The area after Dandenong Park, towards the end of Pultney Street, had been a reserve, with plans for future use for sports. Known commonly as the Cow Paddock, the first attempt at creating a cricket turf was by Joseph Dowell and William George Keys, in the late 1800's. Permission was granted to create a Cricket Turf in this area in 1881.
This would be the local home for cricket games for some time to come. At some point a running track was also laid out in the area. In the 1930s, need started to arise to redevelop the area and build a new turf.
It was through the work of Mr. Norman Taylor, Mr. Harry Shepley, and Mr. Archibald Wilson, that the area was transformed into the cricket area we know now, with 3 ovals, being officially opened on Thursday, 26th November 1931, for the purpose of cricket.
On a side note, nearby Wilson Oval was named after Archibald Bain Wilson, a councilor for Dandenong, between 1926-1933. He served as President of the Dandenong Shire for the 1930-1931 period. Shepley oval is named after Harry Shepley, a former secretary and president of the local cricket club.
Below we have included a couple of relevant newspaper articles.
The Dandenong Journal, Wed 14 Jan 1953, Page 11.
PULTNEY ST. OVAL
SIR, — During the Christmas holidays I delved into the history of the above oval to support my contention that it should be named the Dowell-Shepley Oval. Prior to 1881 it was a reserve, the plans showing a continuation of Pultney St. to the creek the same as McCrae and Langhorne Sts., The late Joseph Dowell and William George Keys applied for the site as a cricket ground and this was granted in 1881, the first trustees being J. Dowell, and W. G. Keys, together with the president of the council, which would be the late Obadiah Potter. 
On getting the grant a contract was let for £250 to put the oval in order; this sum was guaranteed by enthusiasts of the time. A lot of work was also done voluntarily, and a pavilion was erected. The ground reached its peak in 1895 when Stoddart’s English team arrived. It was a picture. Pipes were laid and the water pumped from the creek for watering the pitch, etc. A first-class running track was put down later. The late J. Dowell was curator for 30 years, and he did all the work free of cost. This is ample evidence why his name should be included. —Yours, etc., J. H. JESSON (Tooradin).
The second attempt (reforming the turf) at making a cricket area for Dandenong:
The Dandenong Journal, Thursday 3rd December, 1931.
New Turf Wicket.
OFFICIAL OPENING AT DANDENONG.
The official opening of the Dandenong Turf Wickets was celebrated on Thursday, 26th November, under delightful conditions. Their construction has been an outcome of a suggestion sponsored largely by Mr. Norman Taylor and Mr. Harry Shepley, who became supported by an energetic committee; and, as a result of their efforts, that reserve, which was known as the Cow Paddock, has, at considerable expense, been ploughed and graded over several acres. It has been re-surveyed, and turf wickets have been laid down on three sections, which have now become part of a delightful area, at the town’s southern extremity, and overlooking the spacious Hallam Valley eastward, and a stretch of the Dandenong Ranges to the north.
The ground on which they played was reminiscent of 1895, when Stoddart’s English team played and lost the game to Dandenong—whose victory spread throughout the colony in rapid time.
There came to support and encourage the Dandenong players, last Thursday, Mr. E. McCormick, the
inter-State bowler; J. Scaife and H. Darling, of the same team, and whose names are so familiar; Jack Ellis, the international wicket keeper; W. J. Rayson, the former inter-State slow bowler; S. King, a past inter-State and University player; A. Allsopp, the New South Wales inter-State man, who has come to reside in Melbourne, and is an extraordinary hitter. Mr. Kelly, chairman of the executive of the V.C.A.; and Mr. Donahoo, representative of the Melbourne Cricket Club, and they all enjoyed the outing.
People, and many of them from miles around, were present, and the afternoon was simply delightful in the glorious sunshine, which was tempered by a cooling wind. At times the sun shone with glowing effulgence, so everyone was happy, and there must have been 600 or 800 onlookers. Realising the wicket was not as yet perfect, all were overjoyed to hear the visitors speak so highly in its
praises, and they were delighted to feel that by the exercise of prudence and of care a playing area that is unequalled in the provinces may ultimately be provided.
The game was an enjoyable one which followed, and though the effort of our local batsmen, with few exceptions, had not been wholly encouraging, they as a team put up a score of 68, so that to them was creditable. They went in first to bat, and the following became the scores:
DANDENONG.
A. Fairbanks, b Darling .. .. .. 3
L. Garner, b Darling .. .. .. .. 1
W. Brodie, b Darling .. .. .. .. 0
S. Harmer, b Darling .. .. .. .. 0
J. McPherson, stp Ellis, b Rayson 18
L. Hanley, b Darling .. .. .. .. 5
J. Edwards, b Darling .. .. .. .. 3
L. Edwards, b Darling .. .. .. 0
S. Hendrie, run out .. .. .. .. 2
H. George, b Rayson .. .. .. .. 5
S. Pigdon, l.b.w., b Rayson .. .. 0
W. Tudden, b McCormack .. .. 12
R. Pink, run out .. .. .. .. .. .. 0
R. Stevens, stp Ellis, b Rayson 2
J. Melven, not out .. .. .. .. .. 4
Sundries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13
Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 68
Bowling; McCormick, 1 for 10;
Darling, 7 for 0; Allsopp, 0 for 18;
Rayson, 4 for 27.
VISITORS:
Darling, stp George, b L, Edwards 39
Scaife, c and b Harmer ... .. .. 1
Allsopp, c Stevens, b L. Edwards 43
Junor, l.b.w., b J. Edwards .. .. 1
Lechte, c Hendrie, b L. Edwards 8
McCormick, stp George, b Stevens 2
King, stp George, b Hendrie .. 55
Rayson, b McPherson .. .. .. .. 9
Taylor, not out .. .. .. .. .. .. 1
Sundries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5
Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 164
Bowling: Harmer, 1 for 44; Fair-
banks, 0 for 29; L. Edwards, 3 for
28; J. Edwards, 1 for 14; R. Stevens,
1 for 19; S. Hendrie, 1 for 11; J.
McPherson, 1 for 14.
TEA ADJOURNMENT.
Among the several who were present by invitation was Mr. H. H. Cremean, M,L.A., who spoke at the luncheon adjournment, and in the spacious marquee, where a delightful afternoon tea was served by the ladies under the leadership of Mrs. S. Hendrie and Mrs. F. Brown. There Mr. Norman Taylor welcomed the visitors, and invited Cr. Wilson, on behalf of the Shire President, to officially open the wickets. He did so most graciously; and, since it was realised that it was due largely to his commendable foresight the ground was thus to be proclaimed an improved area, satisfaction was felt in the knowledge that henceforth a part will be known as Wilson Oval.
Mrs. Kelly, chairman of the V.C.A. executive, told of the work which had been performed by that body towards an encouragement of country cricket, and said that in 10 years over £9,000 had been spent by them in its development.
Mr. Donahoo, whilst speaking, said that he would be delighted to arrange a match for the local players, on the grounds of the M.C.C., at a later date, and all present joined in applauding him.
As captain of the University Seconds, Mr. Percy Taylor, brother of Mr. Norman Taylor, had been responsible for the visit of the several important men to Dandenong, and for that he has the warm thanks of all members of the Association. To the ladies for their excess of hospitality he expressed the gratitude of all, and assured them of the delight of every visitor.
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