Maryborough Cricket Club will christen their new pitch at Princes Park this weekend - Saturday 31 January 2026 - when they take on Beaufort in their first match on the upgraded surface.
The match marks a major boost for local cricket, with a project to deliver four brand-new turf pitches at Princes Park now complete.
The project included the removal of the previous pitches, installation of sub-surface drainage, upgraded irrigation, and construction of the four new turf pitches.
The $190,000 project was jointly funded with $50,000 from Council, $100,000 from the State Government and $40,000 from Cricket Australia.
Local contractor Shay Excavations delivered the project, with Council and the Maryborough Cricket Club leading the establishment of the turf.
Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Cr Ben Green said it was rewarding to see investment in one of our Shire's most-loved sporting precincts.
"Congratulations to the Maryborough Cricket Club for their tireless advocacy and thank you to the funding partners for their investment in this premier, heritage sporting precinct.
"It will be fantastic to see the pitches used for the first time this weekend along with generations of local cricketers in the years to come."
Maryborough Cricket Club President, Troy Bursill, said it was an exciting milestone for the Club to play on a high-quality, modern centre wicket area.
"The even surface provides bowlers and batsmen the opportunity to showcase their best attributes, rather than contending with the slow, low-bouncing wickets of the past decade.
"And the best part is it's not just cricketers that will benefit from the new surface – the new drainage installed beneath the square means the oval won't be a muddy mess over winter.
"This will support our junior footballers as well as major community events including the Highland Games and Energy Breakthrough.
"Plus, a major feature of the project is the new inbuilt sprinkler system, designed for maximum water efficiency. The system provides even coverage across the entire pitch, drawing from tank water collected from the grandstand and clubroom roofing, significantly reducing reliance on mains water and improving sustainability.
"We are proud of our new pitch and extend our thanks to the funding bodies who made it possible."
