Templestowe Hill Climb (1951-1987)

The Templestowe Hill Climb

At the northern end of Blackburn Rd, past the Manningham Council Depot and Quarry is a new pathway recently opened by the Mayor Cr Julie Eisenbise. 

Image from many Templestowe Hill Climb Program covers.  See Program Covers


The land, a very historic area near the old home Pontville and Tikalara Park, until lately remained much as it had been since Major Newman had his pastoral run. Now a new fashionable housing estate named The Parkway is being built near the bridge spanning the Mullum Mullum creek. Part of this estate where large houses are being erected is on the site of the historic hill climb.  Taking a walk around the wetlands near the Parkway, you can see that some sections of the old hill climb track remain. 

The Heritage architect of Manningham, Richard Peterson some time ago expressed concern that the hill climb site was disappearing and suggested that some research should be done into its history, a map of the course be prepared and some photos taken. This material could then be placed in the Historical Society's archives to appropriately record it for the future. To this effect I conducted some investigations into the history of the site, interviewing Mr Simon Kearney, present owner of the land and Margaret Hodgson of ‘Templestowe a descendant of one of the oldest pioneer families of the district, who also has adjoining property in the area. These people had quite a few anecdotes about the Hill Climb era. Then I contacted the MG Car Club who suggested the name of Mr Graham Hoinville a former competitor on the track who was a mine of knowledge on the background of the Hill Climb. The following are excerpts from Graham's recollections of the history of the Templestowe Hill Climb. 

In the early post World War II era, there was a great shortage of permanent race circuits and hill climb tracks in Victoria. The Victorian Sporting Car Club which had existed since the early 1930's, identified farming land at Templestowe which had potential as a hill climb venue. The land was owned by a farmer Mr "Andy" Andrews and was situated to the north of the northern end of Blackburn Road and extended to the Yarra River, including a portion of the Mullum Mullum Creek. The topography included steeply rising land, almost escarpment like. It was an ideal site for a spectacular hill climb course. The VSCC entered into a lease arrangement with Mr Andrews under which the club could construct the track and associated improvements and have access to the venue on an agreed number of occasions per year. 

On those days the cattle normally grazing on the property would be moved to a "river" paddock to allow the hill climb meeting to be conducted. The original track layout is shown in the sketch and featured an extremely steep section, known as "The Wall", with a gradient identified as 2 Vi to 1. The original plan also envisaged the venue could be used as a race circuit, running in the opposite direction. Sufficient to say the prospect of several cars racing in company down "The Wall" was beyond imagination - the concept of circuit use was never to be realised!! 

The nearest situation to multiple car competition were occasional "demonstration" runs where two selected cars would undertake a run together where passing was "orchestrated" to entertain the crowd. On several occasions Harry Firth and I were involved in these runs in our MG TC’s.

This diagram shows the plan of the course. The hill climb section is over 1,200 yards and runs in a clock-wise direction. When the full circuit is used for road racing the events will be run in an anti-clockwise direction, the full lap distance being 1.1 miles.  

Source: Judith Leaney writing in 2002 04 DTHS Newsletter

The VSCC members put in much effort to form the track and the inaugural meeting was held on 12th of March 1951. It was quite a dramatic meeting as the track was not sealed and the dust problem was enormous. Additionally many cars were unable to descend the wall due to the unsealed surface and rather ignominiously had to retreat from the wall and drive back to the start. The late Cec Warren recorded the fastest time of the day in his Ford Speedcar and set the initial record of 70.6 seconds.

View of Templestowe Hill Climb Track 1950’s.  Photo from Betty Hill [Andrew]. Image source unknown.

Somewhat chastened by the dust problem the VSCC resolved that the track would have to be sealed before any competition could be held. Over the next 15 months considerable expense and member effort was devoted to the sealing process and the first event for the venue in bona fide sealed form was held on Queen’s Birthday weekend in June 1952. A new hill record was established by Reg Nutt in Jack Day’s Talbot - Darraq with a time of 66.2 seconds.

