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Kooyong Stadium

Coordinates: 37°50′18″S 145°01′55″E / 37.83833°S 145.03194°E / -37.83833; 145.03194
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Kooyong Stadium
Centre Court in January 2014
Map
Location489 Glenferrie Road
Toorak, Victoria
Coordinates37°50′18″S 145°01′55″E / 37.83833°S 145.03194°E / -37.83833; 145.03194
OwnerKooyong Lawn Tennis Club
Capacity5,000
SurfacePlexicushion
Construction
Opened1927
Renovated1934[1]
Tenants
Kooyong Classic
Australian Open (1972–1987)
Website
www.kooyong.com.au
Exterior grandstand showing iconic lettering and broadcast boxes

Kooyong Stadium, at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, is an Australian tennis venue, located in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak, adjacent to the namesake suburb of Kooyong. The stadium was built in 1927, and has undergone several renovations.

It has a seating capacity of slightly more than 5,000. At its peak the stadium was capable of hosting up to 15,000 patrons.[2]

History

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Kooyong was the venue for the Australian Open whenever that tournament was held in Melbourne, becoming the permanent venue from 1972 to 1987. It was the last Australian Open venue to play on grass courts.

The tournament was moved to the hard courts of Melbourne Park in 1988.[3] Now a hard-court surface, it remains the venue for the Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament.[2]

Kooyong has also hosted several Davis Cup ties and finals, including the 1986 Davis Cup Final which saw Australia defeat two-time defending champions Sweden 3–2 in late December. The stadium hosted a tie for the 2016 Davis Cup against the USA in March 2016 on a portable grass court.[4]

In 2019 the club demolished the upper western and southern stands, revising the seating capacity to approximately 5,000.[5] The venue had previously been capable of seating 8,500 spectators.[6]

Concerts

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The venue has also hosted several concerts:

Notable members

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Eva Duldig at Kooyong, 1956

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kooyong Tennis Stadium – Malvern Historical Society".
  2. ^ a b "A Rich History". Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Australian Open at Kooyong Stadium". Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  4. ^ "Davis Cup clash between Australia and United States to be hosted at Kooyong". ABC News. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Former world No.1s, grand slam champs descend on Kooyong Classic". Herald Sun. 29 October 2019. The club has started an $18 million redevelopment, which includes returning the stadium to its 1930s form ahead of major clubhouse and site improvements in 2020. A reduced capacity crowd of more than 5000 [results] in what organisers hope will provide a "boutique atmosphere" at the former home of the Open.
  6. ^ "Kooyong: Demolition taking Australia's spiritual home of tennis back to basics". The New Daily. 18 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Elton John Tour 1971". JPJ Audio. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  8. ^ "February 20, 1972". ledzeppelin.com. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Eva Recognised with Stonnington Award" (PDF). Courtside. No. 24. December 2009. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2023.
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Media related to Kooyong Stadium at Wikimedia Commons

Events and tenants
Preceded by Davis Cup
Final Venue

1946
1953
1957
1961
1966
1983
1986
Succeeded by
Preceded by Fed Cup
Venue

1965
1978
Succeeded by
Preceded by Masters Cup
Venue

1974
Succeeded by