Victoria Park, Adelaide
Encyclopedia
Victoria Park, also known as Park 16, is a park located in the Southeastern Parklands
of the South Australia
n capital of Adelaide
. It is bordered by Fullarton Road
, Greenhill Road
, East Terrace
and Wakefield Road. It hosts a variety of major events throughout the year.
The park's most prominent feature was the Victoria Park Racecourse, formerly the home course of the South Australian Jockey Club
; the main track was 2,360 metres long, with the longest home-straight of any horse racing track in Australia. The park remains one of the venues for the Adelaide International Horse Trials
.
Part of the Adelaide Street Circuit
was built in the northern portion of the park. Temporary grandstands and other facilities are erected whenever motor racing events are hosted there. The circuit hosts the Adelaide 500
and formerly staged the Australian Grand Prix
, from 1985 to 1995, and a one-off Le Mans series
event, the "Race of a Thousand Years" on 31 December 2000.
Following the rejection of a proposal to upgrade horse and motor racing facilities in early 2008, the SAJC
vacated the premises, moving their home course to Morphettville Racecourse
. The 1950s-era SAJC grandstand was demolished, as was a large brick wall adjacent Fullarton Road and other utility buildings. The heritage-listed 1880s-era grandstand will be refurbished as part of a $16 million upgrade of the park's facilities.
In August 2008, the Adelaide City Council announced plans to turn Victoria Park into a "people's park", incorporating wetlands, community sporting facilities, walking tracks and temporary motor racing facilities.
Adelaide Park Lands
The Adelaide Park Lands are the parks that surround the centre of the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. They measure approximately 7.6 square kilometres in a green belt encircling the city centre....
of the South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n capital of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. It is bordered by Fullarton Road
Fullarton Road, Adelaide
Fullarton Road is a main road in the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. It runs north-south in a straight line from the eastern edge of the CBD to the south-eastern suburbs of the city. Its northern beginning is at the intersection of Payneham and Magill Roads, the site of the former Maid...
, Greenhill Road
Greenhill Road, Adelaide
Greenhill Road is a major road in Adelaide, South Australia, that provides a vital transport artery for those living in the eastern and hills suburbs. In Adelaide's early days, trams used to run up and down the road...
, East Terrace
East Terrace, Adelaide
East Terrace marks the eastern edge of the city centre of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It is one of the main north-south thoroughfares through the east side of the city...
and Wakefield Road. It hosts a variety of major events throughout the year.
The park's most prominent feature was the Victoria Park Racecourse, formerly the home course of the South Australian Jockey Club
South Australian Jockey Club
South Australian Jockey Club is the principal race club in South Australia, Australia.The first incarnation of the South Australian Jockey Club was in 1850, when it ran a race programme at Brighton on 14 February. Thomas Shayle was the Hon. Sec...
; the main track was 2,360 metres long, with the longest home-straight of any horse racing track in Australia. The park remains one of the venues for the Adelaide International Horse Trials
Adelaide International Horse Trials
The Australian International Three Day Event is an annual three-day event held in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. It was known as the Adelaide International Horse Trials up until 2007. It comprises dressage, cross-country and show-jumping and is usually staged in early November...
.
Part of the Adelaide Street Circuit
Adelaide Street Circuit
The Adelaide Street Circuit is a temporary street circuit in the East Parklands adjacent to the central business district of the city of Adelaide in South Australia....
was built in the northern portion of the park. Temporary grandstands and other facilities are erected whenever motor racing events are hosted there. The circuit hosts the Adelaide 500
Adelaide 500
The Adelaide 500 is an annual motor racing event for V8 Supercars, held on the streets of the east end of Adelaide, South Australia on a shortened form of the Adelaide Street Circuit, the former Australian Grand Prix track...
and formerly staged the Australian Grand Prix
Australian Grand Prix
The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...
, from 1985 to 1995, and a one-off Le Mans series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
event, the "Race of a Thousand Years" on 31 December 2000.
Following the rejection of a proposal to upgrade horse and motor racing facilities in early 2008, the SAJC
South Australian Jockey Club
South Australian Jockey Club is the principal race club in South Australia, Australia.The first incarnation of the South Australian Jockey Club was in 1850, when it ran a race programme at Brighton on 14 February. Thomas Shayle was the Hon. Sec...
vacated the premises, moving their home course to Morphettville Racecourse
Morphettville Racecourse
Morphettville Racecourse is the main horse racing track for South Australia. It is situated in the suburb of Morphettville in Adelaide, Australia, and is about 10km from the centre of the city....
. The 1950s-era SAJC grandstand was demolished, as was a large brick wall adjacent Fullarton Road and other utility buildings. The heritage-listed 1880s-era grandstand will be refurbished as part of a $16 million upgrade of the park's facilities.
In August 2008, the Adelaide City Council announced plans to turn Victoria Park into a "people's park", incorporating wetlands, community sporting facilities, walking tracks and temporary motor racing facilities.