People’s Park/Pioneer Memorial Oval – Early Days to 1940s
The entrance to Pioneer Oval. Photograph by Dan Fredericks (Parkes Shire Library)
Today Pioneer Oval is the home of the Parkes Spacemen – the Shire’s representative team in Country Rugby League (CRL) Group 11. However the land known as Pioneer Oval has had name changes and indeed many uses for other sports and recreational activities. It was originally known as People’s Park (which covered both Pioneer Oval and Spicer Park) and before it could be used by the public it needed 1500 stumps cleared (Tindall, Ron (Ed) Parkes: One Hundred Years of Local Government Netley, South Australia: Griffin Press Ltd, 1983. page 267)
Early Days up until 1920s
Displaying the pragmatic attitude of previous century residents, the People’s Park was sought after as grazing land, with the right to graze going to auction (Parkes Council. (1898, February 18). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 13) This resulted in tendering for not only the grazing rights but also to fence the grazing area. These matters, along with the complaints of a foul smell from the area meant that the People’s Park and Recreation Reserve was often talked about in Council meetings (Parkes Council. (1898, March 25). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 14) Grazing rights going to tender proved to be excellent business acumen by Council (PEOPLE’S PARK. (1928, November 8). Western Champion(Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 2)
Many of the local churches utilised the space for hosting their annual Sunday School picnics (Sunday School Picnic. (1898, May 27). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 12) The first game of football at People’s Park was proposed for Wednesday July 6th 1898. It was organised by the Early-closing Association and to celebrate all employers granting their workers a weekly half-holiday a game of fancy dress football was organised, to be followed with afternoon tea (Early-closing Association. (1898, June 10). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 10) Sadly there are no photos available of this interesting part of Parkes’ history.
To celebrate all employers granting workers a half day holiday each week, a fancy-dress game of football – with afternoon tea provided – was organised. Source: Early-closing Association. (1898, June 10). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 10)
Football AND fancy-dress? This was a celebration for all the shop assistants who were granted a half-day holiday on Wednesday each week. The inaugural meeting of the Half-Holiday Association was spent at People’s Park with fancy-dress football and afternoon tea. Half-Holiday Association. (1898, July 8). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 9
1920s “The Don” at People’s Park
By the swinging 20s, People’s Park was seen as a top quality sporting field. Along with rugby league, local cricket and golf associations desired to make People’s Park their home. According to the Parkes Municipal Council minutes, the golf club requested permission to use People’s Park as early as December 1924. It wasn’t until May 1933 that the Council minutes record that the golf club were given a 7 year lease with conditions. The Golf Club would pay Council £15.0.0 per annum for the use of facilities on the land. As part of the agreement the Golf Club would follow these conditions:
- Fences kept in order by the Club;
- Club continue to pay Council £15.8.0 per annum being rental charge for use of Club house and water service;
- If necessary sheep proof fence be erected by the Club to prevent stock straying on to People’s Park oval; and
- The rights of the public to be protected. (Parkes Municipal Council Meeting Minutes 2nd May 1933, Number 351)
By the late 1920s the park was now being used extensively and Council decided to explore the possibility of adding a grandstand. On 10th May 1928 the tender for grandstand was awarded to W I Job and in 3rd July of the same year, the Honourable Fred Flowers MLC was invited to open the grandstand on the 18th July. This was indeed an honour for Parkes as the accepted invitation from the Hon. F. Flowers MLC was a former minister in the Labor Party’s first office in NSW and was the current patron of NSW Rugby League. Flowers was also responsible for the development of Taronga Park – a zoological park that is now internationally renowned. The opening was to coincide with a game of rugby league between the English national team and a team from Far West.
The official opening of the Parkes grandstand at People’s Park. Special guest was Hon F. Flowers MLC who opened the grandstand before the Far West vs England match Photo: NEW GRANDSTAND IN PEOPLE’S PARK. (1928, July 19). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 9
In 1928, A E Parker was appointed caretaker of People’s Park. His wage was £2.10.0 per week (Parkes Municipal Council Meeting Minutes 9th October 1928, Number 619). Also in 1928, the Cricket Association were excited with the new turf wicket that Council laid for them (Parkes Municipal Council Meeting Minutes 9th October 1928, Number 584).
