Revitalising the Glenferrie Oval precinct

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, we now invite you to have your say on:  

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

To have your say by 5 pm on Monday 15 September, visit the Michael Tuck Stand and Glenferrie Oval revitalisation page on Your Say Boroondara.

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

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

We are now seeking feedback on the draft designs for the revitalised Michael Tuck Stand and the Glenferrie Oval lighting upgrades. Please have your say by Monday 15 September by visiting the Michael Tuck Stand and Glenferrie Oval revitalisation consultation page. 

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 the Michael Tuck Stand and Glenferrie 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.