Celebrate the centenary of the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix held in Goulburn

While the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix for world championship points was in 1989, there was an Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix held much earlier – 1924, in fact. Although there is argument in some quarters as to whether it was officially the first Australian Motorcycle GP, there is no doubt it was the first held in Goulburn and conducted by the Auto Cycle Union of NSW.

Goulburn is a city at the heart of motorcycle racing’s early history in Australia, with the Goulburn Motorcycle Club being Australia’s oldest continually operating club, founded in 1911. That history will be celebrated on 21-23 June when Goulburn hosts the centenary of the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix to be held in the city.

Organised by the Classic Riders Club of Goulburn, Goulburn Motorcycle Club, Goulburn Mulwaree Council and the Goulburn Chamber of Commerce, this major three-day event will include a street cruise, motorcycle expo and 100th Anniversary Dinner, culminating in the 100th Anniversary Rally that will see participants ride the original 1924 grand prix course that covers 52 miles (80km).

With the Goulburn Recreation Area as its hub, the 100th Anniversary of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix is open to all motorcycle makes, models and eras to ride, display and celebrate, so make sure you don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime event in Goulburn this June!

Key Attractions

• Friday Night Street Cruise – Friday, 21 June from 6:00PM to 7:00PM
  free entry (no registration required) – street parade in Goulburn with all motorcycle makes and models welcome.
• All Motorcycle Expo – Saturday, 22 and Sunday, 23 June
  $5/person entry (Kids U16 free) - motorcycle display, trade stalls, club displays, Komatsu FMX Experience (two shows each day), lots of food trucks and much more. (prospective stallholders go to: goulburngp.com.au for more info)
• 100th Anniversary Dinner – Saturday, 22 June
  $95/person (entries close on 14 June) – buffet dinner, special guests, auction and entertainment.
• 100th Anniversary Rally – Sunday, 23 June
  $45/rider (entries close on 7 June) – guided ride on the original 80km grand prix course.

• Win An Indian

  There’s also the chance to win a 2023 Indian Scout Bobber Twenty in the event’s raffle, which will be drawn at the 100th Anniversary Dinner. Tickets are just $20 each and can be purchased HERE.

A Brief History

Along with hosting one of the first motorcycle races in Australia to carry the ‘grand prix’ name in 1924, Goulburn also hosted Australia’s first Tourist Trophy race in 1914.

Australia’s first inland city, Goulburn’s place at the forefront of Australian road racing wasn’t by accident. The Goulburn Motorcycle Club was a strong organisation back then and, allied with the Auto Cycle Union of NSW, held most of the state’s motorcycle races from the earliest days until 1930.

Of course, road racing back then was literally on public roads, with dedicated circuits not built until speedway came to the fore later in the 1920s. That meant TT and GP riders had to contend with rough, narrow gravel roads that had little to no run-off, making them a challenge to ride at normal pace, let alone at speed!

The first Australian TT of 1914 in Goulburn was tough enough, but the course was short and relatively flat, so was less taxing on machinery. By contrast, the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1924 saw riders grappling with major elevation changes, challenging corners and creek crossings. Riders also had to deal with distance.

Goulburn’s GP course consisted of 52 miles (80km) of public roads - longer than the Isle of Man TT’s Mountain Course. The route travelled south to Windellama, then up to Bungonia, before heading back to Goulburn. For the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in Goulburn, held on Monday, 23 June, 1924 (a bitterly cold day, by all accounts), riders had to complete four laps of this course for 208 miles (335km) in total.

Winner in the Senior GP was ‘Big Dave’ Brewster, who covered the four laps on an Indian Chief in just over four hours. Riders mounted on Harley-Davidsons completed the podium. Brewster also finished runner-up in the Sidecar Scratch Race with a Chief outfit.

Following this, Goulburn’s status as a motorsport hub saw it host the first four-wheel Australian Grand Prix in 1927, although this event was a series of sprints, rather than a circuit race. By the early 1930s, most of the long format motorcycle racing in NSW was being held at the ‘Vale’ circuit near Bathurst, while the four-wheel grand prix had relocated to Phillip Island. 

Now, 100 years after its first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Goulburn invites riders and enthusiasts to celebrate in the same city and on the same roads where it all began.

100th Anniversary of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix – Main Features

There will be plenty to see, do, experience and be involved in at this event, with spectator entry either free or at a low $5 for adults. Entry for kids under 16 is FREE.

Due to the scale of the event, most accommodation options may be booked out by this stage, but with Goulburn only two hours ride from Sydney and an hour from Canberra, you can make a day trip of it.

The celebrations kick off on Friday, 21 June and run to Sunday 23 June, with attractions and events each day.

Friday 21 June – Friday Night Street Cruise

Auburn Street – 6:00PM – 7:00PM

Held on Auburn Street in central Goulburn, the cruise will be open to all motorcycles and is free to enter. Riders are to gather at Cartwright Place for the ride up Auburn Street, which commences at 6:00PM and concludes with a static display in Belmore Park on Montague Street.

Free entry for cruise participants and public

For more details on the Street Cruise, click HERE.

Saturday 22 June and Sunday 23 June – All Motorcycle Expo

Goulburn Recreation Area – Saturday 9:00AM – 5:00PM, Sunday 9:00AM – 3:00PM

With lots to see on both days, the expo will include a static display of historic and classic motorcycles, along with a parade of C1920s bikes - the type that contested Goulburn’s first grand prix (entries for the parade and display are being sought now – click HERE for details).

The expo will include freestyle motocross performances by the Komatsu FMX Experience (12 Noon and 2:00PM each day), plus a display of new bikes from platinum sponsor, Indian Motorcycle, including the Scout Bobber Twenty raffle bike.

In addition, there’s a sponsor showcase and displays from Black Dog Ride, NSW Police, Motorcycle Council of NSW, various motorcycle clubs and many more.

15 food trucks will be on site, along with event merchandise.

$5/day entry for spectators – Free for kids under 16yo.

For more details on the All Motorcycle Expo, click HERE. (information for exhibitors and stallholders can be found on the same page).

Saturday 22 June – 100th Anniversary Dinner

Veolia Arena, Goulburn Recreation Area – 6:00PM – LATE

More than just a dinner, the evening will feature special guest speakers, including racing dignitaries and descendants of those who took part in the 1924 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

With an auction, live entertainment and dancing, the buffet dinner will also officially launch the re-enactment ride that takes place the following day.

$95/person. Seats are limited. Ticket sales close on 14 June.

For more details and to purchase tickets for the 100th Anniversary Dinner, click HERE.

Sunday 23 June – 100th Anniversary Rally

Goulburn – Windellama – Bungonia – Goulburn – from 8:00AM

Open to all motorcycles from pre-1924 to present day, the rally will retrace the original grand prix road course – a distance of approximately 80km.

Riders will be grouped according to age of motorcycle, with the oldest leaving first, at approx., 9:00AM, and the newest just after midday. The rally will conclude at approximately 2:30PM.

Five dedicated spectator areas are set up along the course – the start/finish point at the Goulburn Recreation Area, Windellama School, Windellama Hall, Johnno’s Café and Bungonia Hill. A shuttle bus service will run between each ($5 ticket required).

$45/rider, includes commemorative medallion. Registrations close on 7 June.

For more details on the 100th Anniversary Rally and to register, click HERE.

For general event information and more on the history of the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in Goulburn, click HERE.