A bush course on which a mostly two day event was held, located on Crown land between Blessington Street and the Point Ormond, once a year.
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Other names: |
St Kilda Cup (from 2 January 1850), Village Belle races |
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Date began: |
1st January 1847 |
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Instigator: |
Frank Liardet |
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Description: |
A bush course on which a mostly two day event was held, located on Crown land between Blessington Street and the Point Ormond, once a year. |
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History: |
St Kilda Racecourse was located at the southern end of Peanut Farm Reserve. Races, including the St Kilda Cup, were in late December and early January from 1848-1868. Surrounded by swampland, the boggy course was often problematic for horses and riders. However it was a convenient distance from town and so it became popular with race-goers. On Boxing Day 1866, over 3000 people attended. [from CPP Heritage plaque] The last race was held on 26 December 1868. |
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Stewards: |
1850 - J. Henderson, M. Chitty
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Source |
Description or [note] |
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| 1. | Melbourne Argus 1846.12.22 p.2 |
Petty Sessions - Temporary Licenses Mr Frank Liardet applied for a temporary license for the sale of fermented and spirituous liquors upon the race course, between the beach and St Kilda, on the 1st and 2nd January next. Granted. |
| 2. | Argus 1847.01.01 p.2 |
New Year's Day This being the first day of the New Year, 1847, a variety of amusements will come off at the Beach, which has been got up for the occasion by Liardet, there will be also racing on the course between the Beach and St Kilda, for saddle and bridle, silver-headed whip, &c. |
| 3. | Belle's Life 1848.01.15p.2 |
The St Kilda Races "All the world and his wife", as the saying is, whereat the St Kilda on Tuesday last (Jan 4) to witness the races. [there follows a description of the event and winners]. |
| 4. | Argus 1848.12.26 p.3 |
District Petty Sessions, Saturday December 23rd 1848 Mr John Stephen applied to the Bench on behalf of Messrs. J. Howard, D. Meany, D. Barry, W. Blannin, P. Sheedy, and M. Sheedy, licensed victuallers, that they be allowed to sell spirits at the St Kilda on the occasion of the approaching Races. …The application was granted, subject to the same restrictions as in the case of the Melbourne Races. |
| 5. | Argus 1849.12.29 p.1 |
Advertising [description of races and rules] Stewards: J. Henderson, M. Chitty |
| 6. | Argus 1850.01.03 p.2 |
St Kilda Races [results of first days races, including the 1st St Kilda Cup which was won by Mt Thomas Sibering's Honi Heki] |
| 7. | Argus 1869.01.02 p.11 |
St Kilda Annual Races Saturday last saw a large crowd assembled on the beach below St Kilda to witness the Village Belle races; but although there were above 4,000 people present, we do not believe that more than ten per cent of them cared for the races… [description of the results of the last recorded event held at this location] |