The photograph was taken at a Sunbury Race meeting, when a sudden shower of rain caused the spectators to run for cover. Sunbury Race Course was situated along Racecourse Road about 2kms from the railway station. The land has been sold and it is now a housing estate. The race meetings in Sunbury were well attended with special trains running from Melbourne on race days.A noon-digital sepia photograph mounted on cardboard of a crowd of people caught in a sudden shower of rain and running for shelter at a race meeting.sunbury race meetings, racecourse road, races, stud farms

The people in the photograph were enjoying a day out at a Sunbury race meeting some time in the early 1900s. Races at Sunbury began in 1886 with the establishment of the Sunbury Racecourse that was located along Racecourse Road on a section of the Rupertswood Estate on land consisting of six furlongs and two straights. The site included a patron’s stand, saddling paddock, bookmakers’ enclosure, two bars, a committee room, judges box, stables, toilets, six entrance gates and ticket boxes. Special trains from Melbourne brought patrons and horses to the Sunbury race meetings. A report in the Melbourne Argus newspaper in 1922, stated that city taxi drivers came out to Sunbury to drive patrons to the racecourse, which was located about 3 kms from the Sunbury station. Some time however, between 1886 and 1901, there was a period when the racing club had been inactive. A meeting was called in 1901 to restore the club’s activities. With a substantial loan from Mr. Clarke the committee was able to organise the installation of a turnstile, perimeter fencing and irrigation of the course by a windmill that pumped water from a recently constructed dam that was on the estate. The club continued to function until 1942, during World War 2, and did not resume activities after the end of the war. The land was eventually sold for housing development. The Sunbury Race meetings were popular with the racing fraternity not only in the district but further afield and were deemed sufficiently important to run special trains from Melbourne to Sunbury on Race days.A non-digital sepia photograph with a strong cardboard backing of a crowd of people dressed smartly for a day out at the races. Most of the spectators are seated in a long marquee. Three men on the RHS are looking at a horse that is lying on the ground.On the back of the card there are scribbled notes and numbers which seem to indicate the photograph has been used for a publication at some time.sunbury race meetings, sunbury race course, racecourse road

Sepia mounted photograph of a horse race meeting showing the crowd of race goers. The Sunbury Race.Printed on front: Chr. Christiansen / Sunbury Studiochris christiansen, photographers, horse racing, sports, sunbury races, george evans collection

Sepia photograph of a horse race meeting. The crowd is watching the horse race. Part of the grandstand is to the right of the photograph.Typed sticker: Sunbury Racing Club - Part of the 125 acres / recently purchased by council /for recreational purposes.sunbury racing club, horse racing, sports, council, recreation, george evans collection

A b/w photograph of a cycle race during a sports meeting and picnic at the 'Old Reserve' taken about 1900. Shows spectators lined up along a track, with 3 cyclists riding. 2 tents can be seen behind the spectators to the right.Written on back: Eric Boardman / Sports meeting and picnic Sunbury "Old Reserve" about 1900boardman, eric, sunbury, sports, cycling, bicycles, community activities, old reserve, 1900s, clothing and dress, george evans collection

A b/w photograph of people at a race meeting. On the bookies bag is 'Abe Davis / V.R.C. / PADDOCKraces, davis, abe, bookmakers, horse racing, clothing and dress, george evans collection

A paperback book of 58 pages with text and black and white photographs stapled together with a cardboard cover and a coloured reproduction of a painting by George Rowe of an early race meeting in Sunbury. non-fictionA short local history covering 140 years of European Settlement in Sunbury from 1836 to 1972. The booklet was produced by Dr. John Patterson with help from local Sunbury people.local history, sunbury, dr. john patterson

The children were at a district sport's day which took place at the MIckleham sports ground. Bulla School competed with other local small rural schools which included MIckleham, Yuroke, KalKallo, Greenvale and Craigieburn. Most of those towns are now part of suburbia.A coloured photograph of a sport's day with five little boys in a running race and spectators watching.bulla primary school, school sports meetings, mickleham

District sports meeting at Mickleham for Bulla Primary School and surrounding areaA coloured photograph of little children running in a race while other children cheer them on . school sports meetings, mickleham, bulla primary school, running races

This item was used by the Sunbury Racing Club on 25th November 1941at a horse race meeting held at the Sunbury Race Course. It was issued upon payment of a fee by a Bookmaker on the day to gain entrance to the Saddling Paddock to be able to conduct his business. Mr. E. Boardman was Secretary of the racing club at this time. The Sunbury Racecourse was situated along Racecourse Road and was in operation for many years.Tan coloured ticket book held together by two staples and numbered 2 - 70. Three quarters of the ticket stubs have been pulled out. Each ticket that has been pulled out has a name of the attendee written in pencil and an auditor stamp. The front page has been pulled off.Sunbury Racing Club/Sir/In consideration of the sum of...sporting stories and clubs, sunbury racing club, sunbury racecourse, sunbury races, 1940's

A photo of a race meeting at the Sunbury racecourse with the crowd watching the horses from the fence.A sepia coloured photograph mounted on cardboard of a race meeting at the Sunbury Racecourse with the crowd watching the horses from the fence at the side of the track. Mounted on cardboard.sunbury racecourse, horse racing, clothing and dress, sport, racecourses, horses, sunbury, george evans collection