Australian rules football in the Goldfields region of Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Australian rules football
has been played in the Goldfields region of Western Australia
since the late 1890s, when the Western Australian gold rush
brought an influx of immigrants from Victoria
and South Australia
, bringing the sport with them.
For much of the early 20th century, the standard of football in the Goldfields was considered equal to that of the coastal West Australian Football League
(WAFL). The Goldfields were awarded a separate seat on the Australian National Football Council from 1903–19, although both leagues combined to form one Western Australian representative team for National Carnivals
during this time. The quality of football declined after World War I
, although a Goldfields Football League
representative team defeated both and Port Adelaide
in 1939.
was formed on 3 May 1895 at a meeting at the Exchange Hotel in Kalgoorlie. The White Feather and Great Boulder Football Clubs were formed later that year, with
A separate Coolgardie Football Association existed from 1895.
The West Perth Football Club
proposed twice, in 1896 and 1897, to tour the goldfields, playing matches in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. However, these invitations were declined by the goldfields clubs, due to problems obtaining funding and with the condition of the Goldfields grounds. A Coolgardie representative team toured Perth
in August/September 1896, and were entertained at St. George's Hall in the city by local politicians and representatives of the Western Australian Football Association
. The team played one match against a "combined juniors" team, winning 3.15 (33) to 3.5 (23), and other matches in Perth and Fremantle
.
, the GFA's representative, T. J. Brett, was delayed by a railway strike which prevent him leaving the state. Contemporary newspapers rest much of the blame for this decision on the WAFL, suggesting that the WAFL's representative had "induced" the council to award sole control of the game in Western Australia to the coastal competition, and describing the WAFL's conduct towards the GFA as "unsportsmanlike", "vexatious" and "unfair".
, formed from players from clubs in the Norseman Football Association, was admitted to the GNFL in 1971, playing in the league from 1971–72 and again from 1974–82. In 1978, five Norseman players were killed when their plane crashed on take-off.
by 19 points.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
has been played in the Goldfields region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
since the late 1890s, when the Western Australian gold rush
Western Australian gold rush
In the latter part of the nineteenth century, discoveries of gold at a number of locations in Western Australia caused large influxes of prospectors from overseas and interstate, and classic gold rushes. Significant finds included:...
brought an influx of immigrants from Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, bringing the sport with them.
For much of the early 20th century, the standard of football in the Goldfields was considered equal to that of the coastal West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WAFL). The Goldfields were awarded a separate seat on the Australian National Football Council from 1903–19, although both leagues combined to form one Western Australian representative team for National Carnivals
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
during this time. The quality of football declined after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, although a Goldfields Football League
Goldfields Football League
The Goldfields Football League is a regional Australian football league based in the Kalgoorlie region, Western Australia. Originally founded in 1896 as Hannans District Football Association, the league enjoyed a seat and full voting rights on the Australian National Football Council until 1919...
representative team defeated both and Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
in 1939.
Early history
Two teams – Rovers and Coolgardie – existed in Coolgardie by 1894, although matches were infrequent and unorganised, with no standardised rules. The Hannans Football ClubKalgoorlie City Football Club
Kalgoorlie City Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Goldfields Football League.The club is based at Sir Richard Moore Sports Complex in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and was formed in 1895 as the Hannans Club, making it one of the oldest football clubs in country...
was formed on 3 May 1895 at a meeting at the Exchange Hotel in Kalgoorlie. The White Feather and Great Boulder Football Clubs were formed later that year, with
A separate Coolgardie Football Association existed from 1895.
The West Perth Football Club
West Perth Football Club
The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia, competing in the West Australian Football League . It is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia. It competes in the West Australian...
proposed twice, in 1896 and 1897, to tour the goldfields, playing matches in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. However, these invitations were declined by the goldfields clubs, due to problems obtaining funding and with the condition of the Goldfields grounds. A Coolgardie representative team toured Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in August/September 1896, and were entertained at St. George's Hall in the city by local politicians and representatives of the Western Australian Football Association
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
. The team played one match against a "combined juniors" team, winning 3.15 (33) to 3.5 (23), and other matches in Perth and Fremantle
Fremantle
Freemantle is a suburb of Southampton in England.Fremantle or Freemantle may also refer to:- Places :* Fremantle, the port city to the capital Perth, Western Australia...
.
Post World-War 1
In 1919, the Goldfields Football Association were compelled to withdraw from the Australasian Football Council. Previously, a situation had existed where the two representatives on the council accorded to Western Australia were divided between the WAFL and the GFA. While attempting to travel to the 1919 meeting of the council in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, the GFA's representative, T. J. Brett, was delayed by a railway strike which prevent him leaving the state. Contemporary newspapers rest much of the blame for this decision on the WAFL, suggesting that the WAFL's representative had "induced" the council to award sole control of the game in Western Australia to the coastal competition, and describing the WAFL's conduct towards the GFA as "unsportsmanlike", "vexatious" and "unfair".
Recent history
Norseman Football ClubNorseman, Western Australia
Norseman is a town located in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia along the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway, east of Perth and above sea level. It is also the starting point of the Eyre Highway, and the last major town in Western Australia before the South Australian border to the...
, formed from players from clubs in the Norseman Football Association, was admitted to the GNFL in 1971, playing in the league from 1971–72 and again from 1974–82. In 1978, five Norseman players were killed when their plane crashed on take-off.
Western Australian State Premiership
The Western Australian State Premiership was contested intermittently between 1903 and 1924 between the winners of the coastal and Goldfields leagues. WAFL clubs were on the whole more successful than GFA clubs, winning 10 out of the 12 premierships contested. The Kalgoorlie Railways Football Club were the only Goldfields club to win the competition, defeating in 1903 and in 1924. Mines Rovers drew with East Fremantle in the 1906 match, but lost the replayGrand Final Replay
A Grand Final Replay is a method of deciding the winner of a competition when a Grand Final is drawn. It is commonly used in football codes, particularly in Australian rules football, and most notably in the Australian Football League, where it has been used three times, most recently in...
by 19 points.
See also
- Australian rules football in Western AustraliaAustralian rules football in Western AustraliaAustralian rules football in Western Australia is the most popular sport in the state.-Early Beginnings:Organised football in the Perth/Fremantle region of Western Australia dates back to 1881. Back then though rugby union was the dominant football code...
- Goldfields Football LeagueGoldfields Football LeagueThe Goldfields Football League is a regional Australian football league based in the Kalgoorlie region, Western Australia. Originally founded in 1896 as Hannans District Football Association, the league enjoyed a seat and full voting rights on the Australian National Football Council until 1919...