Centenary of Australian Rules Football GamePrint Page 
A plaque commemorates the centenary of Australian Rules football.
Australian rules football was invented in Melbourne, Australia, in 1858. The first match identified as a direct precursor to the codification of Australian football was organised and umpired by Tom Wills and contested on August 7 1858 between Melbourne Grammar School and Scotch College, adjacent to the Melbourne Cricket Ground at the Richmond Paddock. The oldest surviving set of rules of Australian rules football were drawn up on 17 May 1859, three days after the formation of the melbourne Football Club.
The origins of Australian football before 1858 are still the subject of much debate, as there were a multitude of football games in Britain, Ireland and Australia whose rules influenced the early football games played in Melbourne.
Location
| Address: | Brunton Avenue, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, 3000 |
|---|---|
| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -37.82007 Long: 144.983439 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Culture |
| Sub-Theme: | Sport |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 07-August-1858 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 07-August-1958 |
Dedication
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL
1858 - 1958.
On this site the first game of Australian Football was
played on August 7th 1858,
between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School.
To commemorate the centenary of the Australian game
all states of the Commonwealth and the A.C.T. participated
in an All-Australian Championship, played here on
2nd to 12th July 1958.
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL COUNCIL
R. P. Rodriguez S. M. President.
C. Bruce Andrew J.P. Secretary.
Populo Ludus Populi.
