Did Carlo Play Sport?

Enrico, Carlo's son was a talented sportsman who played cricket, football, tennis and lacrosse at his school Melbourne Grammar and when he lived near Kyneton, before he enlisted. You can read about this here. Sadly Enrico did not return to his farm as he was Killed in Action at Pozieres on July 29, 1916.   

I wondered if Carlo had any connection to sports, even though I don't know where he would have found the time. He was the Vice President of the Public Works Department Rifle Club, you can read about that here. He also engaged professional golfer, Richard 'Dick' Banks to lay out a nine-hole golf course on Mount Buffalo, near the Chalet (see here)  The golf course opened in February 1911, but I have no evidence that Carlo actually played golf. 

I searched Trove to see if there were references to Carlo playing cricket, football, tennis or other sports, but all articles referred to young Enrico, not the senior Carlo. However,  there were two references connected to Carlo and improvements to cricket ovals - the South Melbourne and St Kilda Cricket Grounds. The St Kilda Cricket Ground is also called the Junction Oval. 

The Emerald Hill Record on December 21, 1907 reported on the South Melbourne Ground -
Mr. Henry Skinner, president of the South Melbourne Cricket Club, entertained a large company on the ground on Monday last, after an inspection of the improvements recently made. Amongst those who took a particular interest in the progress made by the club were Mr. Mackey (Minister of Lands), Mr. Mackinnon, M.L.A. (president of the Victorian Cricket Association), the Mayor of South Melbourne (Cr. W. O. Strangward), Cr. Baragwanath, Mr. Catani and Mr. Allan (Albert Park Committee of Management), Mr. E. Bean and Mr. H. H. Rush (Board of Control), Mr. E. D. Heather (secretary V.C.A.), and Mr. P. Knuckey (president Fitzroy C.C.). 

The gathering was of a very friendly character, and complimentary reference was made by Mr. Mackey, Mr. Mackinnon, Mr. Catani, and the cricket representatives to the energetic and capable manner in which the president and committee were conducting the affairs of the ground. All the representatives of the various bodies who spoke paid a very high tribute to the worth of Mr. Skinner, the president, and a special toast of his health was proposed. The improvements were described in detail in our last issue (1) 

As the article noted, the previous issue of the Emerald Hill Record, described some of the extensive improvements to the ground, and the report began - 

If anyone had predicted a few years ago the improvements which have been made at the South Melbourne Cricket Ground during the last two or three years, he would have been laughed to scorn, yet we have now thanks to an energetic, fearless, and enterprising president, a cricket ground with appointments inferior to only one or two in the Commonwealth. The ground, with its picturesque approaches, has had its natural beauty enhanced during the last couple of years by the formation of bowling greens, rockeries, and the erection of necessary buildings, till the casual visitor, on entering the gates, halts in surprise and wonderment at the rapid changes being made for the comfort and convenience of members and visitors.

The report continued - Last year the outer ground was extended, and the bank raised to provide accommodation for 25,000 spectators. The raising of the bank used up 5800 yards of soil, and as it is intended to immediately form the portion between the present bank and the football grandstand, and raise the bank another two feet, another 3000 yards of filling will have, to be provided. When this work is complete, the ground will accommodate 40,000 people. When endeavors were made to have important premiership football matches played on the South Melbourne ground, the League members complained that they could not see, side clubs objected to the depression in the ground on the eastern side, the committee recognised that there was force in the contention, and as members seated near the pavilion also complained that they could not see the football game when it was worked into the corner, it was decided to regrade the playing arena and raise the ground and the fence. To do the work, 2800 yards of soil were required, and involved an expenditure of £300.

