Maroubra Speedway

Maroubra Speedway, officially known as Olympia Motor Speedway was a motor racing venue in the Sydney suburb of Maroubra, New South Wales, Australia and was reported to have had a capacity of 70,000.[1] Opening in December 1925 the 1 mile banked concrete bowl was the scene of some large and successful race meetings before a decline in attendances saw the track close in 1927, but reopened many times in the 1930s.[1] Despite the banking being too steep to walk up it was still not enough for the speeds achieved, and four competitors lost their lives going over the top of banking. Three others also died at the circuit, two of whom were motorcyclists.

The sensationalist media of the day dubbed it a "killer track" which did little to improve the fortunes of the venue.[2]

The speedway continued to operate sporadically in the 1930s but the meetings were not the large affairs held previously. The track was also used for club days, practice and record attempts.[3]

By the 1940s the track was crumbling due to flooding and poor quality concrete and in 1947 it was demolished and a housing commission suburb was built on the site, with a park in what was the infield area named Coral Sea Park. Streets in the new area were named after Allied ships used in the Battle of the Coral Sea.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Maroubra". Archived from the original on 2013-08-12.
  2. ↑ Archived 13 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Page 3". Archived from the original on 2012-10-10.
  4. ↑ Archived 20 June 2014 at the Wayback Machine.

Coordinates: 33°56′50″S 151°14′36″E / 33.94722°S 151.24333°E / -33.94722; 151.24333


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