The History of the Club - 100 years

The residents of rural Marion first played football and cricket on this site in 1891 on land which was leased from the local landowner. In 1908 after 17 years of fundraising an association was formed and named itself the Sturt Recreation Reserve and bought the land from the landowner.

As there were insufficient proceeds from the fundraising local businesses and the more ‘wealthy’ residents contributed special donations. Amongst the many private donors Harris Scarfe contributed two pounds two shillings (known then as two guineas) and the Bar Smith family donated ten pounds.

The land which was bought stretched from Sturt Road northwards and covered an area just larger than the football and cricket oval. In 1948 the name of the association changed to the Sturt Marion War Memorial Oval Incorporated and the land was gifted to the local Marion Council.

Names were again changed in 1988 to Marion Sports Club and 1992 to the Marion Sports and Community Club Incorporated. Marion Sports and Community Club (MSCC) is the legal entity of the Club but in 2003 the trading name of the licensed premises was registered as Club Marion.

Since then additional land has been acquired and in 1979 through a Federal Government initiative called The ‘Regional Employment and Development Scheme’ new Clubrooms were constructed on the current site. In 1993 the Club together with its own funds ($240,000) and federal government grant ($370,000) extended the Clubrooms by adding on a new bar (overlooking the main oval), balcony and a utility room (now used for gaming) to become the regions premier sporting and community facility.

Further additions occurred in 2002/03 when the Club installed a lift and new reception areas funded by the Club at $580,000 included was a State Government Grant of $75,000.

In 2006 the Club added a function room and kitchen together with an extension of the existing balcony and extensive undercover paving at a cost of $850,000.

Since 1948 when the land was handed over to the City of Marion the Club has leased the facilities back and the current lease is due to expire in 2016.