Hon. Fred Flowers MLC opened the new grandstand at People’s Park. Minister in the first NSW Labor government, as Vice President of the Executive Assembly, Flowers was also Patron of NSW Rugby League Photo: St. Stanislaus College. (1928, July 19). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 9
A huge crowd attends a memorable game of rugby league. Source: 10,000 SPECTATORS SEE GREAT MATCH FAR WEST SURPRISE. (1928, July 19). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 11
The following year, the Shire was abuzz with news that the New South Wales cricket team would play two games at People’s Park – one against a Far West team and the other against Parkes cricket team. Included in the NSW side was none other than Sir Donald Bradman.
Advertisement for the visit of NSW Cricket team featuring Don Bradman Source: The Western Champion Thursday October 24, 1929
A lot of hype for the visit to People’s Park of cricketing superstars. Source: The Western Champion Thursday October 24, 1929
Sports endorsements, 1920s style! Source: The Western Champion Thursday October 24, 1929
Match report Source: The Western Champion Monday October 28, 1929 Further match reports can be found here and here
Match report Source: The Western Champion Thursday October 31, 1929
Improvements needed at People’s Park. Source: The Western Champion Thursday October 31, 1929
Parkes team that took on ‘The Don’ and the rest of the state team. Source: The Western Champion Thursday October 31, 1929 BACK ROW (left to right) E. Hornery, P. Kinsella, J. Bone, C. Swindle, R. Spicer, W. Elston FRONT ROW C. McGrath, N. Quinn, G. Cock, B. Mitchelmore (Captain), E. Fletcher, T. Nicholls.
1930s A Decade of Developments
It was during the mid to late 1930s that People’s Park was to undergo dramatic changes. The last listed grazing rights were awarded to J. Lindsay (Parkes Municipal Council Meeting Minutes 13th January 1931, Number 10). The Council minutes record that the Intermediate High School applied to have use of the park for Wednesday afternoons during the winter months (Parkes Municipal Council Meeting Minutes 14th July,1931, Number 658)
On 24th February 1931 the Cricket Association applied to Council to ask permission to close the ground and charge spectators admission for a match on 1st March 1931. According to Council minutes in 1932 the Cricket Association paid £2.2.0 per week for the use of People’s Park Oval during cricket season (Parkes Municipal Council Meeting Minutes 24th February 1931, Number 178). With the Cricket Association looking to lay a turf wicket at Woodward Park, the days of cricket being played at People’s Park were numbered.
The days of golf being played at People’s Park were also nearing their end. Although the Golf Club had just signed a 7 year conditional lease, by 1934 the Golf Club informed Council that it would not be renewing the lease, as it looked to other areas within Parkes to develop the Golf Club (at this stage the Golf Club was looking towards Billabong Creek in an area known as “Swimming Pool”). While golf and cricket would soon end their association with People’s Park, the Western Star Tennis Club were granted permission to erect tennis courts in People’s Park (Parkes Municipal Council, Meeting Minutes, 17th October 1933, Number 954) Three years later the Council moved to allow the old Golf Club House to serve the Western Star Tennis Courts (Parkes Municipal Council Meeting Minutes 7th January 1936, Number 33)
With the increasing status of opposing sporting teams to visit Parkes, particularly in rugby league, Council became aware that the ground needed to be kept to the best standard possible. In 1933 additional seating was placed around the oval fence and the following year People’s Park was included for sewerage. In 1935 a number of public reserves were renamed and People’s Park was one park that was given a new name. People’s Park was now called Spicer Park. Frank Spicer was a visionary within Parkes; having been a hairdresser, Atlantic Union Oil regional manager, and starting Parkes Broadcasting Corporation (2PK radio). In addition Frank Spicer was an alderman at Parkes from 1922-1969 and was elected Mayor 12 times (The Hon. Frank William SPICER (1893 – 1977) (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au) Frank Spicer was also “…a delegate to the Central West County Council, he sat on the Parkes Jockey Club Committee for 25 years, was a Councillor of the Royal Far West Children’s Health Scheme and Chairman of the Parkes Branch of the Australia Comfort Fund during World War II” (Dwyer, Margaret Jewels Along The Newell Bloomington, Indiana: Balboa Press, 2014. p180)
Spicer Park, named after the Hon. Frank William Spicer OBE Photo: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au
With the increase in usage, there was discussion that an oval, specifically designed for top class sport, be developed at Spicer Park. In 1938 Engineer Bellamy estimated construction and fencing costs would exceed £3,000 for the new oval (Parkes Municipal Council Meeting Minutes 17th May 1938, Number 675). Parkes Municipal Council were busy during 1939 to apply for grants to assist with the building costs for the new oval (Parkes Municipal Council Meeting Minutes 24th January 1939, Number 86 & 3rd October 1939, Number 1143).
