1986: Parramatta Stadium opened by Queen Elizabeth II

Above: The official opening of Parramatta Stadium on March 5, 1986. Full citation below.

 

The former Parramatta Stadium (1986-2016) was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on March 5 1986. 

It replaced Cumberland Oval, which by the early 1980's became run-down, and in 1981 the grandstand was burned to the ground as Parramatta fans celebrated their first NSWRL Premiership on September 27, 1981. 

Source: Jones, M. 1986. "35,000 Royalists: The Queen packs 'em in at Parramatta". The Daily Telegraph, March 6: 5. 

As for the opening itself, a crowd estimated at up to 35 000 gathered at the stadium. 

The Queen was accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. The Premier of NSW, Neville Wran and Federal Sports Minister (and local Federal Member) John Brown were among the political dignitaries present.

Source: Andrews, M. 1986. "But, says Sterling, little has changed:. The Daily Telegraph, March 17:2. 

The first event held at the stadium was a NSWRL (now NRL) round 2 fixture between Parramatta and St George on March 16, 1986. This featured a special pre-game ceremony. Below is a video containing highlights of the game and the pre-match ceremony, posted on the NRL's YouTube Channel. There are clippings at the start, with an overview of construction and the official opening by the Queen.  

Parramatta defeated the 1985 Grand Finalists 36-6. 

This year also marks 10 years since the stadium was closed, demolished, and rebuilt as Western Sydney Stadium. Its last event was on August 29 2016, when Parramatta and St George-Illawarra (originally St George) played in Round 25 of the regular season. These were the same teams who had played the first sporting fixture on the ground three decades earlier. Parramatta, as they did in 1986, beat St George-Illawarra 30-18.

VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Football's Field of Dreams at E S Marks Athletics Field (2006)

This is the last entry in our current Visions of Sydney Series. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup currently being held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, I recently came across a 2006 article from The Daily Telegraph. At the time, the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) proposed a centre of excellence for Australian Football to support the development of football sides such as the Socceroos, Matildas, and Olyroos.

The proposed site was E S Marks Field at Moore Park

It was a good proposal. It would have allowed other sports to continue using the facility, including Athletics and Rugby League, but it never got off the ground.

Australia is one of four nations in the 2026 World Cup that does not have a national base or centre of excellence. However, it has been reported in recent months that it is exploring the option to create such a centre at Sydney Olympic Park. 

Source: Smithies, T. 2006. "Sydney to get a field of dreams". The Daily Telegraph, April 11; 40-41.

Next Week, Remember This? will return for its mid-year run.

Remember This? Winter Swimming at Bondi Icebergs (2004)

In recent times, there has been an increasing appeal of immersion in cold water, such as ice baths, due to the health benefits it can bring to a person and its potential to aid in the healing of muscle injuries. However, this has been disputed by some. 

Our mild winters and warm coastal waters, even in cooler months of the year, make swimming in Sydney a year-round activity. The biggest challenge of swimming in Sydney during winter is not the water itself. It's being out of it that's a problem, i.e. exposure to the cold air. 

Water temperatures in winter average from 19 to 21 degrees. The coldest month for ocean waters is usually August, but it can be in September.

In our coastal suburbs, air temperatures on the coldest mornings are around 5 degrees, which makes being in the water more appealing than braving the cold on land.

Below is a 2004 feature on Bondi Icebergs and its increase in membership numbers associated with an increase in Sydneysiders opting to brave the cold temperatures for their early morning swim.    

Source: Creighton, L. 2004. "Dawn patrol as winter swimmers splash out". The Sunday Telegraph, June 6: 20-21. 

MILESTONE: 25 Years of Stadium Australia (1999)

This year marks 25 years since Stadium Australia (currently known as Accor Stadium) was completed and hosted its first events ahead of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

In 1999, it was in its Olympic configuration, with a capacity of 110,000 and two temporary stands erected at the northern and southern ends of the stadium. Both stands were demolished after the Olympic Games in 2000 when the stadium was reconfigured into its current configuration of 83 500, and stadium roofing was extended over the northern and southern stands.  

