Back in 1956, Melbourne hosted the summer Olympics with the rowing and canoeing events held in Ballarat on Lake Wendouree. It was a pretty big deal back then and there are still a few reminders of that time dotted around the lake. I snapped a few pics of those things when I was out exercising by the lake on the weekend.
First up a few photos from the events
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| Some of the crowd watching the action out on the lake. |
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| The Australian 8 at the end of a race, possibly the final in which they won bronze to the USA (gold) and Canada (Silver) |
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| Edith Cochrane, the only Australian competitor, in the 500 metres women's kayak event. Edith came 5th in the final |
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| Sam Mackenzie of Australia (right) congratulates Vyacheslav Ivanov of the USSR after winning silver to Ivanov's gold in the single sculls |
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Australia's Dennis Green and Walter Brown prior to the start of the 10,000 metres kayak pairs. They went on to win bronze to Hungary (gold) and Germany (silver)
The Olympic rings
The Olympic rings and the cauldron for the flame
The rowing course to the center and left with the canoeing course on the right
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This fantastic commemorative mosaic is a little worse for wear but still pretty cool. It hangs on the outside wall of the Ballarat Rowing Club
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