The Melbourne Cricket Club has held the lease for the venue, originally known as the Warehouseman's Ground, since 1890.

Rodney Heath defeated fellow Australian Arthur Curtis in four sets to claim the inaugural title.

The venue hosted the Australasian Championships under the auspices of the MCC, and later the Lawn Tennis Association of Victoria, a total of four times: in 1905, 1911,[15] 1914[16] and 1924,[17] as well as the 1908 and 1912 Davis Cup finals,[2] after which Kooyong became the primary venue for lawn tennis in Melbourne.

A set of public tennis courts remains available at Albert Reserve to the north of the cricket ground.

On 24 May 1880 it was the scene of the first 25 Miles race of the Melbourne Bicycle Club on the occasion of Queen Victoria's birthday celebrations.