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| The Jack Dyer Stand, Punt Rd Oval - Image Courtesy Graeme Butler, 2022 |
Heritage Network - Victoria has recently received confirmation that the state's peak heritage body, Heritage Victoria, will formally hear our application to have the Jack Dyer Stand and Punt Road Oval added to the State's Heritage Register.
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If
Heritage Victoria finds in favour of our submission that the stand is of state-level
heritage significance, this will add a new layer of approvals required for any
redevelopment of the ground.
The hurdles that would then need to be passed in order to be allowed to completely demolish a building of significance to the entire state are extremely high, such that the Club should then reconsider its plans.
Looking northwest towards the Jack Dyer Stand, with MCG in background c.2020
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| Architectural render of new proposed Jack Dyer Stand, where the best views and undercover areas would be reserved for corporate facilities. Source: Cox Architecture |
City of
Melbourne and the former Planning Minister, Richard Wynne, have all previously
approved the stand’s demolition within a $60m plan lodged by the Richmond
Football Club for the redevelopment of the oval. The State Government has commited $15.5m towards the proposed redevelopment, and the previous LNP Federal Government a similar amount.
A record 46,000 spectators pack Punt Road Oval to watch Richmond’s 15 point loss to Carlton in Round 9, 1946. Source: The Holy Boot's Football Emporium
WHAT DO WE WANT?
HNV is NOT seeking to stop the ground’s redevelopment for improved facilities at AFLW matches, nor prevent the Tigers developing state of the art training facilities.
HNV is not opposed to the redevelopment of Punt Rd Oval, only to the senseless demolition of significant heritage.
There is plenty of space at the ground to the east of the existing stand for a new training and administration building alongside refurbished seating in the Jack Dyer Stand. It would be the most picturesque ground in the AFLW competition.
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| Aerial view of Punt Rd Oval, with area available for a new stand/admin facility to the east of the Jack Dyer Stand identified in red. |
HNV calls on our State and Federal Governments to make any funding for the redevelopment of Punt Road Oval conditional upon the retention of the stand, and for the club to revise its existing plans to achieve this.
We call on all all political parties in the forthcoming state election, and in particular candidates for the seat of Richmond to commit to advocate for the stand's retention. We will be contacting all candidates directly, and publishing their responses accordingly.
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| Richmond v Collingwood 1927 VFL finals series, showing the additional bays built at the Jack Dyer stand’s western end and new stairways. Source: “Richmond FC - The Tigers”, Trevor Ruddell, Slattery Media Group, 2012, p.47 (image from Richmond FC Museum) |
As Guy Rundle recently wrote for Crikey, "to simply destroy [the Jack Dyer Stand], to destroy everything like it and imagine that football can retain its soul, is worse than hubris — it’s an error about how things matter and why we hold on to them."
To quote Mr Rundle again from a separate article on the topic, "the question of demolishing something like this shouldn’t even arise. Richmond Football Club should simply be respectful enough of their own history for it to be out of the question."
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| Rear Facade of the Jack Dyer Stand, as viewed from Yarra Park, 2022 - Image, Adam Ford |
HOW CAN I HELP?
If you have any questions, or you would like to support or be involved in the campaign, or to join the mailing list to help Save the Jack Dyer Stand,
CONTACT HERITAGE NETWORK-VICTORIA (click the image below for email link)
Some further images of the proposed redevelopment (Cox Architecture)
Note that the architects' claim they are respecting the heritage of the place, without even a solitary hint of red brick employed anywhere within the structure, shows just how much bulldust that statement is, and how challenged most contemporary architects are in discerning what heritage context even means.
WHY IS THE JACK DYER STAND OF MAJOR HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE?
The Jack Dyer Stand at Richmond's Punt Road Oval is of state level,
national, and world heritage significance as one of the earliest curvilinear
grandstands ever built in Victoria, most likely one of the earliest anywhere on
earth, the second-oldest remnant such structure in the state, and for being
highly typical of the Victorian (meaning by geography) and Edwardian (by style)
interpretations of the form.
