Queen Elizabeth Oval
QEO | |
 | |
 | |
| Full name | Queen Elizabeth II Oval |
|---|---|
| Former names | Camp Reserve (1853 - 1879), Upper Reserve (1880-1953) |
| Location | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia |
| Coordinates | 36°45′20″S 144°16′32″E / 36.755644°S 144.275562°E |
| Capacity | 10,000[1] |
| Field size | 168 m x 124 m (Australian rules football) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Renovated | 2001 |
| Tenants | |
| Bendigo Football Club (VFL, 1998-2014) Richmond Football Club (AFLW) (2020) Bendigo Pioneers (TAC Cup) South Bendigo Football Club (BFL) Sandhurst Football Club (BFL) Bendigo & District Cricket Association | |
  Location of Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo area | |
| Ground information | |
| International information | |
| Only women's Test | 25 January 1985: Australia v  England |
| As of 8 September 2020 Source: CricketArchive | |
Queen Elizabeth Oval is a sports stadium located in Bendigo, Australia primarily used for Australian rules football and cricket. It was opened in 1897 as Upper Reserve before being renamed in 1954 in honour of the Queen of Australia, Queen Elizabeth II.[2][3]
History
[edit]The Bendigo recreation reserve was initially known as the Government Camp Reserve in 1853,[4] and this area was reserved for public space under the name of Pall Mall Reserve, Bendigo.[5]
This reserve was later referred as the Upper Reserve for many years before being renamed in 1954 in honour of the Queen of Australia, Queen Elizabeth II.[2][3]
In 1858, a famous foot race took place on the Camp Reserve between Hayes and aboriginal runner, Sheppard for £200 over 200 yards, with 5,000 people present in which Hayes won by three yards.[6]
In 1869, the Andrew's Society held their sports day on the Camp Reserve.[7]
- Grandstand
Tenders for the new grandstand at the Upper Reserve were published by the Bendigo City Council in November 1900[8] and the plans were drawn up by the Bendigo City Surveyor, Mr J W Richardson, with a seating capacity of 1500 people.[9] The tender for the full erection of the grandstand was awarded to Mr G A Davey at a cost of £2546.[10] The new grandstand was used for the first time on Wednesday, 19th June 1901 in an Australian Rules football match between Bendigo Football Club and South Bendigo Football Club.[11]
Cricket
[edit]The Upper Reserve hosted touring cricket teams as early as 1897.[2] It was renamed in April 1954 in honour of Queen Elizabeth's visit to Bendigo earlier that year.[3] The ground hosted two World Series Cricket exhibition matches in 1977 and 1979.[2] During the 1990s one List A and two first-class matches were held at the ground.[12][13] It also hosted one Women's Test cricket in 1985 between Australia and England.[14] In June 2025, it was announced that a statue of Barbara Rae, the highest scorer at Australia's first ever women's cricket match in 1874, would be erected at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.[15]
Australian rules football
[edit]Bendigo Football League (BFL) teams Sandhurst and South Bendigo play home games at the stadium. The ground is also used for BFL finals series. The Oval hosted the Bendigo Football Club throughout its time in the Victorian Football League (VFL), from 1998 until 2014.[16]
Other uses
[edit]In 1988 the oval hosted an international association football match between Australia and New Zealand.[17] The venue also played host to the Rugby sevens competition at the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games.[18]
Facilities
[edit]On 29 February 2008, at an NAB Challenge Cup game under lights, there was a blackout in the final quarter.[19]
In 2011 the ground was redeveloped at a cost of A$2.2m. The upgrade included a new terraced seating section, capable of holding 900 people, the installation of all-weather grass, lighting being upgraded to Australian Football League (AFL) standard, and a new electronic scoreboard and big screen being installed. Asbestos in the grandstand was also removed.[20]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Queen Elizabeth Oval". Austadiums. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Other matches played on Queen Elizabeth II Oval, Bendigo". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ^ a b c "Premiers Downed in B.F.L. Opening". The Riverine Herald: 3. 26 April 1954.
- ^ "1853 - Bendigo". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 4 November 1853. p. 5. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ "1854 - Bendigo". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 15 April 1854. p. 4. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ "1858 - GREAT FOOT RACE AT BENDIGO". The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 21 January 1858. p. 6. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ "1869 - BENDIGO ST. ANDREWS SOCIETY'S SPORTS IN THE CAMP RESERVE". Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918). 29 December 1869. p. 2. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ "1900 - The Upper Reserve Grandstand". The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918). 3 November 1900. p. 4. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ "1900 - Country News: Bendigo". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 1 November 1900. p. 7. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ "1900 - Country News: Bendigo". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957. 1 December 1900. p. 16.
- ^ "1901 - The New Grandstand". Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918). 20 June 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ "List A Matches played on Queen Elizabeth II Oval, Bendigo". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ^ "First-Class Matches played on Queen Elizabeth II Oval, Bendigo". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ^ "Women's Test Match played on Queen Elizabeth II Oval, Bendigo". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "Groundbreaking monument of female cricketer progressing". Bendigo Times. 14 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025 – via Times News Group.
- ^ "The rise and fall of Bendigo in the VFL". Code Sports. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ "International Soccer Australia v New Zealand" (PDF). National Sports Museum. 24 May 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ^ "Games Program". 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games Committee. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ^ QEO left in the dark – Local News – News – General – The Advertiser
- ^ Scopelianos, Sarah (1 June 2011). "QEO set for rival showdown". Weekly Times Now. News Limited. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
External links
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