Whitten Oval, Windy Hill

Cheesie-the-Pirate · Post by **Cheesie-the-Pirate** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:03 pm

I couldn't find a particularly relevant old thread to bump for this, so here's a new one. A dull day and getting acquainted with a new camera makes for some rather unattractive photography, but here are some pictures from my stadium visit for the weekend.

E. J. Whitten Stand, with the corporate box stand (name?) in the foreground. Taken from Cross Street.

Earthworks continue on a gloomy Saturday. Taken from Cross Street.

A rather muddy Northern/Eastern outer. Taken from underneath the Geelong Road overpass (I think).

The corporate box stand thingy (technical term). Taken from Gordon Street.

Whitten Stand rises above a good ol' pile of dirt. Taken from Gordon Street.

Southern/Eastern outer. Taken from Gordon Street.

Pigeon pair. Cute. Taken from Gordon Street using the classic poke-the-lens-through-the-wire-mesh photography technique.

Rear of the Whitten Stand. Taken from West Footscray railway station.

hot_dogma · Post by **hot_dogma** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:09 pm

Great pics. What a sad looking site. I only went past it on Thursday night but as it was dark I couldn't see jack.

The name of the structure is the John Gent Stand.

Egan · Post by **Egan** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:32 pm

Glad I went in December before to much of the terracing was destroyed. I really liked Whitten Oval and the entire area around it.

sandyhill · Post by **sandyhill** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:11 pm

Well done Cheesie, despite the not ideal conditions

Egan wrote:Glad I went in December before to much of the terracing was destroyed. I really liked Whitten Oval and the entire area around it.

Yes, Cheesie should've come 4 weeks earlier! Most of the terracing was only just ripped up over the last month. May's weather was also mostly nice and sunny, June was cold and gloomy all month.

Here's some threads showing what Whitten Oval once was, including now departed features such as the terracing, the Doug Hawkins wing, the old coaches box and the scoreboard, demolished last year. These links now have historical interest thus! -

The first 2 pages of this thread have various Whitten Oval pics e.g. you can see what the Gordon St side used to looked like prior to being reduced to dirt and rubble -
viewtopic.php?t=1164

And SK's pics of several VFL stadiums, including Whitten Oval and also Arden St prior to the removal of its last surviving grandstand -
viewtopic.php?p=13720#13720

Jeffles · Post by **Jeffles** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:45 pm

Cheesie The Pirate wrote:

Awww, it hasn't changed a bit.

the guy · Post by **the guy** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:44 pm

Egan wrote:Glad I went in December before to much of the terracing was destroyed. I really liked Whitten Oval and the entire area around it.

Now that must have been said with tongue in cheek.

Egan · Post by **Egan** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:52 pm

the guy wrote:
Now that must have been said with tongue in cheek.

Not at all, my love of Footscray is as well known as my love of Wellington on this forum.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:47 pm

The main centre of Footscray has it's ethnic charm, but the area around the Oval is just industrial wasteland......you sure you've even been there Egan?

Egan · Post by **Egan** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:08 pm

Rob wrote:The main centre of Footscray has it's ethnic charm, but the area around the Oval is just industrial wasteland......you sure you've even been there Egan?

Hey West Footscray adds to the charm of central footscray

Cheesie-the-Pirate · Post by **Cheesie-the-Pirate** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:54 pm

Windy Hill time. I must admit I really enjoyed this one. A true community facility. The croquet lawn just sealed the deal.

Jeffles · Post by **Jeffles** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:36 pm

Very good pics. The view from the street is noteworthy and the ground is in very good condition. A supportive council, a club that has a lot of cash or both

Where's the pic of the croquet lawn?

Cheesie-the-Pirate · Post by **Cheesie-the-Pirate** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:56 pm

I only had one crappy photo so I left it out. But by popular request, here it is:

This lawn was located more-or-less immediately behind where the last photo in my previous post was taken.

Jeffles · Post by **Jeffles** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:13 pm

Maybe Cam should start a stadium page for the Essendon Croquet Lawn.

the guy · Post by **the guy** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:00 pm

Cheesie-the-Pirate wrote:Windy Hill time. I must admit I really enjoyed this one. A true community facility. The croquet lawn just sealed the deal.

B.E.A.Utiful

reminds me of nights as a young tacker watching Essendon training. good times.
thanks cheese

sandyhill · Post by **sandyhill** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:54 pm

Very nice - The Alan Hird Stand is my Windy Hill favourite. Soon they'll have to find something impressive to name after his grandson.

Along with the pavement shot, The Croquet Lawn was a good 'get'. I should've alerted Cheesie to the Trugo Lawn close to Whitten Oval! I suppose I could always cover it myself.

Jeffles wrote:Very good pics. The view from the street is noteworthy and the ground is in very good condition. A supportive council, a club that has a lot of cash or both ...

The latter is a given, the former also most probable. Its just far enough out from the CBD to not have one of those inner city councils that cause problems.