Land Surveyors’ Vital Role in Crafting the Melbourne Cricket Ground

As the dawn of the 2024 AFL season approaches, it’s fitting to cast a nostalgic glance back to the roots of one of the most iconic sporting venues on the planet – the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). While the ‘G’ stands as a testament to architectural brilliance and sporting prowess, the unsung heroes of its creation were the land surveyors who meticulously shaped the landscape that would become the epicentre of Australian sport.

In the early stages of planning the MCG, which now stands as a colossal symbol of cricketing and Australian Rules Football heritage, land surveyors played a pivotal role. These skilled professionals undertook the arduous task of measuring, mapping, and contouring the grounds to transform a raw expanse of land into the awe-inspiring structure we know today.

Surveyors, armed with rudimentary tools compared to the cutting-edge technology of today, meticulously crafted the blueprint for the MCG’s construction. They grappled with the undulating terrain, ensuring that the playing surface was level, the stands were strategically positioned, and the overall topography would support the grandeur that the MCG was destined to exude.

Their work went beyond simple measurements; it was a symphony of precision and dedication. The contours of the land, the flow of the Yarra River nearby, and the surrounding cityscape all had to be considered. The legacy of these surveyors lies not only in the physical structure but in the seamless integration of the MCG with its natural surroundings.

Yet the question remained how big was the MCG? It took a team from AAM Surveys to use a laser scanner that records one million data points per second, from all around the inside of the stadium, including the seats and steps. They set up the laser on several different points on the centre square to get different perspectives, before turning that data into a three-dimensional model that is accurate to 10 millimetres. The final measure was 1,574,000 cubic metres (or 1.574 gigalitres). 

To put that into perspective:

• It would take 630 Olympic swimming pools to fill the MCG.
• It can accommodate 9840 London buses.
• It would take 317 MCGs to fill Sydney Harbour

As we eagerly anticipate the kick-off of the 2024 AFL season, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the land surveyors who, decades ago, meticulously surveyed the grounds that would become the stage for exhilarating sporting battles. The Melbourne Cricket Ground is not just a coliseum for athletes; it’s a testament to the craftsmanship of land surveyors whose vision and precision laid the foundations for a sporting cathedral that continues to capture the hearts of millions.