Uploaded May 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Melbourne is home to a very special suburb - one that was purpose-built for the 1956 Olympic Games. West Heidelberg almost never existed, but ended up playing an integral role before, during and after the so-called 'Friendly Games'.
Please excuse the varying quality of the modern day video. My Gopro decided to have a moment halfway through shooting so I had to use my iPhone to capture the remaining film.
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I acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which this video was filmed, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people. I pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging and their extensive historical connection to land, water and country
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My website: philipmallis.com
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MORE INFORMATION
The Argus special Olympic Village Supplement 22 November 1956: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/6563150
'Doing it tough together: Melbourne's Olympic village community', Australian Broadcasting Corporation: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-09/melbourne-olympic-village-west-heidelberg-doing-it-tough/6916224?nw=0
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SOURCES AND CREDITS
Map source: © Openstreetmap contributors, 2021
Historic footage of Olympics and Olympic Village: National Film and Sound Archive ('1956 Melbourne Olympics: Mike Leyland's home movie', 'Melbourne Olympic City', )
1953 'Labor Prefers Homes To Olympic Games Stadium', Labor Call (Melbourne, Vic. : 1906 - 1953), 29 January, p. 1. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250010923
1950 'SHOWGROUNDS UNPOPULAR SITE FOR OLYMPIC GAMES', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 3 May, p. 66. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225450332
1952 'Ban On Olympic Building Move', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 21 March, p. 3. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133711656
1953 'LATE NEWS— MELBOURNE OLYMPIC GAMES ABANDONED?', Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), 18 March, p. 1. (Daily), viewed 03 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118415279
1953 'FINANCE DISRUPTION OVER MELBOURNE OLYMPIC GAMES', Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 - 1954), 15 May, p. 1. , viewed 03 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62482717
1953 'GAMES IN DOUBT', Maryborough Chronicle (Qld. : 1947 - 1954), 19 March, p. 1. , viewed 03 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150235368
1956 'Wire curtain separates this Russian couple', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 12 November, p. 17. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71765191
'Battle of Egypt', 1942, Australian War Memorial: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C188826
Helsinki Games Village (architect Pauli Salomaa). Heikki Havas / MFA, en.docomomo.fi/projects/olympic-village-and-games-village/Olympic Urbanism: The Athletes’ Village, Gade, A.
1952 Helsinki Olympics Report, placesjournal.org/article/olympic-urbanism-the-athletes-village/?cn-reloaded=11956
'HERE'S A CITY-VILLAGE WE SALUTE!', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 22 November, p. 18. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71767184
Hungarian Revolution footage (1956), youtube.com/watch?v=6BaV3W5zMucC2457
Ervin Zador Hungary Cut eye; USSR v Hungary; Water Polo; Day 13 VPRS 10742/P0000, C2457, Public Record Office Victoria, https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/3358F70E-F7F4-11E9-AE98-AB296B2CC188?image=1# (CC-BY-SA 4.0)
1957 'Olympic Stars Flee Hungary For West', The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), 5 January, p. 11. , viewed 03 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91231311
1956 'Work is fun at "Village"', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 5 November, p. 17. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71763941
1956 'Praise for our Village', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 14 September, p. 9. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84386412
Booklet showing plans for the Olympic village in Heidelberg c1955, Housing Commission Victoria, City of Melbourne, https://citycollection.melbourne.vic.gov.au/booklet-showing-plans-for-the-olympic-village-in-heidelberg/
Melbourne is home to a very special suburb - one that was purpose-built for the 1956 Olympic Games. West Heidelberg almost never existed, but ended up playing an integral role before, during and after the so-called 'Friendly Games'.
Please excuse the varying quality of the modern day video. My Gopro decided to have a moment halfway through shooting so I had to use my iPhone to capture the remaining film.
-------------
I acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which this video was filmed, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people. I pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging and their extensive historical connection to land, water and country
.-------------
My website: philipmallis.com
-------------
MORE INFORMATION
The Argus special Olympic Village Supplement 22 November 1956: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/6563150
'Doing it tough together: Melbourne's Olympic village community', Australian Broadcasting Corporation: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-09/melbourne-olympic-village-west-heidelberg-doing-it-tough/6916224?nw=0
-------------
SOURCES AND CREDITS
Map source: © Openstreetmap contributors, 2021
Historic footage of Olympics and Olympic Village: National Film and Sound Archive ('1956 Melbourne Olympics: Mike Leyland's home movie', 'Melbourne Olympic City', )
1953 'Labor Prefers Homes To Olympic Games Stadium', Labor Call (Melbourne, Vic. : 1906 - 1953), 29 January, p. 1. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250010923
1950 'SHOWGROUNDS UNPOPULAR SITE FOR OLYMPIC GAMES', Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), 3 May, p. 66. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225450332
1952 'Ban On Olympic Building Move', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 21 March, p. 3. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133711656
1953 'LATE NEWS— MELBOURNE OLYMPIC GAMES ABANDONED?', Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), 18 March, p. 1. (Daily), viewed 03 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118415279
1953 'FINANCE DISRUPTION OVER MELBOURNE OLYMPIC GAMES', Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 - 1954), 15 May, p. 1. , viewed 03 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62482717
1953 'GAMES IN DOUBT', Maryborough Chronicle (Qld. : 1947 - 1954), 19 March, p. 1. , viewed 03 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150235368
1956 'Wire curtain separates this Russian couple', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 12 November, p. 17. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71765191
'Battle of Egypt', 1942, Australian War Memorial: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C188826
Helsinki Games Village (architect Pauli Salomaa). Heikki Havas / MFA, en.docomomo.fi/projects/olympic-village-and-games-village/Olympic Urbanism: The Athletes’ Village, Gade, A.
1952 Helsinki Olympics Report, placesjournal.org/article/olympic-urbanism-the-athletes-village/?cn-reloaded=11956
'HERE'S A CITY-VILLAGE WE SALUTE!', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 22 November, p. 18. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71767184
Hungarian Revolution footage (1956), youtube.com/watch?v=6BaV3W5zMucC2457
Ervin Zador Hungary Cut eye; USSR v Hungary; Water Polo; Day 13 VPRS 10742/P0000, C2457, Public Record Office Victoria, https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/3358F70E-F7F4-11E9-AE98-AB296B2CC188?image=1# (CC-BY-SA 4.0)
1957 'Olympic Stars Flee Hungary For West', The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), 5 January, p. 11. , viewed 03 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91231311
1956 'Work is fun at "Village"', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 5 November, p. 17. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71763941
1956 'Praise for our Village', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 14 September, p. 9. , viewed 07 Sep 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84386412
Booklet showing plans for the Olympic village in Heidelberg c1955, Housing Commission Victoria, City of Melbourne, https://citycollection.melbourne.vic.gov.au/booklet-showing-plans-for-the-olympic-village-in-heidelberg/
