Richmond Football Club formed at the Royal Hotel, Richmond

Background. Richmond, an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, saw a rapid expansion of football teams during the 1870s and early 1880s. Prior to the official formation of the Richmond Football Club, a short-lived club named Richmond had formed in 1860 with Tom Wills as its inaugural secretary and captain. The establishment of the club in 1885 marked the end of a waiting period for a formal organization in the suburb.

Formation. The Richmond Football Club was officially formed at the Royal Hotel in Richmond on 20 February 1885. This event established the club's formal presence in the suburb. Following its formation, the club shared the Punt Road Oval with the Richmond Cricket Club, which had been playing on the ground since 1856.

Context. The founding occurred in a suburb that had previously lacked a senior side despite its prominence. The 1885 formation ended a period where only junior teams existed in the area. The club's immediate admission to the Victorian Football Association followed the official formation, though specific competition results are outside the scope of this event.