground is 46,973 on 20 May 1950 to watch St Kilda play Carlton in a VFL match, a bigger crowd than any of the three Grand Finals played at the venue.

The record attendance for a South Melbourne home game at the Junction Oval was 38,000 against Richmond in 1946.[34]

The record attendance for a Fitzroy home game was 27,202 versus Collingwood in the opening round of 1981.[34]

A VAFA match featuring Old Melburnians at the Junction Oval looking towards Fitzroy Street from the hill on the outer

Other sports

[edit]

On 3 March 1975, one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, "Smokin" Joe Frazier, defeated Jimmy Ellis via technical knockout in the 9th round of their scheduled 12 round fight at the Junction Oval, "to barge squarely back into contention for Muhammad Ali's world heavyweight title."[35] It was the second time Ellis had fought Frazier; Frazier had won their first fight. Other major events that have been held at the ground include the 1898/99 Victorian athletics titles, numerous bicycle meets and two inter-colonial lacrosse matches between Victoria and New South Wales.[4] A pre-season rugby league trial match between Western Suburbs and Manly Warringah was staged at the oval in 1978 notable for being the start of the infamous Fibros vs Silvertails rivalry shared between the two sides.[36]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Junction Oval

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from Grokipedia
Junction Oval, also known as the CitiPower Centre, is a historic multi-purpose sports ground located on Lakeside Drive in the inner-Melbourne suburb of , Australia. Primarily renowned as a venue with a grass pitch, it serves as the administrative headquarters and high-performance training base for Cricket Victoria, hosting matches for the Victorian state team in competitions such as the , , , and . The ground features dedicated ends named the City End and St Kilda End, and its current seating capacity is approximately 8,000 spectators following major renovations. Established in 1856 as the home ground of the St Kilda Cricket Club—formed the previous year—it holds significant heritage value as one of Melbourne's oldest venues and was originally named the St Kilda Cricket Ground. Throughout the , Junction Oval also became a key site for , serving as the home ground for / clubs including St Kilda from 1897 to 1964, South Melbourne from 1944 to 1946, and Fitzroy from 1970 to 1984; it hosted 734 VFL/AFL matches and six finals, with a record crowd of 46,973 attending a 1950 St Kilda versus Carlton game. The venue's oval layout, grandstands like the refurbished Blackie-Ironmonger Stand, and a small hill for additional viewing accommodated diverse crowds until football activities ceased in the mid-1980s, shifting focus back to . A $40 million redevelopment between 2015 and 2018 transformed the site into a state-of-the-art facility, including an ICC-compliant playing surface, new change rooms, 56 outdoor training wickets, medical and rehabilitation areas, and the Shane Warne Stand honoring the legendary cricketer with deep ties to the St Kilda Cricket Club. Today, beyond elite cricket, it offers community amenities such as an indoor cricket centre with 10 lanes and function spaces for up to 350 people, ensuring year-round use while preserving its role as a boutique alternative to larger Melbourne stadia like the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Description and Facilities

Location and Layout

Junction Oval is situated at Lakeside Drive in the suburb of , , with precise geographic coordinates of 37°51′21″S 144°58′48″E. The venue lies adjacent to Albert Park Lake and in close proximity to , forming part of the broader Albert Park recreational precinct, while public transport access is facilitated by nearby tram routes including lines 3, 5, 16, and 64 at St Kilda Junction, as well as train stations at Windsor and St Kilda. The ground encompasses an oval-shaped field measuring approximately 170 meters in length by 140 meters in width, featuring a natural grass surface suitable for multi-sport use. Originally developed as a recreational area in the mid-19th century, the site's position relative to Melbourne's city landmarks orients the oval with its longer axis running northwest to southeast, providing views toward the .

