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Athletics Through the Years
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European Colonisation in Australia
In 1788 when Australia was colonised by Europeans, they bought with them athletic competitions that are similair as todays competitions. The image shows the first fleet colonising in Australia. -
First Recorded Competiton
The earliest record athletics competition was in 1810, at Hyde Park, Sydney where Dicky Dowling won a race that was over 50 yards.
The proffessinal athletic circuit grew considerably during this time. The image shows Sydney's Hyde Park. -
Professinal Racing boomed in Gold Rush Towns
During the mid 1800s footracing boomed in the towns of the goldrush of NSW and Victoria. Miners raced against each other in handicapped races where they would win Gold nuggets as a gift for winning from the gold mine owner, This is where gift giving after races originated from, For example- rcieveing a medal or getting a boquet of flowers etc after winning an event. The image shows the town Sovereign Hill during the time of the gold rush. -
First Ameteur Athletics Club Founded in Australia
The first ever ameteur athletics club was formed in Adelaide in 1867.It was known as the Adelaide Ameteur Athletic Club. It held regular meetings and competitions, soon after this many other athletics clubs began to form. The image show Betty Cuthbert racing. -
Long Distance Walking became Popular
During the late 1800s, Long Distance Walking became very poular. W. Edwards won a 100 mile race in 24 hours in 1878 and in 1882 he won a six day tournament which was over 432miles around Melbourne. The image shows a modern day race walking, race. -
The First Official Association was Founded.
Many clubs began to form in this time, as this was the case they need a governing body, so on the 20th of April 1887 there was a meeting in Oxford Street Sydney, where the honorary secretary of Ashfield Amateur Athletic Club, made it clear that an ameteur athletics association was in need, for New South Wales and the rest of the country. So NSW took charge and founded an Ameteur Athletics Association. Other states then followed. Today it is known as Athletics Australia -
Australia Competed in the first Olympic Games.
In 1896 Australia competed in the first modern olympics, in Athens. Where Edwin Flack won both the 800m and 1500m races. The image shows the olympic Gold medalist, Edwin Flack. -
First Australian Woman Competed in the Olympics.
The first Australian Woman (Edith Robinson) competed in the 1928 Olympics, in amsterdam, where she competed in the 100m and 800m races. The image shows the sprinter Edith Robinson(left) and Eileen Wearne(right). -
Little Athletics Started.
In 1963 October, three young boys arrived at an athletics meet ready to compete, but an official to youn to compete, this led the boys to an idea of Little Athletics where young kids could compete against others their own age. So on the 3rd of October 1964, an official Trevor Billingham(the official who turned the boys) met the boys and a few others at an oval in Gelong, where they participated in a short program of running events. -
Sydney Olympics
In 2000 the Olympics were in Sydney, NSW, Australia. Where Cathy Freeman, won a gold medal in 400m race. Cathy Freeman was the first indigenous australian, to win an olympic event. The image shows the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics.
