Located behind the Inverell Presbyterian Church and bounded by Henderson, Lawrence and Granville Streets, Brooks Oval was first gazetted as an Athletic Sports Ground in 1895. The following year, four trustees were appointed to manage the 1.3 ha grounds.
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During 1902 Inverell Municipal Council requested the NSW Government to vest the land in the Council. This was approved three years later and the trustees resigned.
Sometimes referred to as the village green, the grounds were used for football and cricket as well as men’s and women’s hockey. These were not just local school or club matches; many inter-town events were also played there. By 1929 there were two hockey clubs, Inverell Evergreen Ladies and the Scarlet Runners. The grounds were allocated for football every Saturday, but after a hockey club request, Council granted permission for hockey and football to be played on alternate Saturdays.
During the early 1950s Council was advised that racehorses were training on the grounds and that their ‘galloping at full speed’ was cutting up the surface. Although a fence around the grounds had been suggested, it had not been erected.
Following a request from the Cricket Association, Council gave approval for cricket to be played at Brooks Oval on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer season beginning in October 1952.
At the end of that year Council agreed to construct a turf wicket at Brooks Oval provided the costs be met by the Cricket Association and that they maintain same. Council agreed to remove the concrete wicket at their cost.
During a match one Saturday afternoon in 1953 residents in Henderson Street apparently watched anxiously as Ken Bryars batted. He made 152 runs very quickly, hitting 12 sixes. History doesn’t relate how far these balls travelled.
Brooks Oval was named after Mr. H.J. Brooks, a prominent Inverell business man and keen cricketer.
He served on the Municipal Council for eight years, becoming mayor from 1945 until 1948. Following his death in 1949 the Athletic Sports Ground was named in his honour.