Some of the highlights from its first year included:

NRL Double Header - March 6 1999

To mark the start of the 1999 Rugby League season, the National Rugby League (NRL) decided to host a doubleheader at the stadium in round one, which attracted a world record attendance of 104 583. 

In the first match, Newcastle defeated Manly 41-18, while Parramatta defeated St George-Illawarra 20-10. The night was also historic because it was the first match featuring the joint venture team St George Illawarra, formed after a merger of the St George Dragons and Illawarra Steelers at the end of the 1998 NRL season.  

Bee Gees concert - March 27 1999

The Bee Gees claimed bragging rights for the first concert at the stadium, held just three weeks after the NRL Double Header. Over 60,000 attended the concert, the only Australian concert in its six-concert world tour.

Source: Scatena, D. 1999. "Bee Gees a sure thing in the poll that counts". The Daily Telegraph, March 27: 15. 

However, the concert was overshadowed by the lack of train services to transport those travelling home to the Western Suburbs after the concert. As for the concert itself, there were issues with food and drink, but the sound was "great". Barry Gibb (Bee Gees) was "very impressed" with the stadium and the sound.

Source: McMillan, A. 1999. "So, where were the trains". The Daily Telegraph, March 29: 7.

Official Opening - June 12 1999

Stadium Australia. 1999. "The Official Opening of Stadium Australia" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, June 11: 17.

I was fortunate to attend this event with my family on a cold june evening, sitting in the temporary southern grandstand. 88 000 people were treated to an entertainment spectacular before the feature event - an international football (soccer) match between the Socceroos and the Fifa All Stars. Australia prevailed 3-2. 

NFL American Bowl - August 7 1999

Held on August 7, the American Bowl was hosted in Australia for the first time, featuring the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers. Watched by a crowd of just under 74,000 people, Denver won 20-17.

Bledisloe Cup - August 28 1999

On August 28, Stadium Australia hosted its first rugby union international test. Australia faced New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup.  It set a world record for the most attended rugby union game - 107 042, only to be broken the following year when the same nations played before a crowd of 109 874. Australia won 28-7 to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Also, John Williamson led the crowd in singing Waltzing Matilda after the All Blacks performed the pre-game haka. 

NRL Grand Final - September 26 1999

Held on September 26, 1999, St George Illawarra returned to the ground where they began their season and faced up to the Melbourne Storm, who were playing in their first grand final. Melbourne Storm defeated St George 20-18 after a penalty try was awarded to Craig Smith (Melbourne) late in the game and was converted by Matt Geyer. 

The 1999 NRL Grand Final also had the highest attendance of a rugby league game in the world, beating the record set six months earlier in the same venue, with 107,999 in attendance.  

Source: Stephens, T. 1999. "Lazarus and the miracle of the Melbourne stealers". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 27: 1.

The Sydney Morning Herald published a photospread in its Sporting Life section on September 27 1999.

 

1995: Golf Driving Range in the Sydney CBD

Angel Place spent the 1990's as one of Sydney's "Black Holes" after a failed attempt by the AMP at the end of the 1980's and early in the decade to build a major office tower on the site. By the mid 1990's AMP were still discussing how to develop the site, but golf fans were given a treat when the empty site hosted a temporary golf driving range. City office workers could practice their golf swing during their lunch breaks.

The article below is from The Daily Telegraph Mirror in 1995.

Source: Skelsey, M. 1995. "Concert hall for city's black hole". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, August 16: 27.

Click here if you want to find out why the site ended up becoming one of Sydney's "Black Holes" from the 1990's. 

1987: When the NSWRL wanted to slug $32 per ticket at the Sydney Football Stadium

On August 28, the rebuilt Sydney Football Stadium was officially opened followed by the first sporting fixture on September 2 when the Sydney Roosters played the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 25 of the NRL Premiership Competition, before meeting again in an elimination final last weekend. 

Tickets for that match ranged from $40 through to $100 for adults 

That was very good value when compared with the $32 that the NSWRL wanted to slug fans for matches played at the original Sydney Football Stadium as part of the 1988 NSWRL Premiership. The price also applied to children. 

The RBA Inflation Calculator equates $32.00 to approximately $76.78 in todays money. 

