University Oval
LocationParkville, Victoria
Coordinates37.79436098286525°S 144.9616213049002°E
Opened1853 (age 173)
Public transitMorrah Street
Trinity College/Royal Pde
OwnerUniversity of Melbourne
Tenants(VAFA)
(VAFA)
University Mugars (VAFAW)
University Cricket Club (VPC)
Seating capacity1,000
Record attendance5,000 ( vs , 8 August 1885)[1]

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 2026, the ground is home to the Melbourne University Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) and the Melbourne University 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 Royal Park and University Oval until moving permanently to Princes Park for the inaugural Victorian Football League (VFL) season in 1897.[13][14] 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.[15][16]

After dropping out of the VFL, the club joined the Victorian Junior Football League (VJFL) with two teams – () and () – that both played at University Oval.[17] 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.[18]

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).[19][20]

References

  1. ^ "University v South Melbourne". The VFA Project. 8 August 1885. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  2. ^ "University Oval". Australian Football. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  3. ^ "University Oval". ESPNcricinfo. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Sport Precinct Refurbishment". Melbourne University Sport. 27 August 2025. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  5. ^ "University Oval (Seniors and Reserves)". University Blues Football Club. Archived 10 July 2025 at the Wayback Machine. 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 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Victorian Premier Cricket Finals". Play Cricket. 4 April 2025. Archived 9 April 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  8. ^ Bourke, Eleanor (15 December 2022). "Truth, understanding and transformation". Persuit. University of Melbourne. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. 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 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  11. ^ "1889". Demonwiki. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. 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 20 May 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  13. ^ Atkinson, Jeff (28 September 2022). "Origins of the Carlton Football Club". Inner City News. Archived 8 August 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Pre VFL Venues". Blueseum. 26 September 2025. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  15. ^ Cherny, Daniel (23 August 1914). "Remembering football's forgotten club: 100 years since University". The Age. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  16. ^ Gigacz, Andrew (28 January 2024). "The demise of University in the VFL". Australian Football. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  17. ^ "1919 Reserves". Blueseum. Archived 30 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  18. ^ "METROPOLITAN AMATEUR ASSOCIATION". The Argus. 1 August 1921. p. 5. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  19. ^ "2016 VFL Women's regular season". GameDay. VFL / VFLW. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  20. ^ "VFLW season preview". North Melbourne Football Club. 4 May 2017. Archived 8 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 October 2025.