Sport has been a big part of life in Dimboola for over 150 years, with the local recreation reserve, known as “The Park”, the scene of many triumphs.

Many opponents have passed through these gates confident of success, only to leave disappointed after taking on a Dimboola team.

The gates and new fencing along the Lloyd Street boundary of The Park were officially opened just over one hundred years ago at the Dimboola A & P Society annual show on 21 October 1922, courtesy of the generosity of popular local resident and farmer, Mr George Nettelbeck.

Built over September and October of that year by Mr Nettelbeck, they were financed through a very generous donation of £150 by the builder, along with public subscriptions of about £45 and contributions from the A & P Society (£25), Rowing Club (£25), and the Race Club (£15), some of the local sporting bodies which utilise the facilities in The Park.
When making the generous offer to build and part-finance the feature, Mr Nettelbeck explained that the gates he purposed to erect will consist of six piers, 2 feet 3 inches square, and about 7 feet high, with 6 feet long sem- circular wings. There will be two small 3 feet gates on either side, and the double gate (8 feet wings) will be 16 feet across.

The gates will be [made] of iron, and the piers reinforced concrete. - The Age, 5 September 1922
At a meeting of the A and P Society later in the year, Mr Nettelbeck was appointed as a Life Member of the A & P Society in recognition of his generosity and many years of service to the society.