St Georges Park

Description

St George’s Park is not only the oldest park in Port Elizabeth; it is also the second oldest cricket club in the country and the sixth oldest cricket ground in the world. It has been nicknamed "The Dragon's Lair" after the famous legend of St George, and is a tribute to the exciting history of cricket in South Africa.

The park

St George’s Park is a fantastic day venue for summer picnics. There's plenty of green grass, scenic trails, even a kiddies' playground for the little ones. Enjoy the on-site art galleries and Mannville Open Air Theatre, and make sure you visit the Pearson Conservatory which houses some stunning orchids. The St George’s Park Swimming Baths are popular on hot days and include an Olympic sized swimming pool with a diving board and a children’s pool. The ‘Master Harold’ tearoom, made famous after it served as the setting for Athol Fugard’s ‘Master Harold and the Boys’, forms part of the complex. The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum has its collections housed in two buildings that frame the entrance to the park.

Cricket stadium

The stadium started out in 1859 on an open piece of land on a hill just outside of Port Elizabeth. Today it boasts a world-class 18,500-seater stadium in the middle of the city.

Venue highlights include: - first ODI for South Africa - first Test match for South Africa - first women's international Test - last Test before South Africa's expulsion from world cricket - first ever Test series win against Australia - first Rebel ODI - South Africa’s first Test win after readmission.

The ground is home to the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club. It was one of 15 venues chosen to host 2003 Cricket World Cup matches, and one of 8 venues selected for the 2009 Indian Premier League. St George’s Park hosted its first Test match in March 1889; the first game in South Africa to have been accorded first class status. On the centenary of this match, the South African Cricket Union celebrated by playing the 1989 Currie Cup Final at St George’s Park. This could not have been a happier decision for the local crowds, because it was the first time Eastern Province had played in a Currie Cup final and they ended up winning the Cup!