Publisher's Synopsis
The Temple Down the Road is Brian Matthews' beautifully written and idiosyncratic history of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and its place in the hearts and minds of Australians. Matthews approaches his subject from all directions - through the pubs you can stop at on the way to the ground, through history and yarns, by journeying down the Yarra to Yarra Park, and so on - and ranges widely and affectionately over many subjects, including great cricket and football matches played at the ground, the influence of politics, crowd characteristics, famous people with a connection to the 'G', the 1956 Olympic Games, and the author's own experiences at (and beyond) the hallowed site. Very readable, frequently moving and often laugh-out-loud funny, The Temple Down the Road taps into the MCG's mystique and evokes its place and presence in Melbourne over a long and rich history.