The Jack Dyer Stand is further significant to the state of Victoria as;
· It is the largest and most architecturally significant remnant pre-WWII structure at any former VFL venue, and the largest and most architecturally significant grandstand ever built at a VFL venue outside of the MCG.
· It is the oldest and most architecturally significant grandstand structure within the Yarra Park Sporting precinct, a title it has held for over 60 years following the 1966 demolition of the 1906 Grey Smith Stand at the MCG.
· It is a major public work by the important early architectural firm of Thomas Watts and Sons, whose private works are represented extensively on the Victorian Heritage Register, and for its associations with two of the three most significant architects in the history of grandstand design in the state in Thomas Watts and Frank Stapley.
· It is the only unprotected and intact Edwardian grandstand in Melbourne, and by far the largest, most intact and architecturally elaborate of all the state’s remnant Edwardian grandstands.
· It contributes significantly to
view lines from within and towards Yarra Park - a place already found to be of
major significance to the state for its foundational status among the state’s
recreation reserves.
· It is representative of the built form associated with the major wave of construction within the originally gazetted parklands, as driven by the growth in popularity of the Victorian Football League in the early years of the 20th century, and is significant for being a highly typical example of that built form.
· The Jack Dyer Stand and Punt Road Oval are of historical and social significance to the state of Victoria for their associations with the development of the Richmond Cricket Club, the Victorian Football League and one of its most significant participant clubs - the Richmond Football Club, and for their consequent association with some of the most important historical figures in the development of the two most popular spectator sports of cricket and Australian rules football within the state.
· Both the stand and the wider
place – Punt Road Oval are more architecturally, historically and socially
significant to the state on the above bases than the Victorian Heritage Registered ovals and
grandstands at the former South Melbourne Cricket Ground and Victoria Park,
Abbotsford or any such VHR-registered stands in regional Victoria, and
therefore warrant the same level of protection.
Punt Rd Oval - A Pictorial History
Pre-European Settlement
Yarra Park
and the area occupied today by Punt Rd Oval were observed on European
settlement to be a popular summer camping and gathering place for the
Wurundjeri-willam people of the Woi wurrung language group, from whence the men
hunted kangaroo, possum, emu, bandicoot and brush turkey. These practices
likely dated back tens of thousands of years.
The area continued to be similarly utilised by indigenous
groups through the 1840s, including as a ngarrga (dance) and ceremonial ground.
1837
Yarra Park area
established as a formal Government Reserve.
Annotated detail from “Sketch plan and map showing Melbourne and detail of block of land adjacent to Government reserve”, C.J. La Trobe, 1940
1 - Mounted Police, 2 - Native Police, 3 - Langhorne’s Aboriginal Mission, 4 - Gov. La Trobe’s Cottage, 5 - Capt. Lonsdale’s (Police Magistrate’s) Cottage.
Source: State Library of NSW, Call No. D Ca 84/23
1850
Reservation
of lands for a “Yarra Park” first announced by Lieutenant-Governor La Trobe,
but this is not formally gazetted until 1873.
1855
The
Richmond Cricket Club successfully applies to play its home games in Yarra Park
on a site to the east of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The area was initially
known as the Richmond Cricket Ground.
1856
The first documented match at the Richmond Cricket Ground was played by the club on 27 December.
Detail from early 1870s ‘Panorama of Melbourne taken from Government House tower’, showing Richmond Cricket Ground with original wooden pavilion far left. Source: State Library of NSW, Call Number ON 4 Box 70 No
41a
1858
A meeting
critical to the codification of Australian Rules Football was held at the
Richmond Cricket Ground on Saturday 31 July when cricketer James ‘Jerry’
Bryant, stated he ‘would have a ball to practise on the Richmond cricket
ground, after which a meeting would be held to draw up rules’
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| Looking northwest from within Yarra Park near the Richmond Cricket Ground towards the “Richmond Paddock” where an early game of Australian rules football is underway. The MCG with its original wooden pavilion can be seen on left. Source: ‘Australiasian Sketcher’, July 27, 1866, State Library of Victoria |
The first recorded matches of Australian Rules football are played in Yarra Park, aka “Richmond Paddock”, adjacent and to the north-west of the Richmond Cricket Ground, and the place continues to host Australian Rules games into the 1870s.