The Templestowe Hill Climb venue was accepted by hill climb competitors with enthusiasm. It rapidly joined the LCCA's Rob Roy as the leading Victorian venues, indeed in terms of competitor and spectator interest Templestowe clearly was the preferred track. By the mid 1950’s Templestowe had become the preeminent Victorian hill climb venue and it was the keystone to the competitions which were enjoying a high level of popularity in the area.

Templestowe continued to be viable as a hill climb until well into the 1960’s, but in the latter portion of the decade it could be fairly said to be in its declining years. The Australian Hill Climb Championship was last conducted at Templestowe in November 1968. No single factor, but rather the combination of a number of factors appeared to be the cause of the decline of Templestowe and its eventual demise. Hill climbing as a discipline of motor sport was losing popularity and remember that Rob Roy had been lost as a result of the 1963 bushfires.

Due to several factors, the ongoing tenure of the VSCC was not assured, and as always the inevitable encroach of suburbia into the area was a threat.
For unrelated reasons, the VSCC was falling into decline as a motor sporting club and eventually the remnants were absorbed into the Light Car Club of Australia. Ironically, the LCCA was itself to die within a decade or so thereafter.

Thus in the 1970's the Hill Climb track had fallen into disuse, the VSCC was no longer associated with the venue. The current owners had set up a Pet Park featuring domestic and native animals to attract children to the park. In actual fact the Austin 7 Club used the area several times in the 70's to conduct Observed Section Trials, popularly known as "Mud Trials". Of course the hill climb track was not used in these activities, but it was still very much in evidence.

In the 198C,!s Templestowe Hill Climb was in a state described as "no longer in use". However the MG Car Club was aware the track itself still existed and while no longer licensed as a hill climb track it was feasible that a "one off" licence could be obtained to allow a last Templestowe to be run.
Agreement was reached with the property owner for such an event, the expectation being that the event would indeed be the ’last’ as the area was expected to be swallowed up by housing in the immediate future. That event was on 27 February 1973.

Surprisingly the expected land development did not occur and the MG Car Club was able to conduct further runs in 1985 and again in 1987. The last meeting was held on the oth of December 1987. At that meeting the track had to be shortened slightly for safety reasons as the first stages of construction of a residence had begun on the end of the traditional finishing line.

The meeting in December 1987 w7as to be the final hill climb conducted at the venue - nearly 37 years after that dusty inaugural meeting. Later the MG Car Club arranged for the acquisition of the massive pair of brake shoes which had defined the start of the hill climb since the early 1950’s, These were donated by Patons Brake Replacements which Company actively supported Templestowe and it is understood the MG Car Club has the shoes safely stored for some appropriate use in the future.


Betty Andrew with cars - 1950's. Photo from Betty Hill [Andrew].  Image source unknown


Addendum
After reading our April issue newsletter we had a letter from a member Mrs Coral Harbour concerning the article on the Templestowe Hill Climb. Coral, who was closely connected with the hill climb area, having spent holidays with Mr Ewen James (Hughie) Andrew, son of the original owner James Andrew of Whittlesea.
Coral was able to provide us with the correct name of the original owner of the land and some details of its connection with the Victorian Sporting Car Club. Thank you Coral for this information which will be added to our file on the Templestowe Hill Climb.
We are always pleased to have any material we possess corrected if erroneous or added to, by members or other readers of our newsletter. We depend largely on the public for knowledge of local history and any help, on factual material of the past, photos, newspaper cuttings or any aspect of our history, is always appreciated and are always grateful for any additions to our archives

Source: Judith Leaney writing in 2002 08 DTHS Newsletter

1951 Templestowe Hillclimb, Blackburn Road, Templestowe, established.
1987 Last meeting of Templestowe Hillclimb. Tracks used for Hillclimb to north
of the Mullum Mullum Creek still evident today.

