The title of “Nunawading Football Club” was first used in 1894, when the Mitcham, Box Hill and Surrey Hills Football Clubs merged to play in the Metropolitan Junior Football Association (now the Victorian Amateur Football League). The three teams were struggling to field sides at that time and joined together for two seasons, before going their separate ways again in 1896. Surrey Hills however, continued to use the Nunawading title until 1907.
The current Nunawading Football Club was established in 1927 as the Tunstall Football Club. Home games were played at the Nunawading Recreation Reserve in Silver Grove. We played our first season in the Box Hill Reporter District Football Association before moving to the Ringwood District Football League the following year and staying until 1932. From 1933 until 1961 we played in the Eastern Suburbs Football League. Our first ever premiership was won in 1938 in B Grade. In 1943, the suburb of Tunstall changed its name to Nunawading and we soon followed. Our second premiership was won in 1955, also in B Grade.
In 1962 we joined the newly established Eastern District Football League as a foundation member. By 1974 we were forced to move to Mahoneys Reserve in Forest Hill, as the Nunawading Recreation centre was built on our home ground. Finally, in 1996 we made the decision to move to Koonung Park in Springfield Road, Blackburn North as we had no social facilities at Mahoneys Reserve. During these years premierships success was savoured in 1962 (Under 16), 1976 (Under 17) and 1987 (Reserves).
After enduring some of the toughest times any sporting club could imagine, including five wooden spoons in five years, we made resurgence in 2001, to narrowly miss the finals by percentage. Then, in season 2002, we celebrated our first senior premiership in 47 years, with a thumping 93 point win over Heathmont.
Season 2003 saw us move up to Division 3 and in our first two years manage to consolidate by finishing 7th. In 2005 the club took some very big steps and the Senior team missed out on playing finals by the barest of margins (.00002%), however the Reserves made the finals. 2006 saw the seniors make up for the previous years disappointment by playing finals and after defeating arch rival Waverley in the first semi final we lost a nail biter to eventual premiers South Croydon by 12 points after being in front with just one minute remaining in the match. The reserves side also made the finals and took out the premiership by 3 points and then followed that up with the 2008 premiership 2 years later.
Since 2010 Nunawading has been competing in Division 4 and looking to get the club back in a strong position for the future.
2017 saw the club include its first ever netball team, making finals in their first year was a great feat for the club who has been starved of success for so long.
The netball team went on to win their first Premiership in 2018 competing in Division 6.
2019 was soon followed with another Premiership to the girls.2022 looks to be a big year for the rebuild of this great football club with the club re- branding and starting up their Inaugural women’s football team. They will be competing against the league heavyweights up in EFNL Premier Division.
