TG Millner Field is in the

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

suburb of

Marsfield Marsfield is a suburb in the Northern Sydney region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Marsfield is located 16 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district and is in the local government area of the City of R ...

, Australia. It is currently the home ground of

Eastwood Rugby Club Eastwood Rugby is the Premier Rugby Club covering North West Sydney and plays in the Sydney Premier Rugby competition. The Eastwood District extends from the Parramatta River at Meadowbank to the Hawkesbury River at Wisemans Ferry. The Club ...

however Eastwood Rugby has indicated that it will be relocating from TG Millner in 2025.

History

The land where the main field is now (approximately 4 acres) was bought originally in 1951 by Colonel TG Millner and subsequently sold to Vimiera Recreation Grounds Ltd a company associated with Eastwood Rugby. The clubhouse and oval were built by volunteers and after 1963 and the development of dressing rooms, home games were played at

. Additional land was bought by Eastwood Rugby in 1967 increasing the site to more than . The complex originally had three full sized playing fields which have been floodlit since 1969 and which were available for games and training. The grandstand was also constructed in 1969. During the 1990s the North Ryde Soccer Football Club played at the TG Millner Field for a number of years. Northern Districts Cricket also played at TG Millner for a season including at least one game with

Allan Border Allan Robert Border (born 27 July 1955) is an Australian cricket commentator and former international cricketer. A batsman, Border was for many years the Captain (cricket), captain of the Australia national cricket team, Australian team, and l ...

playing

Australian Rugby Development Centre

On Sat, Aug 17, 2013, the Australian Rugby Union announced that TG Millner was be purchased by the ARU and would be redeveloped to become the Australian Rugby Development Centre: ''TG Millner'' ''Field will be transformed into a high performance sport centre and training facility for Australia’s national Rugby teams including the Qantas Wallabies and will act as the Olympic base for Australia’s Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams .''

North Ryde RSL

In 2000 Vimiera Recreation Grounds, the owners of TG Millner, signed a 99-year lease with North Ryde RSL Community Club which transferred control over the entire complex to the RSL. Following this transfer a number of changes occurred In 2017, VRG advised that the entire complex had been sold unconditionally to North Ryde RSL. On 25 August 2020 Ryde Council decided not to proceed with heritage listing of TG Millner Field.

Application to Develop the Site

In June 2022, North Ryde RSL the owners of TG Millner announced that an application had been lodged with Ryde Council to "renew the TG Millner Field site by creating 132 low-rise, diverse homes and a new public park for the local community." On 7 December 2022, The Strategic Planning Panel of the North Sydney Planning Panel advised that "The Panel has determined that the planning proposal should not be submitted for a Gateway determination" On 3 May 2023, the

Government of New South Wales The Government of New South Wales, also known as the NSW Government, is the executive state government of New South Wales, Australia. The government comprises 11 portfolios, led by a ministerial department and supported by several agencies. Th ...

Planning Portal recorded that SEARS had been issued for a State Significant Development 146-150 Vimiera Rd, Marsfield - Seniors housing. "Relocation of the existing registered club to new premises within the site and construction of a residential aged care facilit comprising approximately 670 beds." Following the April 2024 State Government refusal of permission for Ryde Council to compulsory acquire the site, North Ryde RSL announced its intention is to now resubmit the Marsfield Common planning proposal for determination by the relevant consent authorities. In July 2024 North Ryde RSL advised its members that the Marsfield Common proposal had been re-submitted to Ryde Council . On June 10 2025 the Sydney North Planning Panel advised that it had approved the application to rezone the ground and that it "should be submitted for a Gateway determination because the Proposal has demonstrated strategic merit"

Ryde Council Compulsory Acquisition

On 23 May 2023 Ryde Council resolved to compulsorily acquire the TG Millner Field On 28 November 2023 Ryde Council resolved that "Council advise the Minister for Planning of a funding allocation by City of Ryde Council of $15 million to the purchase of TG Millner" On 12 April 2024 the ''

Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper in ...

'' reported; "Local government minister

Ron Hoenig Ron Hoenig (born 21 April 1953) is an Australian barrister and current member for Heffron in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. He is currently the Minister for Local Government, Vice-President of the Executive Council, and Leader of ...

told the council he had refused permission o acquire the sitebecause he was not convinced the council could afford to purchase the land."

Ryde Council LEP Re-Zoning

On 27 August 2024 by way of a Mayoral Minute, Ryde Council resolved "That Council develop and lodge a Planning Proposal to the NSW State Government for protection of critical public recreation space at TG Millner Field through an amendment to the Ryde Local Environmental Plan (RLEP) 2014 to classify the site as an RE1 – Public Recreation zone" The State Planning Minister The Hon Paul Scully on November 28 2024 advised Ryde Council that ''"To be clear: these rezoning documents did not and do not contain any commitment, or requirement, from the NSW Government to either acquire or preserve TG Millner Fields as open space.'' and. "''the Department will not support a planning proposal to rezone the site were it to be submitted by Council. This position remains unaltered.'' ''It is misleading to residents and ratepayers for you to suggest that these documents indicate otherwise."''

References

Sports venues in Sydney Soccer venues in Sydney Rugby league stadiums in Australia Rugby union stadiums in Australia Marsfield, New South Wales {{Australia-sports-venue-stub