Source: Timeline published in Pertzel, Barbara & Walters, Fiona 2001, Manningham : from country to city, Arcadia, Melbourne.  National Library Record: https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1552022/

Templestowe Hill Climb - Manningham Information Board




This tranquil bushland setting was once the scene of the Templestowe Hill Climb motor-race meetings, where up to 20,000 spectators thrilled to the sound Of high-revving engines as drivers tested their skill on the bends and rises of this challenging circuit.

After World War H, a general scarcity of race circuits in Victoria led the Victorian Sporting Car Club to enter into a lease arrangement with farm owner Mr "Andy" Andrews to construct a hill climb track and operate an agreed number of race meetings each year. On these days, the cattle that normally grazed on the property would be moved to a nearby paddock by the Yarra River.


Harry Firth on "The Wall" in 1955 in his MG-Holden... a Y type MG with Melbourne-built body and 2.4L Holden FJ grey motor. Image Source: https://www.weekendnotes.com/templestowe-hill-climb/

Described in 1951 as Australia’s, most spectacular hill climb course, the 969-metre-long Templestowe circuit featured an incredibly steep rise at its halfway mark.

Known as ‘The Wall’, this 100-metre section with a gradient of 1 in 2.5 was the steepest bitumen road in Australia, and today can still be walked by the energetic.

Centre spread from the program for the 87th Hill Climb, held in 13 July 1969, showing the features of the Templestowe circuit. Image Source: https://www.weekendnotes.com/templestowe-hill-climb/


The first Templestowe event, held on the unsealed track on 12 March, 1951, was won by Cec Warren with a time of 70.6 seconds.

To overcome severe dust and traction problems, the track was sealed for the next meeting in June 1952, won by Reg Hunt in his supercharged Hunt-Vincent with a time of 61.6 seconds.


Victorian Sporting Car Club 29th Templestowe Hill Climb Sunday June 29th 1958 Meeting held under the international sporting code of the FIA and the National Competition Rules of the CAMS Souvenir Program 1/-   Image Source: https://austinhealey100s.com.au/Jim-Goldfinch-1958.  VSCC hill climb program cover showing the huge plate steel Brake Shoes at the Start of the Templestowe circuit. donated by Pattons Brakes in 1958

Bruce Walton 6 time austrailian Hill Climb Champion in his supercharged cooper JAP.  Source Manningham Information panel at Templestowe Hill Climb

The Templestowe venue rapidly became the preferred Victorian hill climb track and hosted the Australian Hillclimb Championship in November 1968, which was won by Dick White.

As public interest in hill climbs declined and suburbia encroached, the ‘Last Templestowe Hill Climb’ was finally held on 6 December 1987, after 6 previous supposed ‘last’ events.

Graham Hoinville in 1953, driving bis supercharged 1100cc MG-TC, which raced at the first and each of the 7 "last" Templestowe events.  Source: Manningham Information panel at Templestowe Hill Climb




Templestowe Hill Climb Records
Date; Driver (Owner); Vehicle; Time
Mar 1951;  CR Warren; Ford Special; 70.6 sec
Jun 1952 R Nutt (JA Day); Talbot Darrag; 66.2sec
Sep 1952; BS Stillwell; Cooper; 63.18sec
Nov 1952; SJ Jones; Cooper; 62.04sec
Mar 1953; SJ Jones; Cooper; 60.87sec
Sep 1954; SJ Jones; Cooper; 57.41sec
Feb 1956; AN Davison (Ecurie); Cooper Vincent s/c; 56.85
Apr 1956; BA Walton; Walton Special; 56.45sec
May 1956; AN Davison (Ecurie); Cooper Vincent s/c; 55.14
Nov 1957; BA Walton; Walton Special; 54.22sec
Apr 1958; BA Walton; Walton Special; 53.27sec
Nov 1958; BA Walton; Walton Special; 52.99sec
May 1959; BA Walton; Walton Special; 52.76sec
Mar 1961; BA Walton; Walton Cooper s/c; 52.61sec
Nov 1962; BA Walton; Walton Cooper s/c; 52.05sec
Jul 1962; BA Walton; Walton Cooper s/c; 51.95sec
Oct 1962; BA Walton; Walton Cooper s/c; 51.57sec
Nov 1966; A Hamilton; Porsche; 50.5sec
Nov 1967; A Hamilton; Porsche; Equal 49.2sec
Sep 1968; R White; White 1500; Equal 49.2sec
May 1969; R Cann; Can VW; 48.3sec
Sep 1969; R White; White 2000; 47.6sec


