From an abandoned gold mine to one of country Victoria’s most admired sporting complexes – that’s the story of St. Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park.
The capacious Park is home to a variety of activities, including football netball, hockey and harness racing, and to the St. Arnaud Sporting Club, overlooking the playing field.
In comparatively recent times – post World War II – Aussie Rules football has transferred to “Lord Nelson” from the picturesque King George’s Park, which had proved to be not quite “roomy” enough for winter sports players, spectators and vehicles.
King George’s Park, however, is ideal for cricket, which lately has switched back to its traditional home, having spent some summers at “Lord Nelson”.
The reincarnation of Lord Nelson Park is nothing short of astonishing, beginning with a vision held by those who could see its potential for a life other than mining, then taken up by decades of committees, volunteers and contractors, who have turned a dream into spectacular reality.
The beauty of this special site is that it can cater for almost any number of people and vehicles. Parking space is no problem, and the sloping surrounds provide natural grandstands for everyone.
Not only for St. Arnaud, but also for the entire North-Central League, Lord Nelson Park is pure gold.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 25 July 2023.
