History 1901 to 1940

When patriotism was running high, a fancy dress costume football match was played between the College Rifles team and the E-Battery team.

became sole owners of the ground.

held at the Swimming Pool constructed in the North East end of the park.

lose favour with spectators when rider Mr G.L. Jones was unfortunately killed during a practise run.

became co-owners of Lancaster Park (In conjunction with the Canterbury Cricket Association) The oval was offically opened 23rd December.

The biggest event in New Zealands tennis history was held at Lancaster Park when Australasia played America in the Davis Cup final. Australasia came out on top in a thrilling well-attended three-day event.

was held to raise funds to clear the debt of £2,000 that had been guaranteed to prevent the Park being cut up into building sites.

drawing large crowds to the arena

The main oval at Lancaster Park was ploughed up and put into potatoes in aid of the Park's lack of revenue production.

A private bill, know as the Victory Park Act, is presented to parliament. This vested the park in the Crown under the responsibility of the Victory Park Board (which until 1998 remained the governing body), and reserved the ground for rugby and cricket perpetuity.

England played the New Zealand league team. England won 19-13

Once again the directors were in desperate need of money and approached the Commercial Travellers & Warehousemen's Association to see if their expertise in raising money for patriotic purposes during the war could be put to use in raising £8,000 for the Park. By May 1920 as a result in their magnificent effort, their president sent a cheque to the board for £12,204 15s 2d. For the first time in its forty years Lancaster Park was free of debt.

who became the first team ever to defeat a Springbok side, 6 to 4.

visited Christchurch when Hawkes Bay played Canterbury and retained the shield 17 to 15.

lost to England

India played it's first Hockey test against NZ, featuring Dhyan Chand, Rup Singh and FC Wells.

Relief of Distress Queen Carnival was held.

On his tour of New Zealand, expressed a wish to "see the youngsters" and accordingly a monster assembly of primary school children was organised for the last day of January.

appeared in an exhibition event, fresh from winning his gold medal at the Rome Olympics.

defeated Canterbury 7 to 1.

took over the Park facilities and at one point some 800 troops were accommodated there.