Olympic Park lies cradled between the Yarra River and Melbourne Park. It is located on Olympic Boulevard, a short distance from the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in the center the city. The land on which the it now stands was once home to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. The grasslands were naturally ideal for recreational activities and in the 1860s earned the title of Friendly Society’s Gardens, a space to be used for athletic and social events. Over the years, the park has since seen some of the finest moments of several sporting legends across a number of sports. It was given its current title in 1909 and lived up to its name some years later when it hosted the soccer competition in the 1956 Olympic Games. The Stadium was constructed for the Games.
Melbourne lives and breathes sports: whether it is tennis, horse racing, formula one, cricket, athletics or swimming; international tournaments probably have a fixture in this city. The Oaks Pinnacle is where you should be staying if you want to be at the heart of the action. A mere five minutes away from Olympic Park, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Park, ten minutes from the central business district and half an hour from Tullamarine airport; you could not be more conveniently placed in any of the other South Yarra hotels.
Take a scenic walk to Olympic Park which is now used as the training ground for the Australian Football League. It is also used by the public as a sporting and recreational venue. In 2013, an eleven million dollar renovation included a running track around the oval. A community center is also currently under construction and once completed will boast a health and fitness facility along with other conveniences that will continue to satisfy the local community’s wellness and recreational needs.
Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Fritzjames Stephen. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.