Then complaints were made of overcrowding in the football stand, and the committee, alive to the growing importance of the ground, and actuated by a desire to meet the demands of a rapidly increasing membership in both the cricket and football clubs, decided to raise the football gymnasium, and provide a smokers' pavilion. With the assistance of Mr. A. E. Aughtie, the honorary surveyor, plans were prepared, and a contract let for the work. The tender of Mr. M. Sorenson was accepted, and that gentleman immediately set to work. The building is 100ft. X 30ft., and every care was necessary in lifting the huge structure to the height required, at the same time moving it back to the fence. With the aid of jacks, the building was raised inch by inch, and supports put in, till it stood 10ft. 3in. higher than its previous level. Then a brick foundation was constructed underneath, and the building now rests on a solid brick wall 14 inches thick. The entrances to the building remain unchanged, and at each end a stairway 6ft. wide, constructed of heavy jarrah timber, provide means of ingress and egress.

In the front of the gymnasium, an iron-roofed verandah carried 32 galleried seats, which will give accommodation to about 500 people, and a splendid view of the ground. Underneath well-appointed lavatories are provided, and nothing left undone that makes for the convenience of the public. Lavatories and retiring rooms have been constructed beneath the football stand. (2)

The report then describes the other minor improvements and notes that it was estimated that £6000 will have been spent on the ground during the last three years. (3)  I can see why Carlo was impressed by both the works and the manner in which the works were carried out - as they were to the advantage of the general public, were aesthetically pleasing and completed in a timely manner.

South Melbourne Cricket Ground, c.  1908. 

The new work, as described above, is shown in the photo. The middle structure had been raised ten feet, with heavy jarrah stairways erected at each end. The building on the right is the gymnasium with the new iron-roofed verandah, providing spectator seating,

State Library of Victoria image  H90.160/911

The next year, on May 8, 1908, The Argus reported on the St Kilda Oval improvements -
Extensive Improvements - During the last few months the committee of the St. Kilda Cricket Club has effected great in provinces to the ground, at a cost of over £800. The playing space has been enclosed with a new fence, which now been erected at the foot of the old bicycle track, which has been done away with. The result is that the accommodation for spectators has been greatly increased. A big embankment has been built all round, the ground, so that thousands of people will now be able to watch in comfort the sports being played in the oval. Three new asphalt tennis courts have been laid down, at a cost of over £200, and the lawns have been relaid. All the buildings have been painted and put in order, and the result is very satisfactory. At present the St. Kilda ground is one of the best appointed around Melbourne, and should be a more popular sports resort than ever. 

In order to let the trustees of Albert-park and others interested see what has been done, the committee of the St. Kilda Cricket Club yesterday afternoon invited a number of people to inspect the ground. There was a good attendance, including Messrs. Mackay, M.L.A., (Minister for Lands), M'Cutcheon, M.L.A., Councillor Jacoby (mayor of St. Kilda), and other councillors, Messrs. J M. Reed (surveyor-general), Catani (Public Works department, and one of the trustees), H. O. Allan (secretary to the trustees), P. Knuckey (president Fitzroy Cricket Club), and a number of representatives of other clubs. Apologies were received from Mr. Donald Mackinnon, M.L.A., (president Victorian Cricket Association), and Mr. Agar Wynne, M.R H. After the visitors had inspected the ground and the improvements, Mr. M'Cutcheon, M.L.A., thanked those present for their attendance and said that the committee intended to still further improve the ground, and make it worthy of the district. All that the ground earned would go back to it in the way of improvements. 

Mr. Mackey also spoke, and those who knew what work had been done congratulated the committee and their secretary (Mr. G. H. Inskip) on the success of their efforts. (4)

The above article implies Carlo was a Trustee of the St Kilda Cricket Ground, however at the time as it was noted in The Argus,  the St. Kilda Cricket Club holds its ground under a permissive occupancy from the trustees of the Albert-park (5). H.O. Allan was the secretary of the Albert Park Trust (6) and Carlo was one of the Trustees. 

My research so far has not turned up any evidence that Carlo actually participated in any organised team sports, but that he did have an interest in establishing and improving  sports grounds. 

Footnotes
(1) Emerald Hill Record, December 21, 1907, see here. 

(2) Emerald Hill Record, December 14, 1907, see here. 

(3) Ibid
(4) The Argus, May 8, 1908 see here. 
(6) The Argus, January 18, 1902, see here.
(6) Emerald Hill Record, May 30, 1908, see here. There is more on H.O. Allan, here.