Under the leadership of WL Murdoch, the Australians visited England in 1880. With an incomplete fixture list, the Surrey authorities with the help of James Southerton, arranged practice facilities at Mitcham.

They must have enjoyed this, because they returned in 1884, 1886 and 1896, often making use of the "Cricketers" pub.

There is a story that G J Bonnor, who stood 6 foot 6, made one prodigious hit soaring over the clock tower of the then newly built Vestry Hall.