Northbourne Oval began as part of Walter Burley Griffin's winning design for Australia's new capital — an open space woven into the symmetrical layout of Northbourne Avenue. Over the next decade, Griffin's vision moved from plan to reality. The site was formally identified as green space, the plan was gazetted, and in 1925 the oval officially opened, establishing what would become North Canberra's earliest enclosed public recreational reserve.

Within two years of opening, the oval had already become a home ground. The Ainslie Football Club adopted it as their venue in 1927, and a growing program of cricket, soccer, and community events followed. Band concerts and dances made it a gathering place beyond sport. By 1934, rugby league competitions including the Challenge Cup were being played here — the beginning of a connection that would define the ground for decades to come.

The Second World War brought change to the oval. With curators enlisted, 15-year-old cricket secretary Jim Backen was paid ten shillings a week to keep the ground watered. In 1942, crowds gathered here to view a captured Japanese midget submarine from Sydney Harbour. Rugby union continued through wartime, and as peace returned, boxing tournaments and thrilling football matches drew the community back to the ground.

From the mid-1950s, Northbourne Oval became one of Canberra's liveliest venues. Stunt drivers went airborne over the ground. Vintage car rallies and Highland weekends drew large crowds. In the 1970s, Group 19 Rugby League leased the oval, and regular matches earned it a new name — Rugby League Park, Braddon. The ACT Leagues Club opened nearby, reaching 700 members within a month. The RAAF was granted Freedom of the City here in 1981.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, Northbourne Oval cemented its place as a rugby league heartland. Molonglo Shield matches, ACT Minor Rugby League, school and junior competitions, and Public Service Amateur Rugby League were all regular fixtures. The pavilion and clubhouse were refurbished. In 1998, the Canberra District Rugby League Football Club was granted a 50-year lease, and in 2000 the oval was added to the ACT Heritage Register — a recognition of its historic and cultural significance.

As the oval enters its second century, it continues to support sport, community and shared memories. The Canberra Raiders Centre of Excellence opened in 2020, strengthening the site's connection to rugby league in the capital region. Today, Northbourne Oval supports training for the Raiders' NRL and NRLW programs. In 2025, the oval marked 100 years — a century of competition, community and Canberra life.