Bradman Oval, Bowral

Acknowledgement of Country

Bradman Museum would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land at Bradman Oval: the Gundungurra people, their nation and their Elders past and present. Bradman Museum recognises and respects their continuing cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land incorporating Bradman Oval, which continues to today. The Bradman Foundation acknowledges and pays respect to the contribution they make to the life of Bowral township, and the wider Southern Highlands region.

‘Bradman Oval is a very special place for me … as a young boy growing up in the country town of Bowral, I had dreams of playing for Australia. I had a keen interest in many sports with the notable exception of swimming. I much preferred running and won the 100 yards, 220 yards, quarter and half-mile races in Bowral School’s Sports Day. My fast running was of great assistance to me when playing cricket.’

- Sir Donald Bradman foreword, Olympic Torch Relay Celebration, Bradman Oval, September 4, 2000


This image shows the combined Mittagong and Bowral District Cricket teams in 1926. A young Don Bradman (seated front row, in cap) played with the Bowral Cricket Club from the age of 12. His extended family were also deeply involved in local cricket.

Don's father George is pictured here, standing top right. Through the enormous influence and coaching of his maternal uncles George and Dick Whatman (seated centre, with moustache) - the Captain of the Bowral Cricket Team - the young boy from Bowral went on to become the world’s greatest batsman.

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Mittagong XIII v Bowral XIII Players L-R: J Beaumont (Mittagong), R Webb (Mittagong), J Kettel (Bowral), W Jeffrey (Mittagong), F Savell (Mittagong), B Rudge (Bowral), O Prior (Bowral), W Waine (Bowral), S Cupitt (Bowral), J Harrold (Bowral), George Bradman (Umpire). (Middle Row) S Smith (Bowral), W Neal (Mittagong), G Whatman (Bowral), R Whatman (Bowral), S Willis (Bowral), TC Welsh (Mittagong), M Harold (Bowral). (Front Row) W Smythers (Umpire), ACook (Mitagong), J Ryder (Mittagong), Don Bradman (Bowral), W Willis (Mittagong), G Bensley (Bowral), W Gallagher, W Neal (Mittagong), D Roberts (Mittagong), J Dobson (Mittagong).

A 'Glebe' for the community

'Glebe' is defined as 'a piece of land serving as part of a clergyman's benefice'. Since Mayor of Bowral, Ald. Oxley, opened Glebe Park in 1909 (shown here) the land has served the Bowral community for it's recreation.

Early years of a town

In June 1823 Governor Thomas Brisbane granted land including what would become Bowral to NSW Surveyor-General and explorer John Oxley. In 1859, forty-three acres of this land was granted to the Bishop of Sydney for the use of The Church of England. Established in 1861 as Bowral, local residents called the area surrounding the current oval ‘a Glebe’. As the 'age of leisure' swept the newly industrialised british colonies, cricket became the prime local and national sport of interest in Australia The Glebe was first associated with cricket in 1891, when a Bowral team played Marulan village side on the ground.


In 1909 the Bowral Council leased 24 acres of this land from the Church for community sport and recreation. The northern part was developed into two cricket fields with pitches made from clay from ant beds. Matting was used for the playing surface. Two grounds were reduced to one when the Glebe Street residential subdivision was approved in the early 1920s.This is also the time a the Bradman family purchased land directly opposite the oval, at 20 Glebe Street. The ground was like an extended yard for the young Don, who would score for his father's team and later join the men playing when aged only 12.

As the home of the Bowral District Cricket Club, the during Don Bradman’s time, a rudimentary shed was built near the intersection of St Jude and Bendooley Streets. In 1927, a wooden fence was constructed around the boundary.

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Bowral Town Cricket Team, circa 1912. George Bradman, Don's father, is standing fourth right. Note the matting stretched over the concrete pitch.

Local and national pride in Bradman

Following the town's 'son' - Don Bradman - breaking the World Record at the Sheffield Shield at the SCG in January 1930, Don came to represent great pride to the Bowral community.

As early as August 1930, news of Bowral cricket ground at Glebe Park being renamed in Bradman's honour was being advocated. The Southern Mail's editor wrote,

"...Don needs no such monument to keep his memory green in his home town, the name would be an inspiration to the youth of the district for all the years that are to come."