Source: Rothfield, P. 1987. "$32 To watch top league here". The Daily Telegraph, November 18: 1-2. 

Did the fans get good value for money? No

While the new Football Stadium had hosted regular season NSWRL matches, its first major sporting fixture was on May 17 1988 when 26 441 attended the first match of the State of Origin Series. Queensland defeated NSW 26-18. 

The crowd was down 16 000 on the previous fixture held at the SCG the previous year, suggesting that high ticket prices had turned them off. For the fans that turned up, they were unhappy at what $32 bought them. The facilities were underwhelming.

If you check out the footage of highlights from the game on Youtube, you will find that the areas behind the goalposts were deserted. 

Source: Bowditch, S. & Bilkey, M. 1988. "Football stadium a loser in big game". The Daily Telegraph, May 19: 4. 

In the end they were forced to reduce prices - $20 for adults and $10 tickets for children for the upcoming rugby league tour by Great Britain. Compared to other sporting venues and codes, it was still high. The discounted tickets applied to seats on the wing or behind the goal posts. Sitting on the halfway line still cost patrons $32. Only 24 000 attended the First Test at the stadium on June 11 and and 16 000 for the third test. 

 

Source: Bowditch, S., Bilkey, M. & Chesterton, R. 1988. "$12 cut for end seats at stadium". The Daily Telegraph, May 21: 5. 

Remember This? Sydney International Aquatic Centre Officially Opens (1995)

Did you know that this month is 25 years since the Sydney International Aquatic Centre at Sydney Olympic Park was officially opened?

It was officially opened by NSW Premier John Fahey on January 21 1995, three months after opening to the public in October 1994. 

Below is a feature article from the January 14, 1995 edition of The Daily Telegraph Mirror. In addition, swimming legend Murray Rose, provided some of his insights.  

Remember this: Winfield Cup Banner at Belmore Oval (1985)

I remember as recently as 2012, seeing the faded Winfield Cup Banner at Belmore Oval on the train heading to do volunteer work at a primary school.

Here is a Winfield Cup advertisement featuring the banner from its heyday in 1985. It was published in September 1985 in The Daily Telegraph but the exact date is not known.

2000: Sydney Olympics Flashback - Opening & Closing Ceremonies

The Games of the 31st Olympiad are well underway in Rio De Janiero, Brazil. We were treated to an impressive opening ceremony on Saturday morning. This week lets relive our ceremony from when we hosted the Games of the 27th Olympiad in September 2000.

Sydney's Opening Ceremony on September 15 lasted four hours and involved more than 10 000 performers. Stockmen on Horses opened the ceremony with a procession which culminated in them forming the Olympic rings. After the VIP's and the anthem was sung, viewers were treated to the story of a young girl visiting the beach. She falls asleep and then is taken on a trip through time as the story of Australia. The young girl was Sydney school student Nikki Webster. She now runs a dance school based at Leichhardt.

   

The cauldron was lit by Cathy Freeman who would go on to win gold in her pet event - the 400 metre race in Athletics a week and a half later. Legends including Dawn Fraser and Betty Cuthbert were tipped as favourites by bookies to receive the honour. Fraser and Cuthert joined Shane Gould, Raylene Boyle, Shirley Strickland De La Hunty and Debbie Flintoff King in relaying the flame around Stadium Australia. However, there was an epic blunder when technical problems saw the lit cauldron stop on its ascent for four minutes.

Performers included John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John who performed a duet - "Dare to Dream". Vanessa Amorossi performed "Heroes Live Forever" while Tina Arena performed "The Flame" to welcome the Olympic Flame into the stadium. Julie Anthony with support from Human Nature performed the best ever rendition of Advance Australia Fair and for a change, both verses were sung.

10 000 Athletes from 199 countries plus 4 Individual Olympic Athletes from East Timor participated in the Parade of Athletes. As hosts, Australia marched into the stadium at the end of the parade with a team of 632 athletes, receiving a big welcome from the 110 000 assembled.

Governor General Sir William Deane (as the Queen's representative in Australia) officially opened the Olympics.

Eight former Olympic Champions from Australia were involved in the raising of the Olympic Flag.

