History of the Austral: The Austral 125 years ago

At the end of the 19th century and into the next, the alliance between the powerful Melbourne Bicycle Club (MBC) and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was very successful, both race-wise and financially.

It was a boom period driven by the new 'safety' bicycle offering faster racing on machines reasonably affordable to the public.

Owning a bicycle then was part of a new social opportunity in this period and great numbers of these trendy machines were being imported from England and some from the United States of America.

Competition between brands and bicycle shops meant the shops offered their new model machines for a low deposit and weekly terms.

Correspondingly, the cycle race meetings were a reflection of this, more than a cycling competition, they were significant social events where people dressed in their best, bet on the results, and treated it all as a grand affair.

A truly historic photo showing the finish of the 1899 Austral Wheelrace on the grass track at the Melbourne Cricket Club Ground before a crowd of 27,000 spectators. Percy Beauchamp (150 yards) winning by lengths from William Matthews (170 yards) and H. Thorn (200 yards).

The 1899 race was held over two miles, eight laps, and was worth £300 first prize, a very substantial amount for those times.

The race attracted serious contenders often willing to flout the rules or collude, trying to win some money one way or another.

Disqualifications were frequent with the legal betting heightening the intentions, both riders and spectators alike furtively trying to guarantee their living expenses for the next week.

Percy Beauchamp had been a successful Tasmanian rower but decided to follow his older cycling brother Frank, a scratch man, into the sport. He was 23 years of age, stood six-foot tall, and won the fifth of fourteen heats by three lengths in the equal second fastest time of four minutes and 35 seconds.

The final was held one week later on Saturday, December 16 and a crowd of 27,000 packed all viewing areas of the MCG.

There were 16 riders lined up for the final with brother Frank the sole scratch man.

Percy’s heat win had proved popular and he had moved from 20 to one odds to three to one odds for the final.

He started from the handicap of 150 yards and scored the rich win, again by three lengths, in the new record time of four minutes and 28.8 seconds.

Percy Beauchamp, supported by officials, savours the financially rewarding moment after his 1899 Austral victory.

The newspaper described his success as “riding with plenty of reserve force”.

Second was William Matthews from 170 yards, and third was H. Thorn from 200 yards.

The newspaper also recorded that the betting ring lost at least £3000 on the race.

Feature picture: In the regular tradition, Austral race finalists lined up in front of the grandstand for a group photo before the race start. The winner in 1899 would be Percy Beauchamp, second from left.