These were austere times as the Great Depression raged, purchasing the land from the church would have been a big sacrifice for many. By February 1934, Bowral Council was able to negotiate purchasing the land at Glebe Ground (Glebe Park) from the St Jude's churchwarden, for an immense sum of 1000 pounds, to be paid over 10 years.

In October 1938, Bowral Council officially renamed the oval in Bradman's name. However, the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 (to 1945) brought austerity once again to the town and the ground wasn't officially marked as 'Bradman Oval' until 1947.

Don Bradman with lifelong friend and mentor Alf Stephens (Bowral Mayor 1928-29), in the Southern Highlands 1933. Stephens had immense influence on Bradman's development as a cricketer. He constructed a practice pitch at the Stephens family home in Bowral and encouraged young Bradman to regularly practice there throughout the early 1920s. Stephens and his wife Lily regularly toured to England when Bradman played there in Test matches.

Early sign identifying Bradman Oval, Bowral.

The oval thrived over the decades as Bowral District Cricket Club's home ground. It also hosted community events such as the ceremonial launch of the annual Bowral Flower Festival. Image, sign erected 1962.

The Rededication: Returning Home

On September 4, 1976 a match was held to rededicate ‘Bradman Oval’ after numerous improvements to the playing surface. NSW players such as John Benaud, Gary Gilmour, Len Pascoe and Doug Walters competed alongside local cricketers.

The ground had been levelled with a stone retaining wall erected on the western boundary, the overfill being used to level a 2m deep grassed drainage channel on the eastern boundary. At the same time a more substantial dressing shed was built on the southern rise.

In a poignant and historic moment, former Australian Test bowler, Bill O’Reilly, (then aged 70) bowled the first ball of the match to his lifelong colleague Sir Donald Bradman, on the oval where the two first played against one another in rival district teams Wingello and Bowral.

Don Bradman, followed by Bowral Mayor David Wood, acknowledges the players, Bradman Oval, September 4, 1976.

Image includes Gordon Lewis, Jack Chegwyn, Bill O'Reilly (partly obscured), John Benaud, Len Pascoe, Marshall Rosen, and Keith Moore.

NSW's worst drought of the century occurred between 1982-1983. The oval continued to be used for cricket and community events, despite the climate and water restrictions.

Project Bradman

In 1983, Bowral Lawyer and local history enthusiast Garry Barnsley, canvassed a proposal to Sir Donald Bradman - to establish a cricket museum in his name. Barnsley later submitted to council for the Bradman Museum and Oval upgrade. In march 1989, the dressing shed was demolished and construction of the Bradman Pavilion commenced.

News of the Bradman name at the oval being extended to include a dedicated cricket museum was widely reported. 'Project Bradman' Committee founder and spokesperson, Garry Barnsley, is quoted,

"...It seemed to me that something ought to be done to visibly link between Bradman and Bowral."

The Canberra Times. August 13, 1986

In 2001, after Sir Donald Bradman's passing, his and Lady Jessie Bradman's combined ashes were laid to rest overlooking Bradman Oval, in a dedicated memorial garden.

Many notable teams and players have visited Bradman Oval over the years. India's Sachin Tendulkar visited the Bradman Museum in 2014, paying his respects to Sir Donald Bradman's final resting place on the grounds and taking a tour of the museum. He met with crowds and played cricket on the oval with the children of Bowral District Cricket Club (BCC).

As it is now
Today Bradman Oval is recognised as one of the most historic and picturesque cricket grounds in Australia. As well as hosting one-day women's international matches, cricket coaching camps, NSW state representative trials, home games for the Highlands District Cricket Association and social matches, the Bradman Foundation also hosts many philanthropic events on the oval;

The Coverdrive Program (held in conjunction with local charity The Kollege of Knowledge Kommittee for Kids) gives disabled children opportunity to play sports weekly on the Oval. The annual 'Spirit of Cricket Carnival' sees NSW Under 14 cricketers compete annually on The Don's home ground. Cricket legend Steve Waugh hosts children's cricket camps each school holidays, and every Christmas the ground is alight with candles and cheer at Carols by Candlelight. Bradman Oval remains a public recreation area for all people of the Southern Highlands, thereby staying true to its original purpose in 1909, of a place for the entire community.

Bradman Oval is more than a cricket ground; it is a place of beauty, history and community. Places such as this brings people together. Happy memories are made here and can shape our lives. As a significant place for the Gundungurra people, it is also now a deeply important place for the people of Bowral, and many Australians alike.