“The Metropolitan Cricket Grounds’, 1874, looking north-west from around Punt Rd today across the Richmond Cricket Ground with its early wooden pavilion building on right. Source: State Library of Victoria, Accession Number H18227
1862
The
Richmond Cricket Ground was reputedly the first Victorian ground on which the
first touring All England XI played during their momentous inaugural Australian
visit.
Buildings at the Richmond Cricket Ground/Punt Rd Oval in 1894, showing covered areas at the western end of the ground, and caretakers residence top left. Source: SLV
c.1880
The first
Members Pavillion from the MCG is relocated to the Richmond Cricket Ground.
Looking northerly from the western end of Punt Road Oval, with covered marquee structure to the left of the relocated former MCG Members Pavilion, c.1910
1885
The
Richmond Football Club is formed and the club both trains and plays its home
games in the amateur VFA competition at the Richmond Cricket Ground.
1904
The
newly formed Hawthorn Football Club briefly plays
its home games in the Metropolitan Junior Football Association at the Cricket Ground/Punt Road Oval, before moving
to the East Melbourne Cricket Ground for the 1905 season.
1908
The
Richmond Football Club is admitted along with University into an expanded VFL
competition.
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| 1913 Plans for Construction of the Jack Dyer Stand - Public Record Office of Victoria, VPRS 7882 |
1914
Stage one
of the Jack Dyer Stand is completed (originally known as the Dave Chessell
Stand).
The Jack Dyer Stand, seen prior to its enlargement - Richmond v Fitzroy, Round 4, 1924
Source: Caruso, Santo., et al. Football Grounds of
Melbourne / Santo Caruso with Mark Fiddian and Jim Main. Pennon Publishing,
2002, p.129
1920-1
The
Richmond Football Club wins its first VFL Premiership in 1920, and then goes "back to back", defeating Carlton in the Grand Final the following year.
1927
Stage two
development extends the Chessell/Jack Dyer Stand to the west
1931
Jack Dyer
plays his debut game for the Richmond Football Club
Richmond unfurl their 1933 Premiership flag before the eastern end of the Jack Dyer Stand. Source: Richmond FC
1933-4
Richmond go "back to back" for the second time, winning two VFL Premierships in successive years
Detail from ‘Aerial view of Richmond’ c. 1930, with Jack Dyer Stand and Caretaker’s Residence/Melbourne City Council nursery with associated outbuildings. Source: SLV
1936
VFL Commission
narrowly rejects a proposal to relocate the Tigers’ home ground to John Wren’s
Melbourne Motordrome (roughly the site of AAMI Park today) by a single vote.
1938
The Ernest
A King, aka Cricketers Stand is added immediately south-west of the Jack Dyer
stand. The stand’s surrounds are terraced in concrete, and a new scoreboard is added
at the ground’s SE corner.
Looking west over Punt Rd Oval in 1945 with Jack Dyer Stand on right, Melbourne City Council Nursery top right, Ernest A King Stand top centre and scoreboard bottom left. Source: SLV
1940s
A war funds
fundraiser match takes place at the ground between a “Combined Services” side
and a VFL combination team. Singer Gracie Fields also entertains the crowd.
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| Detail from “RAAF Football Team” showing stairways with original balustrading, and decorative elements on post supports, since removed, Jack Dyer Stand, 1942. Source: SLV |
The ground is briefly tenanted by the Melbourne Football Club during and immediately after WWII, when the MCG was in use as a military base, making the Demons the third VFL/AFL club to have ever called Punt Road Oval home.