Capacity and Infrastructure

Following the comprehensive redevelopment between 2015 and 2018, Junction Oval has a current spectator capacity of 7,000, enabling it to host domestic cricket matches and other events effectively. The venue features several key heritage structures that blend historical significance with modern functionality. The Shane Warne Stand, a red-brick grandstand originally constructed in 1925 and heritage-listed, was renamed in October 2024 to honor the legendary cricketer's long association with the St Kilda Cricket Club and Victoria, where he began his first-class career. Complementing it is the Don Blackie–Bert Ironmonger Stand, built in 1933–34 to replace an earlier wooden structure and named after two notable St Kilda and Test cricketers; this stand includes refurbished change rooms beneath its timber-roofed seating. A prominent landmark is the 1956 manual scoreboard at the northern end, erected at a cost of £5,612 during preparations for the Melbourne Olympics and the St Kilda Cricket Club's centenary, which remains operational and adds to the ground's traditional charm. Infrastructure upgrades from the redevelopment have enhanced the venue's capabilities for year-round use. The playing surface was expanded and resurfaced to meet standards, supporting high-quality matches. Player facilities now include state-of-the-art change rooms, a medical and rehabilitation center, a gym including the community-accessible Victoria Health Club which opened in November 2024, and an indoor aquatic center for training and recovery. The integration of Cricket Victoria's headquarters within the CitiPower Centre provides administrative offices for the organization, along with the and Renegades teams. Media and corporate amenities are supported through function spaces accommodating up to 220 seated guests. In 2025, four new floodlighting towers were approved to enable day-night fixtures, with construction scheduled to commence in December 2025 and complete by August 2026; initial delays affected scheduling for early international events. Accessibility features prioritize convenience for visitors. is recommended, with trams on route 16 accessible at the / Fitzroy Street stop, a 3-minute walk from the venue; limited on-street parking is available nearby, with designated spots for disabled access. Food and beverage options include kiosks and bars during events, offering standard stadium fare such as snacks and drinks to spectators.

History

Establishment and Early Use

Junction Oval, originally designated as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, was established in 1856 as a public recreation reserve in the suburb of St Kilda, providing an open space for local leisure activities. The site, located in and bounded by Queens Road, Fitzroy Street, and a nearby , became the dedicated home of the St Kilda Cricket Club shortly after its formation in 1855, with the club boasting 158 foundation members at the time. This founding reflected the growing demand for organized recreational facilities in the rapidly developing area during the mid-19th century. From its inception, the ground hosted local matches and various community events, serving as a central social and sporting gathering point for St Kilda residents. The St Kilda Cricket Club played its first match there on October 25, 1856, against Melbourne University, initiating a of competitive play at the venue. By the , Junction Oval had evolved into a more structured sports facility, supporting formalized fixtures for the club and marking its shift from informal recreation to organized athletics; the club has maintained this enduring association ever since. In 1897, the earthen mounds were replaced by the first grandstand, further formalizing the venue. The venue's distinctive name, "Junction Oval," derived from its proximity to the intersection of and Brighton Road, commonly known as St Kilda Junction. Initial layout alterations in the late enhanced its functionality, including the construction of earthen spectator mounds in the using material excavated from nearby cable tram lines, which improved viewing for crowds during matches.

