Home of the Swans

Throughout Swans history, there have been several homes to become a key part of the club’s DNA.

Temperance Hall, South Melbourne

Temperance Hall was the birthplace of the South Melbourne Football Club, on June 19, 1874.

Built in 1863, Temperance Hall still stands on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri peoples and has been site of social and cultural events, meetings, and religious worship for over 150 years.

Lake Oval, Albert Park

For 85 years and 704 games, Lake Oval provided a home for the Swans. Located on the bank of Albert Park Lake in the heart of South Melbourne, it was opened in 1878 and was one of the first major sporting grounds in Melbourne to install lighting. Lake Oval hosted the League’s official night series from 1956 to 1971.

On August 29, 1981, the Swans played their last match at Lake Oval before moving north to Sydney, after the club received permission from the VFL to play 11 home matches outside of Victoria to secure its survival.

Sydney Cricket Ground, Moore Park

A crowd of 15,764 fans gathered at the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch the Sydney Swans first game since the move north. It was March 28, 1982 and Sydney defeated Melbourne by 29 points. Their success continued in July when they beat North Melbourne to win the Night Series Premiership.

Over a journey of more than 40 years, the SCG has been the setting for countless acts of greatness and emphatic wins. It was also the location of another important the first in club history: the first AFLW Sydney Derby against GWS on September 10, 2022.

Today, the SCG remains the home ground of the Sydney Swans – much loved by the team and members alike. The largest crowd to date was a sell-out of 46,323 for the 2017 Elimination Final against Essendon.

Sydney Swans HQ

First announced in October 2018, the iconic Royal Hall of Industries at Moore Park has been transformed into Sydney Swans HQ, a world-class sporting facility and community hub.

It’s home to the club’s AFL and AFLW programs, as well as 700 boys and girls engaged in the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.

Opened in January 2023, Sydney Swans HQ was the club’s most significant undertaking since relocating to Sydney in 1982. The project has been proudly supported by the Sydney Swans Foundation, the NSW and Federal Governments, and the AFL.

You can learn more about the history of the Royal Hall of Industries here.