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.  In 1837 Surveyor-General Robert Hoddle surveyed Melbourne and set the boundary for 'Government Paddock', an area that now encompasses Melbourne and Olympic Parks, as well as Yarra Park.

The riverside pastures (eastern end of Olympic Park) of what had become known as '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, 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 including monkeys, native birds and mammals.  Rumours of neglect began to circulate and it became apparent that the original site was too damp and swampy. 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, as part of the greater tract of land known variously as 'Government', 'Richmond' and 'Police' Paddocks during the 1860's (this still included the MCG and Yarra Park).  The Combined Friendly Society used the land for athletic carnivals and social events.  Eight Hour Day was of great significance for a number of years, the annual festival 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, in addition to the curious 'Festival of the Druids'.  At the far eastern end near Punt road, cows grazed on what was alternatively called 'The Cow Paddock' and then 'Arthur's Paddock' when L Arthur Pty Ltd (a transport company) filled it with horses.  This is now Gosch's Paddock. 

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.  Motocyclists also used the track however their machines became too fast, the track useless for racing purposes.  As well as other cycling and running tracks (often flooded or swamp-like) the area was used for football, tennis, rugby union and women's cricket either side of the century's turn.

 
c1897 Before the river was straightened, cycle track top left                          Lazing on a Sunday afternoon at the Amateur Sports Grounds

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.  In its charter dated 19 April 1910, the Committee of Management stated the land encompassing 25 acres would 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 encircled by the cycle track.  The latter field (106x176 yards) was said to be the largest enclosed oval in the district.  On these ovals were turf wickets for cricket and two adjacent double tennis courts. Unfortunately, little was done to improve the area's facilities for the ensuing 15 years.  A private company was to build a 5000 pound motordrome capable of handling speeds up to 100mph in1915, but the Great War halted preliminary work.  Athletics was  still a regular feature, 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 'Melbourne Motordrome' on 13 December 1924 at a cost of 30,000 pounds (built on the old cycle track).  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.

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 in 1926.  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.  The Motordrome hosted three VFA Grand Finals from 1925-27 (Brunswick v Port Melbourne 1925 below), as well as the popular mid-week industrial competition.  In addition to rugby union representative matches, junior cricket was played during the summer and it was estimated that 1000 public used the fields each week for training and engaging in various amateur sports and athletics. 

                                              

Crowds of 30,000 regularly thrilled to eclectic programs that featured motorbikes, sidecars and cycling - even wrestling.  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 red danger line half way up the wall guided riders around the daunting 48 degree bank.  The treacherous 629 yard concrete drome was mainly 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, the track earning the nickname the 'Murderdome'.  Serios trouble often ensued when oil spilt on the track, riders 'wobbled', skid on the painted red line or tried to ride more than three abreast.  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 a full house.  Other tragic accidents involved Alec Staig and Allan Bunning, Charles Grigg, Reg Moloney and Jimmy Wassall.  Riders even had to contend with foolish attempts at sabotage; such as tacks thrown onto the track, or on one occasion, officials luckily spotting a five foot length of barbed wire.
 
The first dirt track motorcycling race was held in 1928 on a new 494 yard dirt track, enclosed by the 'drome.  Huxley and Van Praag were stars of these meetings.

Cycling also became popular as the Great Depression took hold. The nature of this unique 'velodrome' lent itself to motor-paced feats such as Legendary cyclist Sir Hubert Opperman covering 100 miles in 90 minutes in 1930 and in a world famous performance, 1000 miles in 28hrs 55 mins.  He also broke the world record for the dangerous five mile motor paced event.  The Motordrome also hosted the historically significant Austral Wheelrace five times between 1925 and 1929.

By 1928 Wren also established the world's richest professional footrace, 'The Melbourne Thousand'. The inaugural 500 pound winner's prize went to South Melbourne star footballer Austin Robertson.  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. 

Plans to build a school on the site in 1933 were aborted, the Government having tested the ground by digging large holes without notice, thus raising the ire of long time Committee of Management Chairman Basil Parkinson.  An untenable safety record saw the ‘Drome dismantled, reconstructed as the ‘Olympic Park’ sporting arena in 1933. Interestingly, this reference predated the ’56 Games. Said to better reflect the usage of the site than ‘Amateur Sports Grounds’, the name was prophetic, if not lacking in logic. Promoted successfully by Dick Lean Snr, popular midget speedcars debuted in Australia here in 1934, on a newly constructed track around the field.

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 Australian Imperial Force assumed control of Olympic Park in 1940 although one last speedway meeting was held on 1 April 1946 in aid of St Vincent's Hospital with the permission of the Fuel Board.  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.