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Story: Children’s play

Boys playing cricket, around 1896

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Boys playing cricket, around 1896

This artwork depicts boys playing an impromptu cricket game in a West Coast mining town, probably Dobson, around 1896. By the 1890s many children had more leisure time. Boys in particular were encouraged to take up organised team sports including rugby and cricket. This was also reflected in spontaneous play, with children organising their own variations on games such as cricket.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: C-079-054

by Philip Robert Presants

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Peter Clayworth, Children’s play – The changing world of children’s play, 1880s to 2000s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/40835/boys-playing-cricket-around-1896 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Peter Clayworth, published 13 February 2013.