Midland Oval

Statement of Significance

Midland Oval is a tangible reminder of the importance sport has played in the local community since 1901. It also contributes to the local community's sense of place as a space for recreation, socialisation and as the home ground of many sporting clubs over the years including Midland Football Club and the Bassendean Midland Cycling Club. Midland Oval is a reminder of the development that took place in Midland Junction, in the early twentieth century, as a result of the establishment of the railway service and manufacturing centre.

Physical Description

Midland Oval includes a large central oval and surrounding grassed areas. A gravel cycling track runs around the perimeter of the oval. The Walter ‘Wally’ Watts Scoreboard, bitumen car parks and mature trees also exist on the site.

History

In 1890, Midland Junction was gazetted as a town, and the township had been subdivided into the current pattern. The original informal road pattern, which departed from the traditional grid layout, was a legacy from the early road routes out to the agricultural areas and the branching out of the railway lines. Between 1895 and 1897 the population of Midland Junction doubled, and by 1901, when the stalled process of transferring the Government Railway Workshops to Midland Junction was successfully revived, the population neared 1800. The increase in population made necessary the provision of public amenities, which included electric lighting (1902), Council Chambers and Town Hall (1906) and the construction of Midland Courthouse (1907). In this formative period, the need for a recreation ground was also recognised. Land for a recreation ground (now Midland Oval) was obtained from Mr B Wood of Guildford who then owned much of the land in the area. Midland Oval, originally known as the Midland Junction Recreation Ground, was officially opened on 21 October 1901. It was estimated that £500 had been expended in the purchase of the 6 and ¾ acres of land, and in leveling and fencing the oval. In the Thursday, 24 October 1901 edition of the West Australian it was report that: ‘The grounds are in the centre of the town, and are enclosed by a six-foot fence. In addition, a new concrete pitch has been put down, where first-rate Junior cricket matches are played.’ The grounds were quickly made use of by various sporting bodies which until then had to use the Midland Railway Company’s reserve as their venue. A grandstand was built in 1907; this was relocated in 1935 and dismantled sometime in the 1960s. Over its life as a community recreation ground it was used for activities ranging from athletics, football, cricket, lawn bowls, lacrosse, trotting, cycling, log chopping, marching and soccer. Other events were held at the Oval including the fire brigade 80 yard fire hydrant race; the Western Australian Scottish Union Highland sports gathering where a pipe band contest, dancing, tossing the caber and other activities were carried out; and the Battle of the Somme and torchlight tattoo re-enactment. Midland Oval has had a long association with cycling, with the first track being laid in 1906. At the first meet it was reported that ‘the track has only recently been laid down; and consequently its surface is somewhat loose and bumpy in places.’ In 1935, a new and improved cycling track was constructed. The ground was to be used as the headquarters of the Bassendean-Midland Cycling Club, which was reported to be one of the largest and most progressive bodies associated with cycling at the time. One of the heats of the Australian Professional Track Cycling Championships were held at Midland Oval in 1949, the others were held at Fremantle Oval; the first time this event had been held in Western Australia. Five thousand people packed the Oval to see the ‘moguls of the mangle’ take part in the championships. It is clear from the early days the Oval has had a long and prolonged association with cycling. In the 1960s, a suggestion for the possible redevelopment of the Midland Recreation Ground was mooted, it was noted that ‘the facilities at present at the Oval are limited, and incapable of expansion either in additional ovals or car parking areas.’ Since this time, planning activities were undertaken to facilitate the redevelopment of the oval. From the 1980s and early 1990s the various sporting activities were relocated to other locations. Today the tarmac track remains, along with a scoreboard on the western side of the main oval, however the Oval is no longer used for active recreation. Whilst Midland Oval was a key attractor and well-known place, there were other activities which operated around the Oval, which contributed to the history and social infrastructure of Midland. The west, south and eastern sides of the Oval were developed with detached Federation Bungalows around the turn of the Twentieth Century; a few still remain today: The ground is associated with significant Midland cricket player and founding member Walter Wally Watts. The existing scoreboard is named after Walter Watts.

Archaeology

Some archaeological potential.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate

Condition

Fair

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update