Redevelopments and Modernization

In the mid-20th century, Junction Oval underwent several updates to accommodate growing crowds for and . A notable addition was the installation of a new manual scoreboard in –57, constructed at a cost of £6,000, which enhanced spectator experience with better score visibility. Minor expansions around the same period, including perimeter improvements, were made to handle larger football attendances, reflecting the venue's dual-sport role at the time. The most significant transformation occurred between 2015 and 2018 through a $40 million redevelopment project known as the Victorian Cricket and Community Centre (VCCC), executed in phases to minimize disruption to ongoing activities. Funding was secured from multiple sources, including a $25 million contribution from the Victorian Government under the Andrews Labor administration, $15 million combined from Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia, and additional support from the Australian Football League (AFL) to address funding shortfalls. Phased construction began in early 2015 with site preparation and administrative building foundations, progressed to turf relaying and drainage upgrades in 2017, and culminated in the official opening on March 3, 2018, establishing Junction Oval as a dedicated first-class cricket facility. Key enhancements included the construction of new grandstands, such as the modern eastern grandstand serving as Cricket Victoria's headquarters, along with improved drainage systems using Santa Ana turf and advanced irrigation to ensure year-round playability. These upgrades addressed longstanding tenancy conflicts, where AFL demands for extended access had strained cricket operations, positioning Junction Oval as the primary venue for Victorian cricket. The redevelopment also consolidated training facilities, including practice wickets and medical centers, boosting overall usability. Following the 2018 completion, further enhancements solidified its role, including the 2024 renaming of the historic 1925 grandstand—previously the Kevin Murray Stand—to the Stand, honoring the legendary spinner's contributions to Victorian cricket, with the unveiling attended by Warne's family. Junction Oval has since integrated fully as Cricket Victoria's operational base, enabling initiatives like programs and the return of matches.

Cricket

Domestic Competitions

Junction Oval has served as the home ground for the St Kilda Cricket Club since its establishment in 1856, hosting the club's matches in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition throughout its history. The venue also accommodated occasional first-class games for the Victorian Bushrangers prior to 2018. Since the completion of its major redevelopment in 2018, Junction Oval has become the primary home ground for the Victoria men's team in the Sheffield Shield, marking a return to regular first-class cricket at the venue after nearly a decade. Similarly, the Victoria women's team has utilized the ground for Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) matches starting in the same year, enabling year-round cricket operations. The venue has hosted Big Bash League (BBL) matches for the and since the 2021/22 season, with the first men's BBL game occurring on 2 January 2022 between the and . As of the 2024-25 season, 18 BBL encounters have been played there, contributing to its role in T20 domestic cricket. The pitch at Junction Oval is known for providing true bounce and consistent carry, which often favors seam bowlers early in matches due to the grass surface and lively conditions. In first-class games, average first-innings scores have hovered around 200-250, reflecting a balanced contest between bat and ball, though totals can climb higher on flatter days.

International and Notable Matches

Junction Oval has primarily hosted women's international cricket matches, with a total of two Women's fixtures since the venue's early use for the sport. The ground staged its first international encounter during the 1957–58 Women's series, where faced in the second starting on 21 February 1958; scored 38 and 202/9d in their innings, while replied with 35 and 76/8, resulting in a drawn match over four days. This fixture marked a significant milestone as one of the earliest women's on Australian soil, drawing attention to the growing prominence of the format. The venue hosted one additional Women's Test involving Australia against New Zealand from 5 to 8 February 1972, which New Zealand won by 143 runs; New Zealand scored 89 and 335, while made 192. These Tests highlighted the ground's role in history, though no men's Test or ODI matches have been recorded there, limiting its international profile to the women's game in the early and beyond. Post-2018, Junction Oval has become a regular host for women's ODIs and T20Is, including matches during the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup warm-ups and bilateral series, such as versus in T20Is during the 2023-24 summer. The most recent women's ODI at the venue occurred on 14 January 2025, during the series, where defeated by 21 runs; posted 180 all out, with Annabel Sutherland top-scoring on 51, before restricting to 159, led by 's Tammy Beaumont's 54. This match underscored the ground's continued relevance for high-stakes women's limited-overs cricket. Notable performances include the highest ODI total of 240/8 by Women against Women in February 2010, featuring Rachael Haynes' 75 not out, and the best bowling figures of 4/35 by 's Sophie Ecclestone in a 2025 ODI against . Beyond standard internationals, Junction Oval has been the site of landmark events, including tributes to , who made his first-class debut there in 1991. Following Warne's death in 2022, players from Victoria and other teams paused for a minute's silence during a match on 8 March 2022, with plans announced to rename a in his honor. The Stand was officially unveiled on 25 October 2024 before a domestic One-Day fixture between Victoria and , attended by Warne's family and around 1,500 spectators, accompanied by an exhibition of his career artifacts in the venue's foyer. Attendance peaks for cricket events include a record 10,000 for Victoria's match against the ICC on 2 October 2005, an that drew significant crowds for its international flavor. As of November 2025, the venue continues to host WBBL matches, such as the vs on 16 November 2025.

