|
Let me break it to you gently... the Australian GP has a history going back to 1927, when it was held at the Racecourse at Goulburn, NSW... check the thread 'The FIRST Australian GP' in the Historic forum...
Officially, the 1928 "One Hundred Miles Road Race" at Phillip Island is recognised as the first Australian GP, then following the succession of Grands Prix at Phillip Island (on a public road course) until 1935. The 1936 "South Australian Centenary Grand Prix" was then drafted into the lineage after its running, it becoming listed as the 1937 Australian GP.
Bathurst was the site of the 1938 event, Lobethal (swoon!) in 1939, then Bathurst again in 1947, Point Cook (Vic) in 1948, Leyburn (Qld) in 1949, Nuriootpa (SA) in 1950, Narrogin (WA) in 1951, Bathurst in 1952, Albert Park (quite different to today's Albert Park, and run in the opposite direction) in 1953, Southport (Qld, again public roads) in 1954, Port Wakefield (SA) in 1955, Albert Park again in 1956 (the regular placement around the states interrupted to gain exposure with the Olympic Games), Caversham (WA) in 1957, Bathurst in 1958, Longford (Tasmania) in 1959, Lowood (Qld) in 1960, Mallala (SA) in 1961, Caversham in 1962 and then it followed the Tasman Series circuits for the next eight years.
Warwick Farm (1963, 1967), Sandown Park (1964, 1968), Lakeside (1966, 1969), Longford in 1965, which is the answer to your question.
The race was then settled at Warwick Farm in 1970 and 71 as the promoters were trying to gain World Championship inclusion, but moved to Sandown for 1973, Oran Park in 1974 after the Farm closed, Surfers Paradise in 1975, Sandown again in 1976, Oran Park in 1977, Sandown in 1978, Wanneroo Park (WA) in 1979, then Calder 1980 to 1984 inclusive before Adelaide hosted the first WDC race here.
There's a great book about the races up to and including 1985, called "The Official 50-race History of the Australian Grand Prix"... look for it. It's huge, but well worth reading.
|