Take a historical walk through Tigerland
Feel like a walk around Tigerland? This walk takes in many locations that have significance to the Richmond Football Club and also has a couple of interesting historical sites. There are parking restrictions in the streets of Richmond. If you combine the walk with a visit to the Richmond Museum at the Punt Road Oval or with a game at the MCG, you can leave your car in the Yarra Park car park. Otherwise, you can take the train to Richmond, Jolimont or West Richmond stations. Alternatively, take the No. 48 or 75 tram from the city to Bridge Road or the No. 70 tram to Swan Street. The walk starts at The Royal Hotel, 287 Punt Road, just opposite Richmond’s Punt Road Oval. However, you can start the walk at any point you like. Time: Allow 2 hours Distance: Approx. 5 kms
1 THE ROYAL HOTEL 287 PUNT ROAD. The Richmond Football Club was formed here at a meeting on 20th February 1885. The hotel was run by brothers Gordon and Doug Strang from 1933 to 1935. The Strangs played together in Richmond’s 1932 premiership side. Their coach, Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes, took over as publican and ran the pub until 1937. John Northey (1967 and 1969 premiership player) worked here in 1970. Walk north up Punt Road towards Bridge Road. 2 YARRA PARK SCHOOL CNR PUNT RD & WELLINGTON PDE. Now part of the Yarra Mews residential development, this former school was attended by Vic Thorp (263 games 1910-25), a member of Richmond’s Team of the Century. Vic captained the school’s football and cricket teams. Turn right into Bridge Road. 3 THE MT. VIEW HOTEL 70 BRIDGE ROAD The Mt. View Hotel was run by Ray Poulter (170 games 1946-56) in the 1960s. It was later owned by Ron Barassi. Proceed down Bridge Road. 4 FORMER HOME OF MARTHA NEEDLE,137 BRIDGE ROAD Just before you reach Lennox Street, look to your left at the shop at number 137 on the opposite side of the road. The upstairs section was the home of Martha Needle, known as the ‘Black Widow of Richmond’. Having previously poisoned her husband and three children with arsenic, she was arrested here in 1894 while attempting to poison the brother of her new fiancé. Martha was found guilty of murder and hanged at the old Melbourne Gaol. Continue down Bridge Road. 5 LOCATION OF TOM HAFEY’S MILK BAR, 154 BRIDGE ROAD Tom Hafey (premiership coach 1967, 1969, 1973 & 1974) ran a milk bar here with his wife Maureen in the late 1950s. Proceed to the intersection of Bridge Road and Church Street. Use the pedestrian crossings to cross to the opposite side of Bridge Road and walk towards the Town Hall. 6 THE G.G BENNETT FOUNTAIN OUTSIDE THE TOWN HALL Bennett was mayor of Richmond in 1886-87 and president of the football club from 1887 to 1908. Surrounded by hundreds of jubilant supporters, ruckman Barney Herbert stood on this fountain with two crayfish in his hands after Richmond won the 1920 Grand Final against Collingwood. “What did we do to ‘em?” yelled Barney. “We ate ‘em alive!” roared the fans. Use the pedestrian crossing in front of the Town Hall to cross to the opposite side of Bridge Road. 7 THE FORMER TOWN HALL HOTEL, 288 BRIDGE ROAD Now called the Sporting Globe Bar and Grill, this was a hotel run by Jack ‘Skinny’ Titus (294 games 1926-43) and his mother from 1934 to 1937. Jack is Richmond’s highest goal kicker with a career total of 970. Return to the intersection with Church Street. 8 THE VINE HOTEL CNR BRIDGE RD & CHURCH ST This hotel was managed by five-time premiership player Francis Bourke (302 games 1967-81) in the mid-seventies. It was later run by Max Oppy (184 games 1942-54) and his son Grant, who played one senior game in 1970. 9 LOCATION OF ALEXANDERS MENSWEAR, CNR BRIDGE RD & CHURCH ST Look to the opposite corner at the old Alexanders menswear store. When Richmond played in finals in the late sixties and early seventies the display windows were entirely given over to spectacular exhibitions of all things Richmond in the days leading up to the games. In 1968 proprietor Benny Alexander was made a life member of the club. Turn left into Church Street and walk up Richmond Hill. 10 THE FORMER LALOR HOUSE, 293 CHURCH STREET Peter Lalor, the leader of the miners at the battle of the Eureka Stockade in Ballarat in 1854, died in this gothic mansion, the home of his son, in 1889. Use the pedestrian crossing to cross to the opposite side of Church Street. You are now at the highest point of Richmond. 11 SAINT IGNATIUS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Construction began on this church in 1867. It has the second highest spire in Melbourne. Tom Hafey was baptised here in 1931. The immortal Captain Blood, Jack Dyer (312 games 1931-49), married Sybil McCasker here on 25th November 1939. Turn right and then left into The Vaucluse. 12 FORMER ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE The St. Ignatius Centre is directly behind the church. This was formerly St. Ignatius College. Jack Dyer attended this school on a sports scholarship at the age of 12 in 1926. He transferred to De La Salle College later that year on another sports scholarship. Retrace your steps to Church Street and turn right. 