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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Jun 2004 : 09:47:09 AM
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It would be interesting to get the stories about Rowville, as I regularly pass through there.
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John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
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David
Site Administrator
Australia
999 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2004 : 5:02:56 PM
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| It's only just down the road (15mins away) from me... |
Regards,
David
Webmaster & Owner of Classic Motorcycling Australia
Quote: I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted to be paid. |
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Former Member
deleted
30 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2004 : 2:59:00 PM
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An update on Rowville.
This was started as an army training camp in 1941,first with tents but later becoming a permanent camp with substantial hutting, which included a YMCA hut,Salvation Army hut,plus the normal army mess huts, stores etc.
The main entrance to the camp was from Wellington Road, and a "sealed" ring road ran around the camp.
It was originally used by the Australian Army, first by the 3rd Motor Brigade Group, then by the Royal Australian Engineers and the Army Medical Corp.The camp was then used as a training and reception area for American troops that trained in Australia before going to the Islands to fight. American General Douglas McArthur made at least on visit to the camp in early 1943.By late 1944 the Americans had moved on, and the camp was used to house prisoners of war, mainly Italians who worked at various projects in the local areas.It was classed as a low security camp, with the prisoners allowed a fair bit of freedom. The camp finally closed in late 1946.
Motorcyclists saw potential in the ring road and applied to run road racing at the site. At least four meeting were held. August 1947, November 1947, April 1948 and April 1949.The Hartwell MCC was involved in the running of all these meetings, with the assistance of other clubs at at least two of them.The road surface had deteriorated to mainly gravel by this time, and the racing surface was very slippery.The distance for a lap was one and a quarter miles, and the lap record was one minute nine seconds.
There is an information board in the "Starlight Reserve" that gives details of the Army camp, including a map and photographs.
Another piece of Victorian motorcycling history.
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