1941
Jack Dyer
is appointed as Captain and playing coach of the Richmond Football Club.
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| Another full house at the Jack Dyer Stand, c.1940s. Source: SLV |
1946
The ground
achieves its all-time official record attendance of 46,000 spectators at a
Richmond v Carlton game.
Detail of a capacity Jack Dyer Stand, 1946. Source: “Richmond FC - The Tigers”, Trevor Ruddell, Slattery Media Group, 2012, p.87 (image from Richmond FC Museum)
1949
Jack Dyer
retires as playing coach of the Richmond Football Club but continues on as the
club’s coach. By this time, he has kicked a total 443 VFL goals, and been voted
the club's best and fairest player four years in a row from 1937 – 1940 as well
as in 1946. To this day, he holds the club record for the highest number of
best and fairest awards.
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| Looking westerly from terraced embankments past the Jack Dyer Stand, with Ernest King Stand in background, c.1953. Source: SLV |
1952
Jack Dyer
is sacked as coach of the Richmond Football Club, and enters a new phase in his
career as a media commentator.
1960
A small
single storey brick structure is added to the east of the Jack Dyer stand.
Looking north-easterly past the Jack Dyer Stand, with 1960s brick additions, mid-2000s
1964
Punt Road is widened by around 50 ft, claiming much of the ground’s outer on its eastern side, and reducing ground capacity to around 22,000 spectators. The Richmond Football Club moves its home games to the MCG, retaining Punt Rd as its training and administration base.
Evolution of the caretaker’s residence and surrounds in aerial photos. Source: Cox Architecture, pp 14-15
Late 1970s
The caretaker’s residence was demolished sometime post 1974, and is today a fenced off area used for the preparation of the MCG’s “drop in” cricket pitches. A further bitumen area for car parking was added on the northern side of the Jack Dyer Stand around this time.
Aerial view of Yarra Park 2022, with cricket pitch preparation area. Source: Google Earth
1980
The
Cricketers Stand is re-modeled as a new Social Club/administration building,
aka “Tigerland”. Alterations are also made to the Jack Dyer Stand around this time, altering the roofline and replacing elements of the stairways with cyclone mesh
1979 plans for alterations to the Jack Dyer Stand. Source: Public Record Office of Victoria
1996
The Jack
Dyer Stand is formally renamed in honour of the club great.
Dyer is
admitted as one of only 12 inaugural “Legends” in the Australian Football Hall
of Fame.
2003
Jack Dyer
passes away.
Commemorative celebration at Punt Road Oval in honour of Jack Dyer, after his death in 2003 (‘17’ was Dyer’s guernsey number). Source: Richmond FC
2010
Following
years of campaigning by the Football Club, the Richmond Cricket Club moves its
home games to Mt Waverley, ending their 155-year association with the ground.
2011
The old
Social Club/”Tigerland” is demolished for the new David Mandie Building, aka
Swinburne Centre.
2014
The 1930s
scoreboard is replaced by a new, modern version.
Locked out fans do their best to catch a glimpse of Richmond’s last pre-Grand Final Punt Road Oval training session from the Punt Rd perimeter, 2017. Source: Fox Sports
2017
Lockout
scenes are witnessed at Punt Road Oval for the first time in over fifty years,
as Richmond fans flock to the ground to witness the team’s training for their
first Grand Final appearance since 1982.
2020
Richmond
gains entry to the AFLW competition, with the team playing home games at Punt
Road Oval.
2021
Richmond
Football Club announces plans to demolish the Jack Dyer stand within a wider
redevelopment of the ground.
Western end of the Jack Dyer Stand with glazed enclosure, as viewed from Yarra Park, 2022. Image: Adam Ford
2022
State
government announces funding for the ground redevelopment.
Melbourne
City Council and Planning Minister Richard Wynne approve plans to demolish the
Jack Dyer Stand.
Jack Dyer
Stand nominated for inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Jack Dyer Stand, as viewed from Brunton Ave., 2022. Image: Adam Ford
