VRI Delacombe Cricket Club traces its beginnings to 1945, when members of the Victorian Railways Institute (VRI)—drawn largely from the Ballarat North railway workshops—formed a side to represent their workplace and community. The VRI’s purpose was simple and enduring: to build fellowship among rail workers through sport and social activity. Cricket quickly became the heart of that effort in Ballarat, and the new team took the field with a workmanlike spirit that still defines the club.

Post-war foundations

The immediate post-war years were a time of rebuilding across Ballarat. Many of the club’s early stalwarts were skilled tradesmen and shift workers; training nights were fitted around rosters, and Saturdays were for cricket. Those formative habits forged a culture of reliability and pride—turn up, do the job properly, then help pack up. That approach translated to results: the side climbed the Ballarat Cricket Association grades with back-to-back-to-back premierships in D (1948–49), C (1949–50) and B Grade (1950–51). Further B Grade flags followed in 1953–54 and 1954–55, stamping VRI as one of the competition’s steadiest post-war outfits.

Consolidation and community

Through the 1960s and 70s the club settled into a rhythm of multiple senior sides, social functions, and hard cricket played the right way. The 1972–73 C Grade premiership capped that era—an achievement built on depth as much as star turns. Families became fixtures: partners helped with teas and raffles, kids chased balls at training, and new arrivals to Ballarat found a ready-made home in a club that welcomed workers from all trades, not just the railways.

From workshops to suburbs

As Ballarat expanded south-west, the club embraced the Delacombe identity while keeping “VRI” at its core. That move reflected a broader mission: to serve the whole community while honouring the railway roots. Investment in facilities at Doug Dean Recreation Reserve gave the club a modern base—space for juniors, seniors, and social cricket to grow side by side. Nets were upgraded, practice nights became busier, and a new generation flowed through from entry-level programs into age-group teams and open-age cricket.

A modern competitive record

The 1990s and 2000s brought another wave of on-field success. The senior men lifted District Division 2 (1993–94) and District Division 1 (2000–01) titles, supported by a flourishing junior pathway that produced Under 14 (Green) premiers in 1999–00 and a remarkable run of Under 16 (Green) flags in 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05. Depth across the grades remained a hallmark, with further District Division 2 successes in 2004–05 and 2007–08, and later District Division 3 (2014–15) and 2nd XI (2016–17) premierships. One-day and lower-grade titles followed as the club broadened participation and kept standards high—One-Day C Grade (2017–18), 4th XI (2019–20) and most recently the 5th XI (2023–24), each testament to the strength of the wider playing group.

Juniors, women & the pathway

Junior cricket is the engine room of VRI Delacombe. From blasters and have-a-go programs through to structured age groups, the club has focused on coaching fundamentals, providing good equipment, and making Saturday mornings fun.

Historically careful note on junior origins: VRI Delacombe’s junior program has been in place since the late 1990s, with our first recorded junior premiership in 1999–2000 (Under 14 Green). Through the early 2000s our juniors surged—with Under 16 (Green) premierships in 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05—and the pathway has continued to expand into today’s U11–U17 and Cricket Blast programs.

That work shows on the honour boards—Under 13 (Hollioake) premiers in 2017–18 and 2019–20, and Under 15 1st XI premiers in 2020–21 and 2021–22—and, more importantly, in the steady stream of young players stepping confidently into senior ranks. In recent seasons the club has also leaned into women’s and girls’ cricket as a core priority, opening more opportunities for local families to connect with the game and with each other.

People, values, and place

What began as a team of railway men is now a broad community club, but the values haven’t changed: turn up, respect the game, look after your mates, and contribute. Volunteers keep things moving—committee members, coaches, scorers, curators, sponsors and supporters who give their time so others can play. Doug Dean Reserve has become a meeting place for all of Delacombe: a safe, affordable space where first games, milestones and premierships are shared across generations.

Honour Roll — Ballarat Cricket Association Premierships

Senior

• 1948–49 — D Grade (Premiers)

• 1949–50 — C Grade (Premiers)

• 1950–51 — B Grade (Premiers)

• 1953–54 — B Grade (Premiers)

• 1954–55 — B Grade (Premiers)

• 1972–73 — C Grade (Premiers)

• 1993–94 — District Division 2 (Premiers)

• 2000–01 — District Division 1 (Premiers)

• 2004–05 — District Division 2 (Premiers)

• 2007–08 — District Division 2 (Premiers)

• 2014–15 — District Division 3 (Premiers)

• 2016–17 — 2nd XI (Premiers)

• 2017–18 — One-Day C Grade (Premiers)

• 2019–20 — 4th XI (Premiers)

• 2023–24 — 5th XI (Premiers)

Junior

• 1999–00 — Under 14 (Green) (Premiers)

• 2002–03 — Under 16 (Green) (Premiers)

• 2003–04 — Under 16 (Green) (Premiers)

• 2004–05 — Under 16 (Green) (Premiers)

• 2017–18 — Under 13 (Hollioake) (Premiers)

• 2019–20 — Under 13 (Hollioake) (Premiers)

• 2020–21 — Under 15 1st XI (Premiers)

• 2021–22 — Under 15 1st XI (Premiers)