Goulburn to host Australian GP 100th anniversary celebrations

The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix has called Phillip Island home since 1997, but the history of the event extends back a lot longer than that.

A 1924 race in Goulburn, NSW, is recognised by many as the first “official” Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Now a group of riders in Goulburn will celebrate the 100th anniversary of that race with the three-day event that will recreate the original course.

The story goes that in 1914 a group of motorcyclists met on the outskirts of Goulburn for the inaugural Tourist Trophy Race of Australia, with the winner crowned the NSW and Australian Motor Cycling Champion.

Ten years later another group of riders gathered in Goulburn for the first Australian Grand Prix, which was organised by the Goulburn Motorcycle Club and the Auto Cycle Union of NSW.

The course was stretched over 52 miles of rugged country roads, with riders completing four laps for a grand total of 208 miles.

A rider from NSW named Big Dave was the inaugural champion, completing four laps in just over four hours aboard his Indian Chief.

The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix existed intermittently in various forms in the years since, with places like Bathurst, Sandown, Winton, and Eastern Creek hosting the event until it found its permanent home at Phillip Island.

Despite 100 years passing, the original course at Goulburn still exists, although it is made up of public roads.

The 100th anniversary celebration in June will take place at the Goulburn Recreation Area over three days with a full program of events, including an expo, a street cruise, a parade, a gala dinner, and a non-competitive rally around the original course.

Motorcycles will be grouped by era, with a mouth-watering array of classic machines expected to take part in the historic event.

The 100th Anniversary of the Australian Motorcyle Grand Prix will be held from June 21-23, 2024. For registrations and more information, head to goulburngp.com.au.