Courtesy of Margot Hitchcock, Historian for the Blackwood & District Historical Society. 2024.
Blackwood Cricket Club C. 1908
BLACKWOOD RECREATION RESERVE and the BLACKWOOD CRICKET CLUB
The area where the Blackwood Sports Ground now stands was originally the Chinese market gardens, and in 1889 the Chinese sold the land to the Blackwood Cricket Club, and this land became a recreation reserve. Here Blackwood had their own Cricket and Football Club.
(See Chapter on Chinese Market Garden.)
Blackwood Sports Ground 1865.
Information from Les Armstrong – the Blackwood Sports Ground was bought from the Chinese Market Gardeners for eleven pounds by the Blackwood United Cricket Club. The first Trustees of the Blackwood Sports Ground in 1889 were William Gribble, James Barkla, Messrs. Croker, Vigor, and Hayden.
The following is some extracts from the – The Bacchus Marsh Express Newspaper – January 11th 1902
A cricket match took place on Saturday last on the recreation reserve between Barry’s Reef and local club. In batting, W.Wilson for the Reef and T.N.Terrill for Blackwood showed good form.
A meeting of the Blackwood sports committee was held in the Mechanics on Monday, when a balance sheet audited by Mr. P. Duncan, showing a net balance of £11/5/, was received and adopted, which makes the Kyneton hospital funds, £5/12/6. A committee consisting of Messrs. A.Byres, P.Duncan, and J.H.Terrill was appointed to consult with the committee of management as to spending the cash available.
NEW YEAR’S DAY – SPORTS DAY – 1902
The Blackwood sports committee and public generally was inclined to be pleased with the Clerk of the Weather on New Year’s Day. The attendance at the sports was much as per usual, about £17 being taken at the gates. Entries fell off considerably from other years. Mr T Vigor, secretary and numerous staff of stewards, managed the whole concern in a creditable way, the events being run through with celerity and to the satisfaction of the public. Mr R Matheson, as starter; Messrs. H Cann, M Siddal, J.Walter, R. Benson, as handicappers; Messrs. W.Broad, and G.Matheson, as judges; performed their numerous duties to the satisfaction of all concerned.
First Cricket match of the season – Blackwood versus Trentham – November 7th 1908.
The first cricket match of the season took place on the local reserve on Saturday, when Trentham brought in a good strong team. Blackwood batted first, and were all dismissed for 73. J.Cummings, 18; W. Broad, 17; T.N. Terrill, 12; M. Hayden 7; J.Wall, 5. Trentham responded with 107.
Recreation Reserve Trust Meeting held – 1908.
A meeting of the Recreation Reserve Trust was held on Wednesday last. Present – M.T. Vigor (chairman); M.M.J. Croker (Hon Sec), Messrs H.H.Cann, H.H.Terrill. The contract price for forming a bicycle track, £12, Mr W. Croker, was passed for payment, and tenders are called for removing and re-erecting the cottage purchased by the Trust for a dressing room. Tenders returnable on Wednesday next.
(This cottage purchased by the Trust for a dressing room was originally the home of Billy Pincombe, and sold after his death to be pulled down and the timber used for the Blackwood Cricket Club dressing room.)
This building was later washed away in 1909 whenthe Simmons Reef Reservoir embankment burst, and an immense lot of damage was done; no fewer than five big bridges being swept away.
The cricket pavilion, containing three rooms, the dressing room erected in 1908 at the bottom end of the ground, and all other buildings, disappeared at one blow right down the river.
Blackwood Cricket Club 1895.
Blackwood Cricket Club 1895.
Blackwood Cricket Team. Approx. 1920 – (Courtesy of the late Nell Matheson.)
Back Row – George Matheson, Fred Livy, Bill Byrne, Rev. George Hexton, Mick Hayden, Magnus Williamson, ??, Ern Terrill.
Middle Row – Bert Cann, Bert Fraser, Ted Turner, Herb Cann Snr, Jack Cann, Charles Perry (School teacher). Front Row – Ronald Anderson, Jimmy Bryne.
