Melbourne Cricket Ground

A national icon

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is a national icon beloved for its strong and enduring connections to sport. Lovell Chen's relationship with the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) dates to the 1990s. In 2000, Lovell Chen prepared a conservation management plan for the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in association with Bryce Raworth. The ground was found to be of historical, social/spiritual and aesthetic significance at a state level, nationally and internationally. As part of the CMP, a series of conservation-related objectives were developed, directed at recognising and maintaining the values of the place. The highest priority identified was to maintain the pre-eminence of the MCG as the state's best-loved and highest capacity sports ground and ensure its continued viability.

A commanding physical presence

Recognition was also given to the commanding physical presence of the stadium and the clarity of its form viewed from close and afar, as well as its parkland setting. The focus on the status of the complex and its ongoing use reflects the evolved nature of the place, as despite a history going back to the 1850s, its heritage values are not embodied in early building fabric (of which little remains). The MCG is an unusual case — a heritage place where the fabric is of not great age but the values are very high.

The CMP was the basis for consideration of proposals for major upgrade works now completed, including the redevelopment of the Northern (Olympic) Stand, the Western (Ponsford) Stand and the 1928 Members Pavilion. We advised on the heritage implications and impacts, and the MCG was subsequently added to the National Heritage List.

Details

Client

Melbourne Cricket Club

Date

2000 - Ongoing

Status

Ongoing

Location

Melbourne/Naarm

Traditional Owners

Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people

Image © Brett Ginsberg

Image © TK Kurikawa

An ongoing role

Since then, Lovell Chen has advised and obtained approvals for a series of projects, large and small, at the MCG and Yarra Park. All are generally associated with the need to maintain and upgrade facilities consistent with the requirements of the sporting codes, sports media and sporting public. Projects include grandstand, scoreboard and lighting upgrade works, hard and soft landscaping, signage development and the introduction of the Australia Post Avenue of Legends in Yarra Park.