Australian Rules Football

Club Usage

Junction Oval served as the primary home ground for the from its formation in 1873, with the club playing its first matches there well before the establishment of the (VFL) in 1897, when it became the official venue for their home games until 1964. During this period, St Kilda contested 564 VFL home matches at the ground, marking a foundational era for the club in the league. The ground also hosted VFL Grand Finals in 1898 (Fitzroy vs Essendon), 1899 (Fitzroy vs ), and 1944 (Fitzroy vs Richmond) due to venue availability constraints. Due to disruptions, including the military occupation of their usual Lake Oval venue, the South Melbourne Football Club temporarily relocated and played home games at Junction Oval from 1944 to 1946, sharing the space on alternate weeks with St Kilda in 1945 and 1946. Later, from 1970 to 1984, the adopted Junction Oval as its main home ground, hosting 135 VFL matches there before moving to a shared arrangement at Victoria Park. The final senior VFL match at Junction Oval occurred in 1984 with Fitzroy, after which the venue saw no further league-level until occasional use by reserves teams, such as the Western Bulldogs' VFL and women's sides in the early . This era ended in 2015 with the ground's into a dedicated facility, concluding over 140 years of . Pre-redevelopment, Junction Oval was adapted for Australian rules football through the installation of goal posts at each end, chalk line markings to define the playing field per VFL standards, and crowd management via a 1902 grandstand seating 2,500 with additional standing areas for up to 15,000 spectators, supplemented by perimeter fencing and other viewing banks.

Record Attendances

The all-time record attendance for an match at Junction Oval was 46,973, set during St Kilda's 10.14 (74) victory over Carlton by 19 points on 20 May 1950. This figure exceeded crowds at some games that season and highlighted the venue's popularity during St Kilda's long tenure as the home ground. Other notable high attendances occurred primarily in the 1940s and 1960s, reflecting peak interest in VFL matches before suburban relocations impacted crowds. The top five games by attendance are as follows:
RankDateTeamsScoreAttendance
120 May 1950St Kilda vs CarltonSt Kilda 10.14 (74) def Carlton 8.7 (55)46,973
224 August 1963St Kilda vs St Kilda 12.18 (90) def 9.17 (71)44,900
330 September 1944Fitzroy vs RichmondFitzroy 9.12 (66) def Richmond 7.9 (51)43,000
49 June 1962St Kilda vs CarltonCarlton 6.10 (46) def St Kilda 5.13 (43)38,300
522 April 1946 vs Carlton 16.13 (109) def Carlton 15.11 (101)38,000
Attendance trends at Junction Oval for showed strong pre-1960s figures, with St Kilda home games averaging 20,000 to 25,000 spectators in the 1940s and 1950s, supported by excellent access via trams along Fitzroy Street. Following St Kilda's relocation to in 1965, crowds declined sharply, dropping to averages of 10,000 to 15,000 during Fitzroy's tenancy from 1970 to 1984, as fans shifted to larger suburban venues and competition from television grew. Prior to modern redevelopments, the ground's capacity supported crowds up to around 50,000 with standing room on the banks and wings, enabling the high attendances of the mid-20th century. Post-2010s upgrades focused on cricket facilities reduced the effective AFL/VFL capacity to approximately 7,000 seated, limiting potential for large football crowds in recent VFLW and practice matches.

