Here at Newtown Park, imagine echoes of history resonating through the grounds. Newtown Park is more than just a park. It is a multi-purpose stadium in Wellington. Wellington City Council owns and manages it.
Let’s dive into Newtown Park’s story. It was built in 1881. Back then, it was part of Wellington Zoo. In 1882, Newtown Park hosted an international rugby game. New South Wales beat Wellington with a score of 14-2. Five thousand spectators watched including Governor Sir James Prendergast. Until 1896, Newtown Park was Wellington’s main rugby ground. That was until Athletic Park opened.
Newtown Park also played a role in wartime efforts. It housed New Zealand troops. They were preparing to depart for the Boer War, World War I, and World War II. The Wellington rugby league team and the New Zealand Kiwis also used Newtown Park. They played games against international teams here. The first game was in 1913. New South Wales defeated Wellington 34-18. Ten thousand fans were in attendance.
Today, Newtown Park is a hub of activity. It hosts football matches in winter. Track and field athletics take place in summer. Newtown Park is the primary athletics stadium for the Wellington region. Wellington United Football club gets priority for weekend bookings during winter. Athletics Wellington gets priority during the summer. They also get weekdays outside school hours.
The main arena features a 400-meter all-weather track. It has spectator stands and a function room. To the south of the main arena is a second pitch called Newtown Park 2.
In 2011, the number one pitch was re-developed. It became a training venue for teams competing in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Football events were moved to other venues during the tournament.
Newtown Park was a training venue for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Wellington City Council made improvements to the facilities. Both turf fields were renovated. Floodlights were installed in the main arena. Showers and changing rooms were upgraded.
Wellington United organizes events at Newtown Park during the winter football season. The A-League franchise Wellington Phoenix used the second pitch. They used it for training and minor exhibition matches. Later, they moved to Martin Luckie Park. Then they moved to Fraser Park in Lower Hutt.
Newtown Park has hosted several important football events. These include the 1925, 1927, 1989, and 2012 finals of the Chatham Cup. It also hosted the 2007 Women’s National League Final. In 2008, an earthquake relief match took place here. It was an exhibition between Wellington Phoenix United and Christchurch Chinese Community. Also in 2008, a pre-Olympic exhibition match was held. It was between New Zealand Under-23 and Chile Under-23.
Athletics Wellington manages regional track and field meets. They happen at Newtown Park during the summer season. In January 2022, the North Island Colgate Games were held here. These games are for children aged 7-14. Twelve hundred athletes participated. Newtown Park hosted the 2023 and 2024 New Zealand Track and Field Championships. School athletics events are also held here. The McEvedy Shield competition is an annual athletics series. Four Wellington boys schools compete. Many other schools use Newtown Park for in-house athletics events. The Kiwi Athletic Club has its base at Newtown Park.
Newtown Park serves as a community events center. It has hosted cultural events like Carols by Candlelight. Newtown Park has a rich history. It continues to serve the community. It is a place for sports, events, and community gatherings.