MCG Tours showcase the importance of the Club and the Ground in the fabric of Melbourne and along with the Australian Sports Museum have become key attractions in Melbourne’s tourism industry, receiving more than 100,000 visitors annually.
The MCG is more than just a stadium, it’s an Australian icon and a meeting place for generations past, present and future. From local Melbournians to school students and interstate and international visitors, we accommodate a wide range of people who seek out a tour of the mighty MCG.The MCG Tour Guides currently consists of a dedicated cohort of 160 volunteers who go above and beyond to ensure guests have an unforgettable experience when they visit the MCG. With ever increasing demand for MCG Tours, we are currently looking for more MCC members to join the team.
Want to be part of the MCC’s volunteer team?
Are you keen to share your passion and knowledge about the MCC and MCG with visitors?To assist in showcasing the MCG at its finest, we are looking for MCC members to join the Volunteer MCG Tour Guide team who are friendly, warm and welcoming ambassadors that are passionate about the MCG, Melbourne and our sporting culture. A full role description can be viewed here.
If you believe you have what it takes to be a Volunteer MCG Tour Guide, please complete the questionnaire available here, and email it to volunteerapplications@mcc.org.au no later than 5.00pm on Monday May 22.
The history of MCG Tours
Starting from humble beginnings in 1977, a group of passionate MCC members who became known as the MCC Guides formed an association to show visitors around the Members’ Pavilion for the Centenary Test.Back then, tours ran every Wednesday morning and were confined to the highlights of the 1927-28 Members’ Pavilion including the Long Room, the MCC Museum (which was converted from the old Members’ Dining Room) and the corridor of Sporting Sections photographs on the upper level, which was known as Bourke Street due to the heavy foot traffic on match days.
In 1986, when the Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum was built outside the Members’ Pavilion, an additional group of volunteers was enlisted to help show groups through the Museum.
In 1991, as tours became increasingly popular, more guides were needed and Dr Donald Cordner (then President of the MCC) approached the 50-Year member group to enlist more volunteers. This cohort, along with the original MCC Guides and the Gallery Rovers formed one group who continue to be known as the MCG Tour Guides. It was at this time that the distinctive MCC blue, red and white striped blazers were introduced as the iconic uniform for the MCG Tour Guides.
Tours began running every non-match day on the hour from 10:00am until 3:00pm and in 1994, demand was such that the tours were offered on the half hour as well.
At present the MCG Tours depart every 15 minutes (on non-event days) and accommodate both free independent travellers as well as myriad booked groups. In 2022-23 the Australian Sports Museum and MCG Tours received in excess of 150,000 visitors.