Rod Laver Arena

Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park. Australia's favourite concert arena and home to the Australian Open.

The land on which Rod Laver Arena is built has long been used for recreational purposes. The western side of what is now referred to as Melbourne Park was known as Flinders Park. For many years Flinders Park was used for sports such as rugby and was sometimes referred to as the 'Circus Site' owing to the area being utilised until 1985 by Ashton's Circus.
The eastern side of Melbourne Park was once part of Yarra Park (now contained to the north side of the railway/Brunton Avenue). The first main playing field was established along with a pavillion in 1868 for the Civil Service Cricket Club. When the club struck serious financial problems it transferred their lease to Scotch College in 1879 for 1000 pounds. When the College moved to Hawthorn and no longer required the field, the occupancy was sold to the Melbourne Cricket Club. However, Old Scotch Collegians Football Club (est 1921) continued to utilise this fenced oval until 1992 when the field was essentially shifted to the current location ('The Oval') adjacent to Rod Laver Arena.