Stawell's Golden Century of Cycling | History Museum

Stawell's Golden Century of Cycling

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25.01.2022 A wonderful opportunity has been offered to me to display some of my bicycles locally. This will take place this coming Sunday 6th October at the Stawell Museu...m on the Western Highway. On display will be Stawell’s Golden Years of Cycling and Retro & Classic Cyclists collections. Hope to see you there from 10am to about 12 noon or a bit later if there is sufficient interest. Thanks to the Northern Grampians Shire Council and the Stawell Historical Society for their support. Funds raised will go to rioslegacy.org.au and the Stawell Historical Society. A sausage sizzle is on, as well as sales of the Historical Societies latest Calendar Lost Railway Stations and items from Rios Legacy supporting end of life care for young children.

24.01.2022 C. J. Pyke Cycle Depot - est 1934 . Cliff Pyke was born in Stawell in 1918, following is a paper cutting of a letter he sent to the Weekly Times on Saturday 14th September 1929. Stawell's Surroundings - "Dear Charles Barrett, This is the first time I have written to you. I am very much interested in the Boys' Page. I am 11 years old, and in the fifth grade at school. Stawell is rather a pretty town, situated 150 miles from Melbourne. To the south-west we have the Grampia...Continue reading

20.01.2022 The Display at the Stawell Museum has expanded today with the addition of the C. J. Pykes display now installed. Please come down to the Museum on Wednesday or Thursday between 10am and 4pm on the Western Highway in Stawell.

10.01.2022 Another fun day at the Stawell Historical Society helping out and researching bits and pieces. Everyone is so keen to help each others activities, everyday another snippet of Stawell’s Cycling History is revealed.

10.01.2022 1935 Everyone wants a piece of the Nugget 1935 The Argus Sat 11 May 1935 - "STAWELL" OF CYCLING - Plans Made at Nhill So pleased is the Nhill branch of the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial League of Australia with the success of the inter-Dominion cycling races which It held at Easter that the president (Mr H Rowe) will approach the shire council for cooperation In obtaining a suitable ground for a good track for future Meetings. It is hoped that with one of th...e best, tracks in Victoria, Nhill will become the "Stawell of cycling. Mr Rowe expects that cyclists will in future turn to Nhill to ride as runners gravitate to Stawell. Plans are being made for a series of meetings, culminating in an Easter gift next year. Application will be also made for permission to hold Australian Championships at Nhill. There is no evidence to date that any of this proposed occurred.

09.01.2022 Social Image 1922 repost. After some research this original photo has led to a wonderful story of Bill Boyd the photographer, farmer and mechanic. This first photo is now identified as Granny Boyd sitting outside her home built in the Black Range near Stawell, close to the Panrock Reservoir in 1922. Home was built around 1870, photograph taken by Grandson Bill Boyd and includes his bicycle....Continue reading

08.01.2022 Stawell Amateur Cycling Club logo from the 40’s and 50’s, great to see Oppy and Malvern Star featured, such a strong connection with Stawell.

07.01.2022 1936 Photograph Date 03 October 1936 The Age Sat 26 Sept 1936 - For a 50-mile cycle road race, to be held on 3rd October, Stawell Amateur Cycle Club has received 118 entries. 1936 Weekly Times Sat 10 Oct 1936 - Stawell's Big Race - Stawell and District Amateur Cycling Club staged its second annual 50-miles inter-club road race on Saturday, in ideal weather. It was easily the most successful held by the club to date from l20 nominations received, 94 riders faced th...Continue reading

05.01.2022 During a recent interaction in respect to Speedwell Cycles existence in Victoria, it was noted they were not likely due to being from a foreign land, NSW and that their use in racing may be seen as bad form. Well it has come to light that Speedwell were most certainly an identity in Victoria since around 1900, and considering they were established in 1882 with great expansion around 1900, it is not unexpected they had distributors in many location. One such being Stawell a s...mall county town, feeling the downturn of the gold rush and restraint which the Boar War brought, here we have a Main Street, SPEEDWELL CYCLES dealership. Not a one off, as nearby Hamilton also had a dealer and likely many other smaller centers during the early 1900’s. Again a great opportunity to restore and display one of my bikes, estimated at between 1905 and 1920, recovered from Echuca another likely contender for a dealership. Another from Warracknabeal an hour north of here, with flag flying.

04.01.2022 Identity Ron Bates Ron Bates became a member of the Stawell Amateur Cycling Club in 1938 at the age of 15 years. He quickly established himself as a very good rider and accordingly was given the scratch handicap very soon after his first ride. All through his racing career he maintained that handicap which makes his performances even greater. (credit: Robert Illig Stawell Historical Society). Ron’s greatest win was at the Wimmera Mallee Territory final for the Victorian J...unior Road Race Championships held in Dimboola. Ron won the 15 mile Malvern Star Junior road race at Dimboola on 24th June 1939. By winning this event it qualified Ron to represent the Wimmera Mallee area in the Malvern Star Victorian Boys Championship held in Melbourne. Ron was one of the twenty competitors to battle out the final at Albert Park in Melbourne on Saturday 29th September 1939. Ron Bates was not in the winners list, it is not yet known where he placed. 1936 Sporting Globe Wed 27 May 1936 - Boys' Races at Stawell - FOLLOWING the recent prominence given in The Globe to the Stawell Amateur Cycling Club, many inquiries have been received by the secretary (Tom King) from wheelmen desirous of competing at Stawell. An enterprising move on the part of this club is the decision to promote boys' races under 16, and thus play an important part in unearthing talent for the Malvern Star Victorian and Australian Road championships. These championships were established in 1929 and ceased in 1936. The Stawell Team had immediate success in 1936, winning the Junior Championships. After two years in recess the Championships were held again in 1939 under a new format. 1938 Rons first year of racing as a junior was a very successful one, riding the Autumn Track season, held at both Central Park and the Botanical Reserve Old Lake Track - with several strong wins. This commentary in the Stawell Times is a good example of his prowess. Oliver took the lead in the early laps and Bates who kept his place at the back of the field started to move up, passing Candy and Graham. At the dressing shed turn Bates passed the whole bunch and chased Oliver, lying level with him at the commencement of the last lap. Half way through the lap he passed Oliver and went on to win unchallenged by three lengths. Following the track season Ron rode the Road Season with further wins, and was noted as an excellent sprinter. Ron also competed in Track events later in 1938 with good performances.

03.01.2022 My next project is to make a display of the bicycles in this 1918 photograph of Cyclists at the Stawell Gift. Now I need some help identifying the bicycles, 2nd from left is a Massey Harris, the others I have no idea. It is 1918 and we are in Western Victoria, riders came from all over victoria as well as South Australia, but the bike may be Aussie made or Imported, any leads would be fantastic.