Melbourne Cricket Club Library

Staff at the MCC Library

The Melbourne Cricket Club Library has its origin in the donation of 13 bound volumes of The Australasian newspaper by its proprieter in September 1873. The establishment of a "reading room" in the second members' stand in 1881 set the pace for the future, and in 1957 the library was located at the northern end of the 1927 Members' Stand. The present site of the Library, on the Long Room level of the Members' Stand was established in 1982 under the guidance of the outgoing Secretary, Ian Johnson, and is a plush cedar-pannelled room with loads of atmosphere.

The Library is essentially a reference facility dealing mainly with the subject of "sports history", and prides itself on providing and personalised service from its extensive collections on cricket, Australian Rules football, tennis, golf, Olympic Games and about 40 other sports.

The Library holds over 14,000 volumes, many of which are designated as "rare". It is accessed by members, academics, journalists, students at all levels and MCC staff. Over 60% of our enquiries come from the general public.

The Library is staffed by two librarians, Ross Peacock and David Studham who are assisted on various days by a group of 13 MCC members who act as volunteers. These people have diverse backgrounds in sport - from Ray Webster, the compiler of the brilliant record book, First-class cricket in Australia to Eric Panther, an expert in genealogy and cartophilia.

The Library is open to members on match days, and to the general public on a Monday to Friday schedule of 10am to 4pm.

David Studham Melbourne Cricket Club Library
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Yarra Park
Jolimont VIC 3002
Ph: 61 3 9657 9976
Fax: 61 3 9650 5682
Email: dstudham@vicnet.net.au