Ferndale Park
The original pavillion
This original pavilion was originally used by a cycle club and situated at the Richmond Boulevard.

The Ashburton / Glen Iris Cycle club applied successfully to the City of Camberwell somewhere in the 1930’s early 1940’s to have a cycle track installed around the boundary of the oval. They arranged for the transfer of the pavilion from Richmond, for their clubhouse, no doubt quite a big task in those days.

Cycle races were held during tea time of the cricket and on some Sundays, on a steeply banked gravel track. A training bicycle was installed inside the pavilion mounted on a concrete base.

Footballers and cricketers were allowed the use of the pavilion until it was finally demolished in 1974 after the new change rooms, toilets, showers and small kitchen were built on the hill where the current pavilion now stands.

 Today's pavillion
1990 saw the pavilion extended to its current size. St. Mary’s FC and Glen Iris East Kew CC raised funds and contributed to the finishing of the pavilion. The current design with the Social room and new larger kitchen was opened in 1990 in time for our first home game in the Amateurs and the first Gold Saints luncheon.

Plans are afoot for further development of the pavillion. The new facility will be a much bigger, well designed amenity, to suit our growing needs both on and off the field. Umpires will be catered for, individual club ablution blocks will be installed, change rooms will be larger, and all we need is the funding and design work to be guaranteed by Council.

It is hoped final approval, design and building will take place during financial year 2009 /2010.

Interesting fact
The first brick change rooms were completed in 1973, some 17 years later, the second stage took place and in 2007, again 17 years had elapsed, Council have agreed that further development was necessary.

Ferndale Park: 2008 pre-seaon update
Scoreboard Repaired
This is the repaired scorebaord set up, installed 19th March.2008 by Council. Additional signage will be placed on back board listing users of ground as previuosly advised. This will take place in about 2 weeks. Certainly a better set up than previously and we thank Council staff for their work and assistance.

Ferndale Park: History
In the early 1930's a group of young men feeling the effects of the depression years met with members of St. Mary's Brotherhood (Mens' Club) and advised them that they would like to form a cricket team to help them keep fit and active.

It was agreed that Camberwell Council (now Boroondara) be approached to obtain use of a ground.

Council had no suitable ground readily available, but offered a marshy area between two creeks in Glen Iris Rd. for them to develop and use.

The St. Mary's Cricketers set to, with shovels, mattocks, picks and wheel barrows to prepare the area for cricket. A committee representing the Council, St. Mary's Brotherhood and local residents was formed to oversee the work. Surplus earth from road works and the new Peate Ave State School development , was delivered by horse and dray to the site. The committee hired a horse and scoop to level the earth delivered in and of course there was the inevitable need for funding to make the hiring of equipment possible. A night at the movies was always a good way of gaining some funds and several of these nights were held.

Council arranged for trees to be placed along the Glen Iris Rd. boundary and these are still in place today.

Following on from this the young men then decided to try their luck and skill at Aussie Rules Football and in 1932 St. Mary's FC took to the field in their inaugural season.

Since 1932 Ferndale Park has been the home of St. Mary's FC who originally played in the Eastern Suburban Churches Football Association, but since 1990, have played in the Victorian Amateur Football Association. In 2008, the ground will be host the newly formed St Mary's Salesian Amateur Football Club.

The football club has always operated as amateurs and over time the club through its various teams has won 15 Premierships.

Later Glen Iris Methodist Cricket Club also became tenants and today after several amalgamations, they now play as Eastern Willows CC. They also have won numerous premierships over the years.

Ferndale Park Special Committee
It can be seen that Ferndale Park right from day one was administered by a Park Committee. Today Ferndale Park Special Committee consists of members from council, local residents, tenant clubs,both football and cricket and the scouting group, that lease an area in the park for their hall from the Council. In fact the Chairman of the Committee is the son of one of the original St. Mary's Men's Club members.

Meetings of Ferndale Park Special Committee are held approx. each 3 months (or more regularly when the need arises).
The Committee carries out the administration of the park, makes recommendations for park improvements and submits capital works requirements to Council, for new amenities in the park. The Committee is in regular contact with the local Councillor and Council Officers to ensure good working relationships.

Tenant clubs are bound by Park Committee and Council rules and are charged fees by the Council based on usage, thus in part contributing to the park maintenance costs.

Many of the park assets have been developed through funds raised by the tenant clubs over the years adding to the available facilities enjoyed by all local residents and users of the park.

The Ferndale Park Special Committee is proud of the way in which the park and its surrounds have developed over these 75 years.

The Committee is most appreciative of the great work that the Tenant Clubs and Scouts do, in developing the sporting and community activity that is provided at the park. The various clubs' volunteer administrators have to be congratulated in ensuring that outdoor team sports are maintained in the area, in a competitive enjoyable and well controlled way.

Future dates of meetings and new developments in the park area , will be included in these pages as and when they come to hand.

Contact details and further information for the Ferndale Park Special Committee can be obtained from the Office of the City of Boroondara.

Early information was obtained from original minute book and cash book.


St Mary's Salesian Amateur Football Club
Ground Location: Ferndale Park, Glen Iris Road, Glen Iris
Postal Address: PO Box 170, Ashburton 3147
Click here for office-bearers and key contact details

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