The ceremony was broadcast on Channel Seven and this was the most watched television event in Australian History with around 11 million watching that evening.

As a bonus, why not include the Closing Ceremony as well. This had to be our biggest concert ever with a plethora of stars including Slim Dusty, Midnight Oil, Paul Hogan, Savage Garden and Kylie Minogue.

This was also the first closing ceremony where the show was taken out of the main stadium - a 20-minute fireworks finale on Sydney Harbour featuring a river of fire from the Stadium down the Parramatta River into Sydney Harbour. One million attended the display itself, which at the time was the biggest fireworks show in history. It involved five fireworks companies from around the world. The "best ever" Olympics had finished with a bang.

Sydney did set one new innovation that Beijing was happy to do for their opening ceremony in 2008 - A big fireworks finale to end off the show. They were not afraid to take out of the stadium and into the surrounding area. London also followed Sydney's lead. Melbourne did it for their Commonwealth Games in 2006.

It was moments like this in the Sydney Olympic Games that would help reinvigorate the Olympic Movement which was battling corruption associated with the successful bid for the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sydney was seen as vital to the future of the Olympic Movement and this city gave it a shot in the arm.

The Olympic Cauldron at Cathy Freeman Park. Photo was taken by the Author (2006).

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: What Concord Oval might have been!!! (1987)

I was a toddler when these plans for Concord Oval came out, in 1987 but to discover this about a year ago really impressed me. I had heard over the years especially in the 1990's plans to enlarge it, but this has never happened. 

But the question I might have to ask myself is why the Australian Rugby Union felt the need to build its own purpose-built stadium when Sydney was getting a 45 000 seat football stadium that could accommodate them along with Rugby League and Soccer. The three sports co-exist at Moore Park very well and every weekend has seen one (if not two codes) make use of the ground. 

It was probably about prestige and the fact that maybe one huge 45 000 seat rectangular stadium for Sydney was not enough. The idea of an Olympic Stadium or an ever bigger stadium was yet to emerge. 

Source: Australian Rugby Union. 1987. "Rugby Union announces plans for 39, 800 seat stadium at Concord" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, July 11: 12.

It was the Sydney Football Stadium and Stadium Australia (ANZ Stadium) that killed off the plans ultimately. Apart from the facilities that the stadiums offer, Concord Oval is surrounded by homes which make expansion difficult along with access to transport. Parramatta Road which runs along the southern side is Sydney's busiest road. The major stadiums offer better transport options. Stadium Australia is serviced by rail at Olympic Park while the Sydney Football Stadium is served by buses and not far from the Sydney CBD. Stadium Australia is only about five kilometres away as well, and double the size of what Concord Oval might have been.

Canada Bay Council, recently expressed its desire to see the venue get a decent upgrade with the hope of attracting some major events like NRL or A-League games. However that will be hard to pursue as the NSW Government injects over $1 billion into ANZ and the Football Stadium along with Parramatta Stadium. Suburban Grounds will still get some funding as part of the plans with a dollar for dollar deal.

1988: First NSWRL Game at the Sydney Football Stadium

I love my Rugby League, and to mark off the start of the NRL season, why don't we mark it by sharing some articles of the very first game to be held at the new Sydney Football Stadium all the way back on March 4 1988. The stadium had been built at a cost of $65 million.

The match was between Eastern Suburbs and St George. The visitors (St George) won the game 24-14 before a crowd of 20 000.  This was despite wet weather.

Source: Anonymous. 1988. "Saints shine at league's new home." The Daily Telegraph, March 5: 1.

The back page of the same paper with coverage by Ray Chesterton.

Source: Chesterton, R. 1988. "Saints Draw First Blood." The Daily Telegraph, March 5: 142 & 144. 

 The captains of both teams posed at the new stadium ahead of the game.

Source: Anonymous. 1988. "It's kick off time for a spectacular stadium." The Daily Telegraph, March 4: Page unknown. 

I came across a Youtube video posted by "rugbyleaguevideos" of highlights from that match, screened on Channel Ten. It doesn't even look like there are 20 000. The problem with the stadium has been the lack of shelter for fans. Some would have been forced to go under whatever shelter was available.