Municipal of Parkes Council Minutes 1935 which state the name changes of public reserves including People’s Park now being called Spicer Park
One of the sporting highlight of the 1930s was the visit of Balmain Tigers Rugby League Club in 1934.
Parkes host Balmain Tigers Rugby League Football Club Source: BALMAIN v PARKES. (1934, June 1). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 5
Continuing the variety of events that Spicer Park would host, Council minutes record that the Mechanical Hare Coursing Club requested use of Spicer Park in November 1935 (Parkes Municipal Council Meeting Minutes 26th November 1935, Noumber 1134).
The highlight of the 1930s for Spicer Park would be again hosting the English Rugby League team who played a team from Far West.
An advertisement for a ball using the English rugby league team visit to help promote their event. Source: The Champion-Post Wednesday, June 3 1936, Microfilm Collection, Parkes Shire Library
List of the players for the upcoming England rugby league team vs Far West. The report indicates that this was not a second string set of players from England. Included are several Parkes players Source: The Champion-Post Wednesday, June 3 1936, Microfilm Collection, Parkes Shire Library
Although The Champion Post was being printed three times a week – Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – the visit of the English rugby league team to Parkes prompted a “special edition” on a Thursday. Source: The Champion-Post Thursday, June 11 1936, Microfilm Collection, Parkes Shire Library
Parkes Hospitality laid on for English footballers Source: The Champion-Post Thursday, June 11 1936, Microfilm Collection, Parkes Shire Library
Headline and photo of the English rugby league team’s visit to Parkes Source: The Champion-Post Thursday, June 11 1936, Microfilm Collection, Parkes Shire Library
1940s Foundations and Futureproofing
With the oval building completed in 1941 it now needed to be named. The minutes indicated that two councillors put forward an amendment to the original motion to call the new oval on Spicer Park, “Spooner Oval”. This was defeated and the new oval became Pioneer Memorial Oval, in memory of the many hardworking pioneers from over one hundred years ago. Had the amendment not been defeated, there could have been some confusion as the home ground of Forbes rugby league is called Spooner Oval (SPOONER SPORTS OVAL. (1938, December 2). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), p. 9)
Spooner Oval? Parkes and Forbes could have had football ovals with the same name had an amendment to a motion not been defeated. Photo: Parkes Municipal Council Minutes, 27th May 1941
In the 1940s Pioneer Memorial Oval was to receive a dressing shed, emergency lighting to allow the rugby league team to train two nights per week and yet more improvements were required. In 1946 the Parkes Sports Council mentioned to Council that improvements were needed. The Sports Council displayed good foresight in recommending these improvements, because the next decade and beyond would show that Parkes was still capable of hosting more international sporting teams.
To Be Continued…. Next Post – Timeline of Pioneer Memorial Oval 1950s to 2015
History Parkes 