Other Sports and Events

Combat Sports and Boxing

Junction Oval has occasionally hosted combat sports events, with the most prominent being the "St Kilda Showdown" on March 2, 1975, a major boxing card that also featured wrestling matches. The headline attraction was a 12-round non-title heavyweight bout between former world champion Joe Frazier and Jimmy Ellis, marking their second professional encounter. Frazier, weighing 211 pounds, dominated the fight and secured a technical knockout victory at 0:59 of the ninth round after battering a weary and bleeding Ellis in the corner, with referee Bob Foster intervening following a standing eight count. This win improved Frazier's record to 31-2 and was part of his campaign to challenge Muhammad Ali for the undisputed heavyweight title. The event drew an estimated 15,000 paying spectators to the 52,000-capacity , reflecting a subdued crowd response marked by jeers toward Frazier's aggressive style and the one-sided nature of the main bout. To accommodate the combat format, a was erected in the center of the 's playing surface, surrounded by temporary seating arrangements that utilized the venue's existing grandstands where possible. The undercard included several matches, such as Guinea Hillier being knocked out by Big Jim West in the fourth round and appearances by Australian fighters like Barry Michael and Rocky Mattioli, who was interviewed ringside by commentator R.A. Casey. Wrestling was also represented, with Martin Beni defeating Locky Austin in a featured match, highlighted by Beni being declared the winner post-bout. This event underscored Junction Oval's versatility as a multi-sport venue in Melbourne's suburbs, bringing high-profile international to a location traditionally associated with and . The "St Kilda Showdown" marked one of the few instances of large-scale combat sports at the ground, contributing to its legacy of hosting diverse athletic spectacles and exposing local audiences to global heavyweight talent during a pivotal era in history.

Athletics and Miscellaneous Activities

Junction Oval has a history of hosting athletics meets dating back to the late , serving as a venue for events organized by the Victorian Amateur Athletics Association. The venue featured prominently in the 1898-1899 Victorian athletic titles, where athletes competed in standard disciplines such as the and , drawing crowds to witness regional amateur excellence before the site's primary focus shifted to team sports. Beyond formal championships, the oval supported miscellaneous athletic activities in the early 20th century, including numerous bicycle races that capitalized on its oval layout for speed events. A notable 1896 bicycle race attracted large attendances, highlighting the ground's versatility for endurance-based competitions during off-seasons from cricket and football. Lacrosse matches, another non-team contact sport, were held there pre-1960s, with two international fixtures between Victoria and New South Wales in 1925 and 1927 showcasing inter-colonial rivalry on the turf. School sports and occasional soccer trials also utilized the space in quieter periods, allowing local educational institutions and emerging clubs to conduct training and low-key competitions without conflicting with major fixtures. Following the $40 million completed in 2018, which modernized facilities for elite , Junction Oval incorporated community-oriented uses for non-sporting and miscellaneous activities. The Kevin Murray Pavilion, blending heritage elements with new amenities, supports local training sessions and public gatherings, fostering broader recreational access. Examples include community fitness programs, such as the Victoria Health Club public gym that opened in November 2024, and educational events, though these remain secondary to operations. In the , usage for and miscellaneous activities has been notably limited due to the venue's intensified focus on professional cricket since 2018, with the CitiPower Centre prioritizing state and domestic matches. While occasional community training persists, records of dedicated athletics meets or off-season events like or school sports are incomplete, reflecting the site's evolution into a cricket-centric hub.