Further Reading: 

KenRa Films presents Templestowe Hill Climb 1957/59



Reel 12 of a collection of home movies made by Kenneth Carruthers Rankine (1890 - 1968). In this reel we see the family at a number of motor sports events held 1957 - 1959 at Templestowe, Albert Park and Phillip Island.  This title is just one of the many films that we are digitising. Discover more about the process on our website.

Mokes at the Templestowe Hillclimb Track



The Templestowe Hillclimb Track, built in 1951, had a reputation in it's day as Australia's most spectacular Hillclimb.   In 1987, Members of the Moke Owners Association tested their vehicles and driving skills at Templestowe.  A lot happened that day.

To Do:  Seek permission to add images from Ben Frawley 

Death on the Hill Climb

Complete name: Charles Joseph Bartolo
Birth date: 27.Jan.1939
Birth Place: unknown, unknown
Death date: 28.Oct.1962
Death Place: Templestowe, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Nationality: Australia
Gender: male
Age at death: 23
 
Event date: 28.Oct.1962
Series: Victorian Hillclimb Championship
Race: Templestowe Hillclimb
Event type: hillclimb - practice
Country: Australia
Venue: Templestowe
Variant: 969-meter hillclimb (1951-1987)
 
Role: driver
Vehicle type: car
Vehicle sub-type: touring car
Vehicle brand/model: Austin-Healey Sprite
Vehicle number: ??
 
Notes:
Between March 1951 and 1987, the Templestowe Hillclimb hosted almost 100 cars and motorcycles hillclimb meetings, organised by the Victorian Sporting Car Club. Located nearly the Mullum Mullum Creek in Templestowe, a suburb of Melbourne, state of Victoria, Australia, the hillclimb course was 969 meters in length. The final hillclimb was held on 06 December 1987.

One death was recorded at the hillclimb after an accident, when the Australian driver Charles Bartolo, 23-year-old, crashed during a practice run, on the approach to the Esses. His Austin-Healey Sprite overturned and crushed him. Although at the time seat belts were already used, rollover protection was not compulsory.

Charles Bartolo lived in Bowen Street, Prahran, an inner suburb of Melbourne, at the time of his death. Burial was in Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Victoria, Australia.

 
Sources:
Newspaper The Canberra Times (Canberra, ACT, Australia), issue of Monday, 29 October 1962, page 3, article "Coroner's Wife Killed", retrieved by website https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/104298830 .
Website The Age, article "Hitting The Wall In Style" by Paul Daffey, published on 08 March 2003, page http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/07/1046826528573.html .
Website Speedway and Road Race History, page http://www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/melbourne-templestowe-hill-climb.html .
Website AUTOSPORT → Forums → The Nostalgia Forum, thread "Templestowe Hill Climb - Melbourne, Australia", page https://forums.autosport.com/topic/108148-templestowe-hill-climb-melbourne-australia/ .
Website Find-A-Grave: Charles Joseph Bartolo [incorrect date of death: 30 October 1962].
Website MyHeritage, page https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-1-712360661-1-500029/charles-joseph-bartolo-in-myheritage-family-trees .
E-mail by Daniel King, dated 25 March 2004.








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