Revitalising the Glenferrie Oval precinct

About the project

We are upgrading the iconic Glenferrie Oval and the Michael Tuck Stand in Hawthorn. We are bringing new life to these community assets, so they’re used to their full potential.

Our vision

The refurbishment will be guided by our Vision and Design Brief and will respect and celebrate the Michael Tuck Stand’s significance and its Moderne style façade, which was listed by Heritage Victoria in 1995.  

Our vision will help us deliver a precinct that:  

• supports health and fitness, arts and culture, and sport and recreation activities
• creates opportunities for community connection for all ages  
• celebrates the significance of the heritage-listed Michael Tuck Stand
• has high-quality, safe and functional facilities  
• improves the connection with the surrounding parkland and trails.  

Key community benefits include:

• support for junior Australian Rules football (including Auskick), senior women’s Australian Rules football and junior cricket
• better opportunities for girls’ and women’s sport
• better meeting the demand for sportsgrounds in Boroondara
• access to Glenferrie Oval for recreation and leisure  
• shared spaces for community groups  
• an accessible and sustainable design.  

The vision achieves key priorities of our:  

• Glenferrie Oval, Grace Park and L.E. Bray Reserve Concept Master Plan
• Boroondara Community Plan 2021–23.  

Demolishing the Ferguson Stand and creating new open space 

The old stand was demolished, as it was no longer useable and starting to deteriorate. In its place, we have created 500 square metres of landscaped open space for the community to enjoy.  

Key features include:  

• a grassy area overlooking Glenferrie Oval
• kids play equipment
• picnic table and benches
• an accessible pathway with solar lighting
• new native plants and trees
• bicycle parking
• salvaged steel beams from the Ferguson Stand, as a reference to the past.

View the landscape design that was shaped by community feedback.  

This space was officially opened to the community on Saturday 20 July 2024. 

Community garden

As part of the new open space landscaping works, the 7 Hawthorn Community Garden plots which fell within the works zone had to be removed. The plots were removed from this location to make way for the accessible pathway.

We are exploring options to replace these 7 plots on the opposite (western) end of the community garden, with any works subject to budget approvals. We will update the community once we have more detail.

Auskick facilities

Following community feedback, the temporary Auskick portable (including the toilets) will stay in its current location during the Michael Tuck Stand refurbishment works. We have painted the existing structure green to blend in with the surrounding area better.

An additional storage container ‌for their equipment has also been provided in the car park behind the Michael Tuck Stand. 

Both the existing Auskick portable and additional storage containers will remain in these locations until the Michael Tuck Stand is refurbished.

Refurbishing the Michael Tuck Stand

We are making the heritage-listed Michael Tuck Stand a safe and functional space so the community can use it once more.   

Key works include:  

• upgrading the sports pavilion on the ground level
• creating a shared multipurpose space on the ground level  
• creating community partnership spaces on level one
• refurbishing the heritage-listed grandstand seating.  

These works are being completed in 3 stages:

• stage 1 - early works (overall building stabilisation and restoration to prepare the internal space for refurbishment)
• stage 2 - refurbishment of ground floor indoor spaces for community sport 
• stage 3 - refurbishment of ground and first-floor indoor spaces for wider community use.

Community groups and partners who are interested in utilising the proposed spaces within the refurbished Michael Tuck Stand were invited to submit their expressions of interest. Space allocations will be finalised in early 2028.

Upgrading the Glenferrie Oval  

We are proving a high-quality sports ground for the community.  

Key works include:  

• improved playing surface, including a new cricket wicket
• sportsground lighting
• coaches' boxes
• improved drainage
• fencing
• repairs to the irrigation system.

Project status 

Stage 1 early works are currently taking place inside the Michael Tuck Stand to prepare the building for refurbishment, and are expected to be completed by late 2024. 

Expressions of interest are currently open for community groups and partners who’d like to utilise the proposed internal spaces within the stand once they are built. 

At a Council Meeting on Monday 22 July, an architect was appointed to develop a design for the proposed internal spaces. The design process will commence in August 2024, and be guided by the endorsed Vision and Design Brief.   

Community consultation

We consulted with the community to help shape the future of the Michael Tuck Stand and Glenferrie Oval. In April and May of 2023, we asked for community feedback on the draft landscape plan for the new open space. In August and September 2023, we asked for community feedback on the draft Vision and Design Brief. You can find out what our community told us and how their feedback shaped the final concept design on our Glenferrie Oval precinct revitalisation consultation page.  

Project timeline  

More information  

To receive updates about this project, visit our Glenferrie Oval precinct revitalisation consultation page and select 'Follow' at the top of the page.

Contact our Sport and Recreation team on (03) 9278 4444 or [email protected] for any other queries.