The Australian GP was held in Adelaide from 1985 until 1995, before switching to Melbourne. It then became the first rather than last race of the season to avoid a clash with the famous Melbourne Cup horse race, held each November. The only year Melbourne was not the first race of the season was 2006, when the Commonwealth Games caused it to move to third in the calendar and an April slot.

The 58 lap race is run through private parkland on a temporary street track through Melbourne’s largest public park, which was originally a swamp, and for thousands of years was a meeting point for the indigenous Wurundjeri people. The park is home to a 300 year old river red gum tree that was one famous meeting point.

The arrival of the Grand Prix in 1996 inevitably created some opposition from those who thought motor racing was not compatible with Albert Park’s heritage. However many overlooked the fact that at various times it has been a city dump and an army camp, and in fact the Grand Prix contributed to its rejuvenation.