By Stephen Coulter and Krystyna Weston, Co-Founders of Zipidi
Canberra may be known for its politics and public servants, but did you know that it was once the scooter racing capital of Australia? It’s true! In the 1920s, patrons at Kingston’s Causeway Hall started racing around the dance floor on children’s scooters at the conclusion of dancing. This bizarre but entertaining novelty soon developed beyond the bounds of the dance floor, and in 1932, the first of a series of annual scooter races took place from the Causeway Hall in Canberra to the neighbouring town of Queanbeyan.
The race became a local icon and even expanded to an interstate race in 1957. Dubbed the “gnarliest of races,” the 15km course from Canberra’s Olympic Swimming Pool to the Queanbeyan Post Office was no easy feat. Scooters at the time were oversized versions of the common child’s toy, with hard rubber tyres and metal wheels. And riders didn’t even have the luxury of hand brakes or helmets!
Enter Merv McDonald, a talented Queanbeyan sportsman and champion cyclist. Dubbed the “human scooter,” McDonald dominated the race and went on to win two more, making him the “undisputed scooter king” of Canberra.
“Everyone wanted to watch it,” said McDonald. “As I was coming into the finishing line, I couldn’t get through because there were so many people lining the streets, like in the Tour de France.”
But alas, the glory days of scooter racing in Canberra were short-lived. The race was cancelled in 1961 due to difficulties controlling the huge crowds and traffic. And while the annual scooter race may be a thing of the past, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who witnessed the “human scooter” in action. So the next time you’re in Canberra, be sure to pay your respects to the city’s storied scooter racing history.
A Publican’s Scooter Race Raised Funds to Build the Queanbeyan Swimming Pool
In 1958, the annual Canberra to Queanbeyan scooter race inspired a new event: a scooter race just for publicans! This half-mile race was held immediately after the main event and featured a £50 entry fee for each participating pub owner. The winner not only got to keep their entry fee but also donated the winnings to the Lions Club fund for the proposed Queanbeyan Swimming Pool.
The race was held on October 11, 1958, and was staged from the Hotel Queanbeyan down Crawford Street to the finishing line opposite the site of the future swimming pool. Among the pub owners who participated were Col Etherington of the Tourist Hotel, Queanbeyan; Mr. F Powell of the Victoria Hotel; Keith Hatcher, manager of the Hotel Civic, Canberra; and Kevin Kelly, manager of the Hotel Wellington.
In the end, Etherington emerged victorious, riding an outsized scooter built around 26-inch cycle wheels. The race carried side wagers exceeding £200 and undoubtedly provided plenty of entertainment for spectators. So the next time you’re enjoying a pint at your local pub, remember the brave publicans who risked life and limb (well, maybe not life and limb) on their trusty scooters for the sake of a good cause!
