Source : ABC NEWS
Cut from scrub on the banks of a river at the end of the 19th century, a unique Australian racecourse boasts a history like no other.
From a plane crash, crocodiles taking residence during extreme flood events and bachelor and spinster — or B&S — balls, Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park in central Queensland has a rich and colourful past.
The present location of the racecourse, a stone’s throw from the mighty Fitzroy River, was established more than 125 years ago by a dapper group of racing folk.
Thousands flocked to the track in 1899 for the first of many race meetings and social outings. (Supplied: Rockhampton Jockey Club)
Rockhampton Jockey Club (RJC) chief executive David Aldred said 60 hectares of thick bushland was selected for the racecourse in 1898 for its proximity to the town centre.
“There were actually two racecourses in Rockhampton in those days, west of the CBD past Rockhampton Airport, but it was too far out of town to go to the races,” Mr Aldred said.
“They picked this site beside the river and a team of guys were engaged to carve out the track from scrub and within a few months had a racetrack.”
Callaghan Park became a popular place for people to meet in the early 1900s. (Supplied: Rockhampton Jockey Club)
The opening of Callaghan Park was celebrated with a two-day race meeting, the first of which was on June 2, 1899.
“They had 3,000 people each day for the first meeting, which is a big thing when you consider how those people had to get to the races,” Mr Aldred said.
“There were horse and carts and horse-drawn buses and if you look at the history, people paid tuppence [two pennies] to get across the river on steam ferries.“
A Bleriot monoplane raced a car around the track in 1912. (Supplied: Rockhampton Jockey Club)
Plane crash makes international headlines
The first properly constituted racing body in the Rockhampton region was the Fitzroy Jockey Club, formed in 1863, before the RJC was established in 1868.
While horse racing is the club’s bread and butter, colourful characters and international news stories also hold a place in Callaghan Park folklore.
In 1912, a race around the track between a Bleriot monoplane and car attracted a crowd of 7,000 spectators.
The race attracted a huge crowd, which was left stunned when the plane crashed. (Supplied: Rockhampton Jockey Club)
The main attraction was Hollywood stunt man and famous American aviator Mr A.B. “Wizard” Stone.
At the conclusion of the race on the final lap, the crowd was horrified to see the plane crash land on the nearby cricket ground.
Mr Aldred said patrons rushed to the site and were relieved to see Mr Stone climb from the wreckage uninjured.
“The car actually won the race after the plane veered off the course, so that was unique and obviously made world-wide headlines at the time,”
Mr Aldred said.
Callaghan Park has seen many major floods over the years. (Supplied: Rockhampton Jockey Club)
Floods, frocks and crocs
The course has also endured times of hardship and tragedy.
Major floods over the years have engulfed Callaghan Park.
In the record 1991 Rockhampton flood, the grass track was completely destroyed and rebuilt with a new type of grass to better withstand weather events.
The racetrack completely under water. (Supplied: Rockhampton Jockey Club)
“If you have a look at the water marks we’ve got engraved on the buildings downstairs, they’ve come up to the roof of those buildings,” Mr Aldred said.
In the 2011 floods, authorities had to issue warnings about marauding snakes and crocodiles in the murky, brown floodwaters around the course and surrounding flood-hit suburbs.
From floods to frocks, Callaghan Park hosted modern B&S balls in the 1980s and 90s before growing concerns about insurance and liquor licensing saw events dry up.
David Aldred has been exploring the history of Callaghan Park. (ABC Capricornia: Aaron Kelly)
“That’s what people forget, racecourses are seven-day-a-week venues and we host a lot of events here,” Mr Aldred said.
“It’s a unique facility that has catered for a lot of interesting people over many, many years.”
Racing royalty and cup winners
While Sydney’s Royal Randwick racecourse is recognised as Australia’s oldest key racing venue, established in 1833, Callaghan Park has also hosted racing royalty through the decades.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse, world-class jockey Craig Williams and former Melbourne Cup winners have graced the popular country Queensland track.
More than 125 years of history on display at Callaghan Park. (ABC Capricornia: Aaron Kelly)
Racing Queensland acting chief executive Lachlan Murray said the venue was one of the state’s oldest and most important regional racing hubs — hosting more than 30 meetings each year.
“Callaghan Park is at the coalface of racing in the region both on race day and as a vital training facility for in excess of 30 local trainers,” Mr Murray said.
Callaghan Park is still going strong after more than 125 years. (Supplied: Caught in the Act Photography CQ)
“Thoroughbred racing in the Rockhampton region also plays a significant role in the Central Queensland economy, contributing close to $70 million in value whilst supporting almost 450 full-time roles in the wider region.
“We look forward to another 125 years of gallopers thundering down the famous Callaghan Park straight.”
