Motordrome (Melbourne)
Encyclopedia
The Motordrome, also known as the Olympic Park Speedway or the Melbourne Speedway, was a former speedway
and Australian rules football
ground located on the site of Olympic Park
in Melbourne
, Victoria. The ground was primarily a speedway track, but also hosted football matches, including hosting three VFA Grand Finals in 1925, 1926 and 1927, and three of Melbourne Football Club
's home games between Rounds 2 and 6 in the 1932 VFL season
when the MCG
was unavailable due to re-surfacing.
the ground regularly drew in crowds of 30 000+ to watch speedway, motorcycle and sidecar racing. The ground also hosted three VFA Grand Finals in 1925, 1926 and 1927. In 1925 there was a proposal for the VFL
to have its headquarters at the ground, similar to what happened with Waverley Park
50 years later. However, this proposal fell through. The last football game played at the ground was an exhibition game in 1935 between South Melbourne
and . The complex was sold after the Second World War and began to be converted into the Melbourne Olympic Park
for the 1956 Olympics
.
matches in 1932
as 's home ground. Melbourne lost all three games:
Dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
and Australian rules football
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...
ground located on the site of Olympic Park
Olympic Park Stadium
Olympic Park Stadium was a multi-purpose outdoor stadium located on Olympic Boulevard in inner Melbourne. The stadium was built as an athletics training venue for the 1956 Olympics, a short distance from the MCG, which served as the Olympic Stadium...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
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...
, Victoria. The ground was primarily a speedway track, but also hosted football matches, including hosting three VFA Grand Finals in 1925, 1926 and 1927, and three of Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
's home games between Rounds 2 and 6 in the 1932 VFL season
1932 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1932.-Premiership season:In 1932, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
when the MCG
McG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
was unavailable due to re-surfacing.
History
Melbourne Carnivals Pty. Ltd, a company established in 1923 by Jack Campbell and Jim DuFrocq, developed and leased the site from the Crown with the help of local entrepreneur John Wren. The Melbourne Motordrome was opened on 13 December 1924. During the time of the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
the ground regularly drew in crowds of 30 000+ to watch speedway, motorcycle and sidecar racing. The ground also hosted three VFA Grand Finals in 1925, 1926 and 1927. In 1925 there was a proposal for the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
to have its headquarters at the ground, similar to what happened with Waverley Park
Waverley Park
Waverley Park was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian based Victorian Football League/Australian Football League clubs. However, during the 1990s it became the home ground of...
50 years later. However, this proposal fell through. The last football game played at the ground was an exhibition game in 1935 between South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
and . The complex was sold after the Second World War and began to be converted into the Melbourne Olympic Park
Olympic Park Stadium
Olympic Park Stadium was a multi-purpose outdoor stadium located on Olympic Boulevard in inner Melbourne. The stadium was built as an athletics training venue for the 1956 Olympics, a short distance from the MCG, which served as the Olympic Stadium...
for the 1956 Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
.
VFL Games
The Motordrome hosted three VFLAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
matches in 1932
1932 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1932.-Premiership season:In 1932, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
as 's home ground. Melbourne lost all three games:
- Round 2: defeated 15.26 (116) to 7.13 (55) on 7 May 1932
- Round 4: defeated 20.13 (133) to 14.11 (95) on 14 May 1932
- Round 6: defeated 12.15 (87) to 9.9 (63) on 4 June 1932