The historic Michael Tuck Stand at Glenferrie Oval in Hawthorn has been vacant for over 2 decades. We're bringing this heritage-listed building back to life as part of our wider revitalisation of the Glenferrie Oval precinct and are looking for community groups and partners to help us do this.

Our aim is to restore this unique heritage building and re-establish it as a valuable community asset, creating more opportunities for community connection, participation​ and wellbeing.

We're planning for the proposed spaces to be used for a diverse range of activities and programs of interest to people of all ages and abilities, such as:

• cultural, arts and local history activities
• recreational, leisure, wellbeing and fitness activities
• children’s, youth and seniors’ activities
• exhibitions, meetings and events
• office or administrative space to support community program operations.

To achieve this, we asked for expressions of interest (EOI) from community groups and partner organisations who are interested in using the proposed spaces to deliver programs for our community.

Construction to create the proposed spaces is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed by 2028.

Types of community spaces available

The community spaces will be located on the ground floor and level 1 of the renewed Michael Tuck Stand building. The ground floor will also be shared with community sports.

We have a variety of proposed internal spaces available, as we anticipate there might be different types of interest in the building. Some community groups and partners may be interested in being based in the building in an on-going capacity (through a lease arrangement for a dedicated space) — while others may seek to use shared spaces within the building on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis.

Through the EOI process, community groups could express interest in any or all of the internal community spaces proposed, and we welcomed submissions for all types of usage arrangements and interests in these spaces. At this stage, we anticipate the shared spaces will have the capacity for long-term and casual bookings.

EOI process and timelines

Through the EOI process, we aim to:

• offer a diverse range of community activities and programs of interest to people of all ages and abilities
• establish a list of community groups and partners who we’ll work with over the next few years to develop a diverse range of community activities and programs in preparation for when the building re-opens in 2028.

A group or organisation doesn’t need to be based within Boroondara to be considered but must demonstrate interest in supporting our local community.

The process is being conducted across 3 stages. 

Stage 1: Expressions of interest

• Opened for 5 weeks — commenced Monday 8 July and closed 5 pm on Friday 9 August 2024.
• Community groups and partners will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application in early 2025.

EOI assessment criteria

Community groups and partners will be shortlisted based on the assessment of their EOI application, against the following criteria: 

• Who in Boroondara will benefit from the program/s or activities proposed
• What the community group or partner believes they can achieve within the space/s and how it benefits those participating
• Why the community group or partner believes they’re most suited to the space/s 
• Interest in being part of a community hub and willingness to collaborate with other community groups within the facility or wider community

We reserve the right to hold further EOI’s for community partners if the EOI responses do not present an opportunity for a diverse range of community activities and programs to be delivered from the site. 

Stage 2: Short list

• We’ll develop a shortlist of community groups that offer a broad range of programs and activities to support a wide range of community members using the building.
• Shortlisted groups will be supported to provide further information. Officers will work with applicants to better understand each group’s application and how the groups can work best together.
• Community groups will be notified in writing about whether or not they are progressing and will secure a space.
• The successful groups will be advised of the next steps, noting occupancy of the spaces will not occur until the building is completed in 2028.

Stage 3: Finalise operating model and indicative programs and activities

• We’ll work with prospective tenants and regular building users to develop an operational model and an indicative suite of activities and programs to occur within the building on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. This process may include shared understandings of the community vision, expectations, roles and responsibilities of all partners.
• We’ll finalise agreements with community groups to formalise their tenancy and/or building use in the Michael Tuck Stand. The finalisation of tenant leases is expected before the completion of building works (anticipated in early 2028), with lease terms expected to range from 3 to 5 years. 

More information

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Michael Williams, Senior Community Support Project Officer at [email protected] or call 03 9278 4595.

About the project

We're refurbishing the iconic Glenferrie Oval and Michael Tuck Stand in Hawthorn. We're bringing new life to these community assets, so they can be used to their full potential.

Status update

The early works to prepare the inside of the Michael Tuck Stand for refurbishment are now complete. 

As part of our plans to revitalise the historic Michael Tuck Stand and Glenferrie Oval, in August and September 2025 we invited the community to have your say on:  

• the draft designs for the revitalised Michael Tuck Stand Community Hub
• the renewed sportsground lighting for Glenferrie Oval.

The draft designs are guided by the endorsed Vision and Design Brief.

The outcome of community consultation will be published on the Michael Tuck Stand and Glenferrie Oval revitalisation page on Your Say Boroondara in December 2025.

Expressions of interest for community groups who’d like to use the spaces inside the Michael Tuck Stand have now closed. We’re working through next steps with the shortlisted groups.

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.  

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

The spaces inside the Michael Tuck Stand have been designed to be functional and adaptable for a range of community uses, while respecting the historical significance of the building.

Key works

Ground level

• creating a shared multipurpose space on the ground level  
• creating 2 shared spaces which can be used as multipurpose and band rehearsal spaces
• creating a kiosk with an outdoor space and exploring ways to improve the use of the land directly in front of the Tuck Stand. 

Promenade (level 1)

• creating multipurpose spaces to support community wellbeing, recreational, cultural and arts activities.

Grandstand (level 1)

• creating a new enclosed multipurpose community space in the upper section of the grandstand, behind the existing seating.

These works are being completed in 3 stages:

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.

Melbourne Water Hawthorn East Main Drain works

Melbourne Water is upgrading sections of the Hawthorn East Main Drain (HEMD) near Glenferrie Oval. The HEMD needs an upgrade to renew the sections of pipe which have experienced brick loss and brick separation. The upgrade will reduce flood risk and improve stormwater resilience for the Hawthorn community.

Melbourne Water will be in touch with the community to provide further information about timelines as they become available.
For more information or to contact Melbourne Water directly, visit their Hawthorn East Main Drain webpage.

Community consultation

In April and May 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 the Michael Tuck Stand and Glenferrie revitalisation consultation page. 

In August and September 2025, we asked for community feedback on the draft designs for the revitalised Michael Tuck Stand and the Glenferrie Oval lighting upgrades. We’ll share what our community told us on the the Michael Tuck Stand and Glenferrie Oval revitalisation consultation page in December 2025. 

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.