History
In October 1855 an application was made for the Richmond Cricket Club to play matches on the Richmond paddock next to the site occupied by the Melbourne Cricket Club. The first documented cricket match on the oval was played on 27 December 1856.
It was used as the home ground by the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) from 1885 to 1907 then in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1908 to 1964. It was also used by the Melbourne Football Club during and immediately after World War II, when the MCG became a military base. Not until late 1946 were Melbourne able to play the MCG again. Owing to the arrangement of the draw for 1942, South Melbourne played one home game there against Hawthorn when Richmond had the bye.
The Tigers, under the stewardship of Club President Ray Dunn, negotiated to move their home games to the MCG and, on 22 August 1964, the last senior VFL game was played at Punt Road when Richmond played host to Hawthorn.
In November 1999 it hosted a Mercantile Mutual Cup match between Victoria and Canberra
Read more about this topic: Punt Road Oval
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