Windy Hill — Essendon’s 70-Year Bombers Fortress

Windy Hill was Essendon’s home from 1922 to 1991, and the name is no joke — the wind off Maribyrnong Park genuinely tore through the third quarter and made set-shot goalkicking into roulette. A heritage suburban ground in inner-west Essendon, Windy Hill hosted the Bombers for 70 years and witnessed multiple VFL premierships. The ground survives today as Essendon’s training base and a community sporting venue. The grandstands are heritage-listed; the pitch is preserved; and Bombers fans still talk about the wind in the third quarter as a club legend.

The History: 1922 and Essendon’s Move

Windy Hill was developed as Essendon’s new home after the demolition of the East Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1922. The Bombers needed a replacement venue; the Windy Hill site (in inner-west Essendon, on Maribyrnong Park) was selected for proximity to Essendon’s working-class supporter base and adequate land for grandstands.

The venue progressively expanded:

• 1922–1930s: Original wooden grandstands.
• 1940s–1950s: Capacity expansion.
• 1960s: Concrete-and-steel modernisation.
• 1970s–1980s: Limited modernisation as the AFL pushed for MCG/Waverley fixtures.
• 1991: Final VFL/AFL fixture.

Capacity at peak: ~30,000.

The Footy: Essendon’s Premiership Era

Essendon played at Windy Hill from 1922 to 1991 — 69 years of unbroken VFL/AFL home-ground occupation. The Bombers won 11 VFL/AFL premierships during the Windy Hill era:

• 1923, 1924 — back-to-back
• 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950 — wartime and post-war success
• 1962, 1965 — early-1960s Knights of Essendon
• 1984, 1985 — Sheedy era back-to-back
• 1993 — early-1990s “Baby Bombers” (technically post-Windy Hill but supported by training/heritage)

The pitch was ~155m × 130m. The wind off Maribyrnong Park gave the venue its name and its legend — visiting forwards routinely shanked set-shot goals; Bombers home-ground advantage was meaningful.

The Move to Waverley/MCG

By the late 1980s, the AFL was pushing strongly for MCG and Waverley Park fixtures. Essendon’s corporate facilities at Windy Hill were dated; the broadcast infrastructure was inadequate; and the AFL preferred centralised venues. Essendon transitioned through 1990–1991, with the final VFL/AFL fixture at Windy Hill in 1991.

Famous Moments

• 1923, 1924 back-to-back premierships — Essendon’s first major Windy Hill era success.
• 1942 wartime premiership.
• 1946, 1949, 1950 premierships — Essendon’s late-1940s dominance.
• 1962, 1965 premierships — Knights of Essendon era.
• 1984, 1985 Sheedy back-to-back — the modern Bombers era.
• Tim Watson’s career — substantially played at Windy Hill.
• James Hird’s debut in 1992 (post-Windy Hill but Bombers heritage).
• 1991 farewell fixture — Essendon’s final VFL/AFL match at Windy Hill.

The Stadium Itself (Then and Now)

Windy Hill in its heyday had wooden grandstands, the famous open windward grass embankment, and modest corporate facilities. The grandstands are heritage-listed; the pitch is preserved; and the venue today operates as Essendon’s training base and a community sporting venue.

The Essendon Football Club has retained Windy Hill connections — VFL/AFLW fixtures, training, and heritage events all use the venue. The club’s heritage identity remains tied to the inner-west Essendon location.

Trivia for the Pub

• Essendon played at Windy Hill for 69 unbroken VFL/AFL years (1922–1991).
• The Bombers won 10 premierships during the Windy Hill era.
• The wind at Windy Hill was independently measured as one of the strongest at any inner-Melbourne ground.
• The grandstands are heritage-listed.
• Windy Hill is now Essendon’s training base and VFL/AFLW home ground.
• Tim Watson’s iconic career was largely played at Windy Hill.
• Sheedy’s coaching tenure (1981–2007) included two premierships built on Windy Hill home form (1984, 1985).

The Rumours

The persistent rumour: Essendon AFLW preliminary finals at Windy Hill. Some have been hosted; expansion has been canvassed.

The other rumour: major heritage redevelopment. Has been mooted; funding has not landed.

The Verdict

Windy Hill is one of the most successful retained-heritage suburban grounds in Melbourne. The Bombers’ premiership history was largely built here; the modern Essendon squad still trains here; and the ground continues to play a meaningful role in inner-west Melbourne footy culture. The wind in the third quarter is a club legend; the heritage character is genuine; and the pitch survives. Long live Windy Hill.