Historical information

The Warrnambool to Melbourne/ Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycle Race is an annual event which is nationally known and attracts today international cyclists and riders from around Australia. In 1912 the ladies of Warrnambool under the direction of Mrs Younger, the Lady Mayoress, arranged to have this tea and coffee service engraved with the town crest and the relevant details so that it could be presented to the winner of the 1912 Warrnambool to Melbourne Cycle Race. But the race was not run because of a dispute between the League of Wheelmen and the race sponsor. The trophy was kept for the following year but again the race was not held. Then again in 1914 the race was cancelled because of the outbreak of World War One. So it was decided to raffle the trophy to recoup the costs. The raffle was won by Mrs Herriot and eventually the trophy ended up in Queensland with a daughter of the winner. In 197… the trophy was donated to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society.

Significance

This is one of the most attractive and interesting items in our collection. It is well provenanced and is of great importance in:
1. the history of the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycle Race. This race, of prime importance in Warrnambool’s sporting calendar and history, is the second oldest one race cycle race in the world and one of the longest one day cycle events in the world.
2. demonstrating the way the women of Warrnambool in 1912 banded together to support a premier event in the Warrnambool’s annual sporting calendar

Physical description

.1 Silver-soldered oval tray with fluted inside edge (has inscription)
.2 Silver-soldered oval-shaped coffee pot with handle and spout
.3 Silver-soldered oval-shaped tea pot with hinged lid
.4 Silver-soldered bowl-shaped sugar basin with two handles and concave-shaped lid and ridged on sides
.5 Silver-soldered milk jug with lid and concave-shaped handle
The five items are engraved with the Town of Warrnambool crest and all have the maker’s marks on the base of the item.

Inscriptions & markings

Tray: ‘1912 1st Prize Warrnambool to Melbourne Bicycle Race Presented by the Ladies of Warrnambool’
Base of items: ‘F HP. W. & M. 53515A, Walker and Hall, Sheffield England, Warranted Hard & Silver Soldered’.