Tocumwal Recreation Reserve

Tocumwal Recreation Reserve, New South Wales

Location

Capacity

Record Crowd

History/Structures

River Street, Tocumwal

10,000

9,000 1951 Murray Football League, Grand final Numurkah v Nathalia

Most recently 6,000 1985 Murray Football League, Grand final Deniliquin 16.6.104 d Jerilderie 9.6.60

It was gazetted as a public park on September 14, 1882 with 61 acres being dedicated on January 12, 1883. A deed of grant was issued later that year, with cricket being the first sport played on the grounds in 1884. There is not a lot of history of the next decade which mentions football being played on the grounds, however, in 1894 it was reported Tocumwal joined the Murray Border Football Association. This was made up of four clubs: Tocumwal, Yarroweyah, Muckatah and Barooga. On July 22, 1903, the trustees of the recreation reserve called tenders for the ringbarking and clearing of the 60 acres of recreation reserve and in April 1909, the trustees agreed the Football Club be allowed to charge no more than six pence for entry to matches and no horses be permitted to the oval. In the 1920's, Tocumwal moved to the Southern Riverina Association, joining Finley, Coree, Jerilderie and Berrigan. The Murray Football League was formed soon after, in 1931 based on the idea of forming a league centre on Cobram. Tocumwal was one of the founding clubs, with Finley and Berrigan joining their ranks two years later. War forced the league into recess. No football was played until 1943 when the RAAF Base and Army Camps were established on the outskirts of Tocumwal. Local people and servicemen started to play football again. New goalposts were erected in 1963 at a cost of 15 pounds. They were 30 foot high and the behind posts were 22 foot 6 inches. The first lights were installed in 1969. Prior to that, training was done without lights so most of the ball work was done early and the running done in the dark. The new pavilion, costing more than $100,000, was built soon after and was officially opened on July 14, 1973 by Minister for Lands and Tourism, the Hon TL Lewis. The all important scoreboard was officially named the "Jim Cullen Scoreboard" in 1977 when Mr Cullen unofficially retired from football. This was done in appreciation of all the work he did for the club over the years, and continues to do today. He had played 321 matches and was the 1965 O'Dwyer medal winner. Mr Cullen was also president of the Club for 13 years. The grounds were resurfaced in the 1950's, 1970's and mid 1980's and is now in great condition for the 2001 Murray League Grand Final.

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This page last updated 16th March 2006

Location	Capacity	Record Crowd	History/Structures
River Street, Tocumwal	10,000	9,000 1951 Murray Football League, Grand final Numurkah v Nathalia Most recently 6,000 1985 Murray Football League, Grand final Deniliquin 16.6.104 d Jerilderie 9.6.60	It was gazetted as a public park on September 14, 1882 with 61 acres being dedicated on January 12, 1883. A deed of grant was issued later that year, with cricket being the first sport played on the grounds in 1884. There is not a lot of history of the next decade which mentions football being played on the grounds, however, in 1894 it was reported Tocumwal joined the Murray Border Football Association. This was made up of four clubs: Tocumwal, Yarroweyah, Muckatah and Barooga. On July 22, 1903, the trustees of the recreation reserve called tenders for the ringbarking and clearing of the 60 acres of recreation reserve and in April 1909, the trustees agreed the Football Club be allowed to charge no more than six pence for entry to matches and no horses be permitted to the oval. In the 1920's, Tocumwal moved to the Southern Riverina Association, joining Finley, Coree, Jerilderie and Berrigan. The Murray Football League was formed soon after, in 1931 based on the idea of forming a league centre on Cobram. Tocumwal was one of the founding clubs, with Finley and Berrigan joining their ranks two years later. War forced the league into recess. No football was played until 1943 when the RAAF Base and Army Camps were established on the outskirts of Tocumwal. Local people and servicemen started to play football again. New goalposts were erected in 1963 at a cost of 15 pounds. They were 30 foot high and the behind posts were 22 foot 6 inches. The first lights were installed in 1969. Prior to that, training was done without lights so most of the ball work was done early and the running done in the dark. The new pavilion, costing more than $100,000, was built soon after and was officially opened on July 14, 1973 by Minister for Lands and Tourism, the Hon TL Lewis. The all important scoreboard was officially named the "Jim Cullen Scoreboard" in 1977 when Mr Cullen unofficially retired from football. This was done in appreciation of all the work he did for the club over the years, and continues to do today. He had played 321 matches and was the 1965 O'Dwyer medal winner. Mr Cullen was also president of the Club for 13 years. The grounds were resurfaced in the 1950's, 1970's and mid 1980's and is now in great condition for the 2001 Murray League Grand Final.