Celebrating 100 Years of Northbourne Oval
We’re proud to share that the 100 Years of Northbourne Oval Project has received funding through the ACT Heritage Grants Program 2025–26.
This project celebrates the incredible history and community significance of Northbourne Oval — the birthplace of rugby league in the ACT and home to generations of players, fans and local legends.
Through the support of the ACT Government and the ACT Heritage Council, the project — undertaken by the Canberra District Rugby League (CDRL) — will preserve the stories, images and memories that have shaped one of Canberra’s most historic sporting venues.
A dedicated microsite will launch soon, showcasing how we’ll be celebrating the Oval’s centenary — including opportunities to share your own memories of Northbourne Oval, nominate who you think should appear in a permanent on-site mural, and more.
Since opening in 1925, Northbourne Oval has been a stage for a rich mix of sporting codes — including cricket, Australian rules football to rugby league — reflecting its enduring place in Canberra’s sporting and social life.
2025 marks a century since the establishment of Northbourne Oval, a central part of Walter Burley Griffin’s original design for Canberra. As North Canberra’s earliest enclosed public recreational reserve, the Oval has been in continuous use for 100 years — a living link between the city’s sporting past and its vibrant present.
Canberra Raiders respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
