OUR GROUND

Address: Canning Reserve, Canning Street Avondale Heights VIC 3034

How to get there: LocationMap or Melway Map 27 G8

Car Parking: 120 Vehicle spaces on surrounding car park plus additional overflow parking on adjacent reserve

Facilities: Food & drinks available from the Club. Outside and surroundings feature sheltered areas, picnic & bbq areas and public toilets.

Historic Information
Avondale Heights Football Club’s original home ground from the club’s infancy in 1966 was Doyle Street Reserve in Doyle Street, Avondale Heights. As the area’s population continued to grow, the club continued to grow as well. By 1972, the number of junior teams had increased to provide for the youth of the area and the club was fielding two senior teams.
In 1976, the senior teams moved from Doyle Street to our current ground and facility at Canning reserve. Junior teams followed a couple of years later and Canning Reserve has been our home since. The Avondale Heights Auskick Clinic relocated from Doyle Street Reserve to Canning Street in 2012.
 
Historic Location
Canning Reserve is a riverside area that was once home to the Riverview Tea Gardens. Established by Daniel Hicks in 1909, the site offered a variety of diversions, including sports grounds, tennis courts, aviaries and kiosks. Daniel Hicks was an energetic businessman who also operated boat cruises to the gardens, where visitors could partake in scones and hot beverages. What a sight it must have been in its heyday with over 1000 people enjoying themselves by dancing to Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep in the dance hall as well as playing tennis. People would also spend time viewing the Birds, Kangaroos, Emus, Wallabies and Wombats throughout the gardens or they would just sit around to enjoy a picnic and maybe a Devonshire Tea. During World War 2, a boom was placed across the Maribynong River as a security measure. This resulted in a decline in popularity and the Tea Gardens closed down in 1947. However the remaining terraces and some of their original trees remain.

Today, Canning Reserve and the Tea Gardens area is a popular picnic spot. There are walkways extending along the Maribyrnong River for walkers and cyclists to enjoy. Canning Reserve is home of the Avondale Heights Sporting Club with both football and cricket being played.