Fearon Reserve
Fearon Reserve is an Australian rules football and cricket venue in the Melbourne suburb of Williamstown. The name also refers to the wider public park in which the main oval and lacrosse field are located.
As of 2025, it is home to the Williamstown CYMS Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, the Williamstown Imperial Cricket Club in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association, and the Williamstown Lacrosse Club.
History
Garden's Reserve was established in the 1870s. The Williamstown Football Club, which was established in 1864 and initially competed in junior competitions, was granted permission by Williamstown Council to play its home matches on the ground in 1872.In 1884, Williamstown was elevated from junior status and entered the Victorian Football Association as a senior side. The club sought to play its home matches at the Williamstown Cricket Ground, located approximately away, but were not granted permission owing to a dispute with the Williamstown Cricket Club, and WFC was forced to continue playing at Garden's Reserve. Because the ground was unfenced, WFC was unable to charge for admission to its home matches.
Players wishing to play on the cricket ground ultimately established a rival senior club, the South Williamstown Football Club, which contested the VFA in 1886 and 1887. The dispute was settled in 1888 and South Williamstown amalgamated with Williamstown; and, through an organisational affiliation with the cricket club, the WCG was established as the football club's permanent home ground. The final VFA match at Garden's Reserve was between Williamstown and on 17 September 1887, in front of a crowd of 400 people.
The Williamstown CYMS Football Club played at Garden's Reserve as early as 1909, while the Williamstown Lacrosse Club moved there in 1910. At this time, the ground was described by lacrosse players as a "cow paddock" because it did not have a proper playing field. When the ground was redeveloped in 1936, it was renamed to Fearon Reserve in honour of James Fearon, a harbour pilot who served as the president of the Williamstown Lacrosse Club between 1901 and 1943.
Until the late 1970s, the player changing room and the social clubrooms were located in the same area, forcing supporters to wait outside while the players showered. A wooden pavilion stood on the western side of the ground before it was replaced by a brick building.