Bound by nature
Prior to white settlement of Melbourne in 1834, the Yarra River Valley was inhabited by the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.  Owing to its naturally lightly wooded grasslands, the area has always been idyllic for recreational pursuits and has certainly served a remarkable range of purposes.

The riverside pastures of Richmond Paddock became the first location for Melbourne's Zoological Gardens, the first established in Australia and one of the world's oldest. In 1858 a meeting was convened in the office of the Director of the Botanic Gardens and government botanist, Dr. (later Baron) Ferdinand von Meuller to discuss the creation of a zoological garden by the Zoological Society.  At the same time a separate Acclimatization Society had been formed by Edward Wilson, the retired editor of the Argus. Its aim included "the introduction, acclimatisation and domestication of all innoxious animals, birds, fish, insects and vegetables" (rather than the display of exotic animals).

The Zoological Society and the Acclimatisation Society were amalgamated in 1861; Wilson as President and von Mueller as Vice-President.  In the same year the Society was given a land grant of 33 acres from the Government, commonly known as the Richmond Paddock and located opposite the Botanic Gardens. The Zoo's first collection was housed within the Botanic Gardens under the dedicated care of von Mueller, the small collection growing to consist of fauna, including monkeys, native birds and mammals.  Rumours about neglect began to circulate and it became apparent that the original site was too damp and swampy to accommodate the animals and flora. Von Mueller reluctantly requested that the Government move the Zoo and in 1862 they granted 5,5000 pounds and a 55 acre site in Royal Park.

The Zoological Gardens became known as the Friendly Society's Gardens, the Combined Friendly Society using it for athletic carnivals and social events. Eight Hour Day was of great significance for a number of years and the yearly festival was held the same weekend as the current day Moomba Festival. During the 1870's athletic events such as the world 300 yard championship were held and in 1873 a 'Festival of the Druids' took place.

Despite council improvements in the 1880's, the Yarra constantly flooded until the Yarra Improvement Act of 1896 empowered the Board of Works to realign the river between the City and Richmond. The League of Victorian Wheelmen completed a banked cycling track in 1897, which included a grandstand, bar and a range of amenities.  The 32-35ft wide asphalt track was enclosed by a picket fence.   As well as other cycling and running tracks (often the victims of flooding and subsequent swamps) the area around Olympic Park was used for tennis and women's cricket in the 1890's and early 1900's.

Humble beginnings
The area now known as Olympic Park and then still part of Yarra Park was proclaimed Crown land by the State Government on 24 August 1909.  It was to be a "site for the recreation convenience and amusement of people and as a children's playground". The 'Amateur Sports Grounds' basically consisted of two ovals - one rough and ready, the other with a concrete cycle track around its perimeter. Unfortunately little was done to improve the area's facilities for the ensuing 15 years, though prior to WWI dirt banks were formed for a planned motordrome.  Athletics was a regular feature still, the St Stephens Harriers using both ovals regularly.

Thrills and spills
Melbourne Carnivals Pty Ltd (formed in 1923 by Jim DuFrocq and Jack Campbell) developed and leased the site until the conclusion of World War II.  With dynamic and colourful local 'entrepreneur' John Wren a driving force along with Campbell, the company opened the 'Motordrome' stadium in November 1924 at a cost of 30,000 pounds.  A dispute over dirt (gleaned from the Myer store construction) and other issues resulted in the builder Henry Harris Eilenberg taking Melbourne Carnivals to court.  Interestingly, future Prime Minister Robert Menzies represented the lease holder who lost the case.  Eilenberg was awarded ownership of the Motordrome until the 10,000 pound claim was settled.

The VFL sought to utilise the ground for a new club or as an advanced forerunner to Waverley Park but the deal didn't quite eventuate.  Although the Motordrome hosted three VFA Grand Finals from 1925-27, it was never used as a regular football ground.

A campaign led by defunct newspaper, The Argus, condemned the appropriation of public space for commercial activities however authorities maintained the land was still open to the community. Criticism subsided as people attended all manner of entertainments. In January 1925, 15,000 people saw 'several thrilling contests' in which various motor cars were raced. Some events were less successful than others; racing ostriches were imported from South Australia in December 1926 but in what The Argus labelled 'a complete fiasco' the confused and terrified beasts (with cardboard cutout 'jockeys') wandered aimlessly, scampered in all directions or simply stood stupefied. 'Motor Push Ball' was another bizarre affair, as were children being pulled by billy goats in two wheeler carts.

The Motordrome's innovative 'saucer' track was primarily used by intrepid motorbike and sidecar racers.  'Danger don't lean over track' signs warned patrons (two were killed in 1929) and a danger line on the wall guided riders around the daunting 48 degree bank. There were in fact two tracks; a flatter 494 yard dirt track surrounded by the treacherous 629 yard concrete drome used for two lap 'professional wheel racing' events. American star motorcyclists Jim Davis and Paul Anderson regularly thrilled crowds whilst Ron Hipwell was the local favourite. Tearing around at over 80 miles an hour with no brakes on the steep banks, it was little surprise that five riders lose their lives. In one spectacular crash Hipwell suffered concussion and assorted injuries (including his hip!) and never regained the form that saw him defeat Davis once in front of 30,000.  Meanwhile, Huxley and Van Praag were stars of the dirt track motor races.

The first dirt track motorcycling race was held in 1928 and cycling also became popular as the Great Depression took hold. Legendary rider Hubert Opperman broke the world record for the dangerous 5 mile motor paced event. The nature of this unique 'velodrome' lent itself to motor-paced feats such as Opperman covering 100 miles in 90 minutes in 1930. Sadly, two cycling fatalities at the Motordrome actually led to skull caps becoming mandatory for professional cyclists.

In 1928 Wren also established the world's richest professional footrace, 'The Melbourne Thousand'. The inaugural winner of the 500 pound prize was future South Melbourne star footballer Austin Robertson (the remaining 500 pounds distributed among placegetters). The sprint was last run in 1932 - the same year in which Melbourne played three VFL home games at the Motordrome owing to the MCG undergoing resurfacing works.

The Motordrome ran its last race on 8 April 1933, making way for 'more modern' dirt racing such as the popular midget cars promoted by Melbourne Carnivals' Richard Lean from 1934.  The new Olympic Park Speedway saw the birth of this still popular form of racing in Australia.  Its name was also the first reference to the term 'Olympic Park' to what was still a rough sports ground on the western side and a better quality field surrounded by the track on the eastern side.  

Football returned on 30 March 1935 when the first floodlit game between 1934 Grand Finalists Richmond and South Melbourne remarkably drew 25,000 spectators (causing Jack Dyer to walk to the ground, unable to get on the packed trams). The practice match was interspersed with midget car races in the breaks.   Amid some controversy, Wren nearly closed a deal for Richmond to relocate to Olympic Park around this time.

The AIF assumed control of Olympic Park in 1940 although one last speedway meeting was held in June 1941 in aid of St Vincent's Hospital.  Continued petrol rationing spelled the death knell for the speedway in the aftermath of WW2. The venue met with the wrecking ball in 1946 but few local residents lamented the demise of the noisy motorsports.  Further deconstruction occurred inadvertently when a fire destroyed a large wooden grandstand in 1951.