References

  1. https://www.cricketvictoria.com.au/junction-oval/
  2. https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/junction-oval
  3. https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-grounds/junction-oval-melbourne-56439
  4. https://www.thecricketer.com/junction_oval.html
  5. https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/117260/download-report
  6. https://www.saints.com.au/news/251754/on-this-day-st-kilda-depart-junction-oval
  7. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/458728/era-ends-no-more-footy-at-junction-oval
  8. https://thelocalproject.com.au/galleries/the-citipower-centre-lighting-at-junction-oval-by-unios-australian-lights/
  9. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/junction-oval-new-home-victorian-cricket
  10. https://latitude.to/articles-by-country/au/australia/54789/junction-oval
  11. https://moovitapp.com/index/en-gb/public_transportation-Junction_Oval-Melbourne-site_165156707-2803
  12. https://pitch-report.com/junction-oval-pitch-report/
  13. https://www.sporteng.com.au/projects
  14. https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3256893/junction-oval-at-the-crossroads
  15. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/shane-warne-stand-unveiled-at-the-junction-oval-1456842
  16. https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/117260
  17. https://scoreboardpressure.com/2011/07/13/junction-oval-st-kilda-victoria/
  18. https://www.cricketvictoria.com.au/junctionlights/
  19. https://www.cricketvictoria.com.au/important-venue-information/
  20. https://www.melbournerenegades.com.au/news/4160777/matchday-info-weekend-of-cricket
  21. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-home-for-victorian-cricket-opens-at-junction-oval-0
  22. https://www.cricketvictoria.com.au/news/news/cricket-victoria-board-give-green-light-for-junction-oval-development/
  23. https://heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-victoria-reveals-end-to-5-million-funding-shortfall-issue-with-afl-mcc-over-junction-oval/news-story/0db25f1cf82f366b34f638139f2c48e5
  24. https://www.waypointgrp.com.au/content/2017/2/22/junction-oval-surface-returns-better-than-ever
  25. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/junction-oval-upgrade-plans-unveiled-928719
  26. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/desperate-bid-to-save-junction-oval-20131129-2yhp8.html
  27. https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/shane-warnes-st-kilda-cricket-club-and-its-rich-history-252425/
  28. https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3297321
  29. https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/big-bash-league-2021-22-1269637/melbourne-stars-vs-perth-scorchers-30th-match-1269668/full-scorecard
  30. https://advancecricket.com/stadium/junction-oval-bbl-records/3473
  31. https://www.cricmetric.com/venue.py?venue=Melbourne%2520%28JO%29
  32. https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-women-tour-of-australia-1957-58-61567/australia-women-vs-england-women-2nd-test-67422/full-scorecard
  33. https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/ground/aus-junction-oval-melbourne-417
  34. https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-women-tour-of-australia-1971-72-62240/australia-women-vs-new-zealand-women-only-test-67442/full-scorecard
  35. https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/ground/team-highest-innings-totals/aus-junction-oval-melbourne-417/women-s-one-day-internationals-9
  36. https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/rose-bowl-new-zealand-in-australia-2009-10-419690/australia-women-vs-new-zealand-women-5th-odi-419697/full-scorecard
  37. https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/women-s-ashes-2024-25-1426615/australia-women-vs-england-women-2nd-odi-1426624/full-scorecard
  38. https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-players-pay-tribute-to-shane-warne-at-his-club-ground-in-st-kilda/news-story/1ea97754f61649db927c04db0ed5841b
  39. https://www.cricketvictoria.com.au/news/news/wbbl11-fixtures-announced
  40. https://www.saints.com.au/news/712012/open-training-junction-oval
  41. https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1898.html
  42. https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1899.html
  43. https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1944.html
  44. https://afltables.com/afl/venues/junction_oval_gm.html
  45. https://www.afl.com.au/news/200009/end-of-an-era-no-more-footy-at-junction-oval
  46. https://afltables.com/afl/crowds/vn_junction_oval.html
  47. https://www.saints.com.au/news/455136/end-of-an-era-no-more-footy-at-junction-oval
  48. https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/from-the-archives-1975-crowd-jeers-as-frazier-wins-showdown-at-st-kilda-20220224-p59zg6.html
  49. https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Joe_Frazier_vs._Jimmy_Ellis_%282nd_meeting%29
  50. https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/03/archives/ellis-still-on-feet-stopped-by-frazier-frazier-catches-ellis-in-9th.html
  51. https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2014.89.7.4
  52. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-148570353
  53. https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/3770570
  54. https://co-opstudio.com.au/projects/kevin-murray-pavilion/
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