13 LOCATION OF JACK DYER’S MILK BAR, 394 CHURCH ST Jack and Sybil ran the Tiger Milk Bar and Newsagency here in the 1940s. For a time they lived at the rear of the shop. 14 LOCATION OF THE TIGERS DEN, 401 CHURCH STREET Look to the opposite side of the road. Staffed by volunteers, this shop sold Richmond merchandise from the mid-seventies to the mid-eighties. 15 THE SWAN HOTEL CNR CHURCH ST & SWAN ST It was here at a meeting on 31st October 1907 that the club decided to leave the Victorian Football Association and apply for admission to the Victorian Football League. The bid was successful and they joined the VFL in the following year. Wayne Campbell (297 games 1991-2005) was a part owner of the hotel in the late 1990s.Cross Swan Street at the pedestrian crossing. 16 LOCATION OF JACK TITUS’ CAFÉ 454 CHURCH STREET Now a tattoo parlour, Jack Titus ran a café here in the 1940s. Retrace your steps to Swan Street and cross to the opposite side by using the pedestrian crossing. Turn left. 17 THE VAUCLUSE HOTEL 155 SWAN STREET Des Rowe (172 games 1946-57) owned this hotel when he was coach of Richmond in the early sixties. Legendary powerbroker Graeme Richmond ran the hotel in the 1970s. Both Royce Hart (187 games 1967-77), a four-time premiership player, and Francis Bourke worked behind the bar. Mal Brown lived here when he played for the Tigers in 1974. Drop into the bar to see the Richmond photographs displayed on the walls. Turn right into Docker Street. 18 JACK DYER’S OLD ADDRESS, 28 DOCKER STREET Jack and Sybil raised their children here, although the present two-storey house was constructed after the Dyers moved away. Their son John played three senior matches for the Tigers in 1960. Proceed to Richmond Terrace at the end of Docker Street, turn left and cross Waverley Street. Then turn left again into Clifton Street. Sir John Monash, Australia’s greatest general of World War 1, lived in this street as a boy in 1873-74. 19 FORMER HOME OF TOM HAFEY 10 CLIFTON STREET This was Tom Hafey’s first family home after he was born in 1931. Descend the hill back to Swan Street. Turn left and cross to the opposite side of the street on the pedestrian crossing. Turn left again. 20 LOCATION OF SYBIL DYER’S FLORIST SHOP 202 SWAN STREET Sybil ran a florist shop called ‘Primrose’ here in partnership with Jack, along with club president and secretary Maurie Fleming and his wife Ida. Proceed along Swan Street in the direction of the city. Turn left into Green Street and pass under the railway line via the subway to the continuation of Green Street. 21 FORMER HOME OF CHARLIE CALLANDER, 12 GREEN ST Charlie Callander took on the role of property steward and trainer at the football club in 1924 and held the position for over sixty years. His son Kevin played seven senior games in 1961-62. You are now standing directly over the Burnley Tunnel. Retrace your steps to Swan Street and turn left. Use the pedestrian crossing to turn right into Lennox Street and cross to the opposite side. 22 FORMER HOME OF KEVIN BARTLETT, 316 LENNOX ST Five-time premiership player Kevin Bartlett (403 games 1965-83) lived here as a teenager with his family in the early 1960s. He holds the Richmond games record. Continue up Lennox Street. 23 THE LONDON TAVERN HOTEL 238 LENNOX STREET This was a favourite watering hole for players in the 1970s. Jack Dyer called this establishment ‘The Richmond Hilton’. Robbie McGhie (1973-74 premiership player) worked here as a barman. In 1975 Brian ‘The Whale’ Roberts, Neil Balme, Craig McKellar and Gareth Andrews were involved here in an unauthorised drinking session. Committee men Ron Carson and Neil Busse caught them in the act after discovering the secret players’ knock, which they used on the private entrance door. The offending players were each fined $50. The hotel was subsequently owned by Peter Wilson (54 games 1987-89) and later still by John Northey. Visit the bar to see the premiership posters and player photographs displayed on the walls. Retrace your steps to Swan Street and turn right, walking under the railway bridge. 24 THE PRECINCT HOTEL 60 SWAN STREET Formerly known as the Greyhound Inn, this hotel was run by Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes for 20 years from 1942. Royce Hart and Craig McKellar owned this establishment in the early 1970s. Continue down Swan Street. 25 FORMER SITE OF RON CARSON’S GARAGE 50 SWAN STREET Now a car rentals business, it was a car yard owned by Ron Carson and a favourite meeting place in the 1970s for Richmond players, officials and journalists. They would often spend Sundays here with a barbecue and a few beers out the back. 26 RICHMOND LEGEND MURAL OUTSIDE RICHMOND STATION A magnificent piece of street art by Nick Howson, featuring a Depression-era Tiger player looming over the industrial landscape of the suburb. A fitting way to begin or end your tour of Tigerland. Turn right at Punt Road and return to the Royal Hotel. Hope you enjoyed the walk!
