Melbourne City Sports Trail (Central Melbourne)
Melbourne is often referred to as one of the world's great sporting cities. There are so many world-class facilities within walking distance. Melburnians love nothing more than rugging-up in winter, or slip-slop-slapping during summer, to enjoy this city's enviable reputation for hosting thrilling displays of sporting prowess. The Yarra River Precinct is the home of Melbourne's major sporting venues and this walk beside the quietly flowing watercourse provides an excellent introduction to them.
Melbourne City Sports Trail is a 90-120 minute self-guided walking tour of the Precinct's many famous sporting venues and museums, including Melbourne Park, Olympic Park, AAMI Park, the MCG and the National Sports Museum.
Map of the route
As you walk from Federation Square to the southern end of Princes Bridge (1888) enjoy the view over Melbourne's world-famous sporting precinct. Take the path down to the river's southern bank.
1 Rowing activity has been held on this stretch of the Yarra for more than 150 years. Three rowing sheds were featured on an 1864 plan of the city and this area now features seven boat sheds, the oldest of which is the Melbourne University Rowing Club, built in 1909.
Other rowing sheds are located further upstream in Como Park, South Yarra.
Most of Melbourne's major private schools row regularly on the Yarra and there are many well established rowing clubs for older athletes. Rowing practice happens early in the morning until about 10am, and then after 3pm. The sight of a rowing scull emerging through an early morning mist and the sounds of rowing coaches cycling along the banks with megaphones in hand is quintessentially Melbourne. Major rowing events held on the Yarra include February's 'Henley on Yarra' and the 'Head of the Yarra' in November.
The first Henley-on-Yarra Regatta was held in 1904. It quickly became one of the biggest and most popular annual sporting, social and fashion events in Melbourne, regularly attracting half a million spectators. An interpretative panel on the path tells the story of the Henley. The art deco Judging Box, located near the finish line of the old Henley Regatta, was built in 1930 as a memorial to oarsmen killed in WW1.
The social aspect of Henley was taken-over in the mid 1950s by the Moomba Festival, which still continues every March. The biggest event of Moomba is the national waterskiing competition, held on this section of the river.
However, the river's greatest moment came in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. For two weeks it was filled with spectacular floating replicas of fish, which represented the competing countries of the Games. This section of the Yarra's southern bank, with the Canary Palms of the Alexander Gardens on the right, was created between 1896 and 1900 by widening and straightening work to alleviate flooding of the banks and to fill lagoons created by a mid 1800s brickworks.
2 Riverslide. This expanse of fenced concrete was opened in 2001 by the City of Melbourne as a skating and extreme sports facility. Skateboarders travel from all over Greater Melbourne to test their skill and stamina. It makes for great action viewing.
As you approach the Swan Street Bridge, on your left you will see the Capital City Trail - a shared use path which circles the city centre and some inner eastern plus northern suburbs for 29 km. Across Alexandra Avenue on your right you will see a running trail.
3 'The Tan' Running Track. This is Melbourne's famous 'Tan', so named because of its surface of tan-coloured stone aggregate. The 3.87 km running track, which runs parallel to the perimeter fence of the Botanic Gardens, was originally a horse track for Melbourne's well-heeled residents.
When running the The Tan you could bump into professional track athletes and AFL footballers. Running greats such as Hicham El Guerrouj, Steve Ovett, Cathy Freeman, Steve Moneghetti, Robert de Castello and Sonia O'Sullivan have all rubbed shoulders with the general public on The Tan. The Tan Time Trails is a major public event held every February to raise money for medical research.
Cross the bridge to the Yarra's northbank. At the traffic lights you can see in front of you Rod Laver Arena and, to its left, Margaret Court Arena. Cross at the lights to the other side of the bridge, then over into Olympic Boulevard (Swan St).
4 AIA Centre/Collingwood Football Club. Originally built to house the swimming pool for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the AIA Centre is the only remaining major stadium structure from that time. It was the first Olympic pool to have a roof.
While the outside of the building still reflects its original and heritage-listed design, internally it has been re-modeled to become a sports administration and training centres. The Collingwood Football Club was founded in 1892 and boasts the largest membership in Australia.
5 Melbourne and Olympic Parks. This is one of the world's great nuclei of sporting venues: Margaret Court Arena, Rod Laver Arena, KIA Arena, John Cain Arena, the National Tennis Centre, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium and Olympic Park.
6 Rod Laver Arena. Originally known just as 'Centre Court', it was completed in 1988 as part of the original National Tennis Centre and renamed Rod Laver Arena in 2000, to honour one of Australia's tennis greats and a winner of two Grand Slams. In 1988, the venue's moveable roof - formed by two rolling sections, each spanning the court with arched trusses - made it one of the most high-tech arenas in the world.
With seating for 15,000, it is the centrepiece of the Australian Open, but it also plays host to a wide range of sports and entertainment events, from tennis matches to international rock stars and motorbike super-cross. Removable seating at the southern end of the arena converts the venue from a continuous seated bowl for sporting events to a three sided concert venue. Protective flooring is used to transform the venue from tennis to concert mode.
The high point each year at Rod Laver Arena is when it plays host to The Australian Open Tennis in January, which regularly attracts more than one million visitors during the two week tournament.
7. Olympic Park. This venue was originally built as a warm-up track for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and it also featured a velodrome and a second sports ground.
Over the years it has played host to athletics, soccer, speedway, cycling, rugby league and even greyhound racing.
On the lawn in front of the training oval, you will see the famous sculpture 'Sportsmanship'. It immortalises an act of sportsmanship that took place during the Australian Mile Championship of 1956, when John Landy stopped to help a fallen Ron Clarke. Despite the major disruption to his race, Landy went on to win and the act has become part of Australian sporting lore. Throughout this area you will come across many fine sculptures depicting great sports people and moments. Many are also located on the concourse of the M.C.G.
8. KIA Arena. An open-air tennis stadium opened in Jan 2022. It seats 5,000 spectators.
9. John Cain Arena This 13,100 m2 venue was completed in 2000. It is an extremely versatile venue: 250 metre cycling track, a Plexicushion tennis court, concert quality acoustics, and innovative seating for up to 10,500 people - all designed to ensure excellent viewing of the action at all times. It can be readily changed for almost any event - from ice skating to opera. The state-of-the-art venue also has a retractable roof, which can open or close in less than 10 minutes.
10. The Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (AAMI Park) Melbourne's most distinctively styled sports facility was built at a cost of $267.5 million and opened in May 2010.
The stadium is ideal for all rectangular sports and is home to Melbourne Storm, Melbourne City FC, Melbourne Victory FC, Western United FC, Melbourne Rebels, Victoria Maidens. It also plays host to Rugby League internationals. The stadium's permanent tenants include Tennis Victoria and Rugby Victoria.
Location
St Kilda Road, Southbank 3006 Map
Web Links
→ Melbourne City Arts Trail
→ Melbourne City Gardens Trail
→ Melbourne City Maritime Trail
