Picture this a sprawling green expanse. This is Moore Park Sydney’s beloved green lungs. Millions visit each year. Yet few truly grasp its amazing history.
Moore Park’s story begins long before its official naming. The land was part of the second Sydney Common. Governor Lachlan Macquarie decreed this in 1811. It wasn’t for people. It was technically for cattle. A common pasturage for Sydney’s inhabitants’ cattle.
The 1840s brought Victoria Barracks to Paddington. Convicts built these barracks. A strong military presence emerged near Moore Park. In 1852 the British Army received land south of the Barracks. They used it as a soldier’s cricket ground and garden. A rifle range was added nearby. Military parades and drills often took place on the Common.
A cemetery existed near the rifle range on what is now Moore Park Golf. It operated until 1861. A report cited contamination risks. Sydney’s water supply was at risk.
New roads were built by the mid-1850s. These connected Sydney to the south through Moore Park. Toll houses were established to fund road maintenance. One still stands today. The second was demolished in 1909. It was strategically placed near Randwick Racecourse. Toll collectors likely made more money from those heading to the races than from those leaving.
The Sydney Common Improvement Bill passed in 1866. 378 acres were transferred to Sydney City Council. The council designated the land for public recreation. It was already unofficially used for sport.
On April 29 1867 the area was named Moore Park. This honored Charles Moore. He was Sydney’s mayor and Botanic Garden director. The park officially opened on September 9 1868.
Over the next 20 years Moore Park blossomed. The Moore Park Zoological Gardens opened. The Sydney Showground became home to the Royal Easter Show. Formalised sport arrived. This included Australia’s first known polo game in 1874. The military cricket ground was upgraded in 1876. It became the NSW Cricket Association Ground. Later it was renamed the SCG in 1894.
Tensions grew between the military and civilians. The community increasingly demanded sporting access. The military’s grip on Moore Park weakened. Even in 1875 a military spokesman complained about being driven out by football players and cricketers.
The first Royal Easter Show took place in 1882. That same year saw the Australian Golf Club’s founding. Moore Park Zoo opened in 1884. It was Sydney’s first official public zoo. It closed in 1916. Animals moved to Taronga Zoo.
By the late 1800s Moore Park was Sydney’s top sporting and entertainment hub. It hosted cricket a stadium golf a racecourse a showground a running track and fields for various football codes. Moore Park’s popularity reflected the community’s need for recreation. This is a legacy that continues to this day.