| Birchgrove Park | |
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 Birchgrove Park, in 2013 | |
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| Type | Urban park andsports ground |
| Location | The Terrace,Birchgrove,Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°50′59″S151°10′54″E / 33.8496°S 151.1817°E /-33.8496; 151.1817 |
| Created | 1881 (1881) |
| Operated by | Inner West Council |
| Status | Open all year |
| Website | www |
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| Surface | Grass |
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| Tenants | |
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Birchgrove Park is anurban park andsports ground located inBirchgrove,Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on the waterfront ofSydney Harbour.[1] It is also the location ofBirchgrove Oval, the headquarters of theSydney Cricket Club from 1897 to 1947 and a historicrugby league football ground which served as the original home of theBalmain Tigers club.[2]
The park was established in 1881 through subdivision of the estate of Lieutenant John Birch, acquired by Didier Numa Joubert. Sale of Joubert's allotments fell well short of expectations, and theBank of New South Wales foreclosed. TheNSW Government acquired thirty six allotments that led to the formation of the Birchgrove Recreation Ground; and the creation of the subsequent Birchgrove Park Trust.[3]
Regarded as the spiritual birthplace ofrugby league in Australia because it hosted the first professional matches in 1908, Birchgrove Oval hosted the official launch of the2008 NRL season, which celebrated the sport's centenary in Australia.[4]Australian rules football also has historical links to Birchgrove Park, with NSWFA matches played there from 1903 to 1926.[5]
During the1908 New Zealand Māori rugby league tour of Australia, aSydney Metropolitan team hosted a match against the tourists at Birchgrove Park. The Balmain rugby league club played Premiership matches at the ground from their first season in 1908 until 1942.[citation needed]
