By Staff Writers
First published in The Age on June 7, 1958
Perth Chosen as Site for Empire Games, 1962
The Australian Empire Games Federation tonight chose Perth as the Australian nomination for the 1962 Empire Games.
Flag bearers in the march past at the opening of the Perth Empire Games.Credit: British Empire and Commonwealth Games
This is regarded as making Perth the probable venue for the Games.
The Australian application for Perth will go before the Empire Games Federation in Cardiff next month for a final decision.
As far as athletic officials knew tonight, no applications from other countries had been received.
However, the secretary of the Australian Federation, Mr. J. Eve, said that India may nominate New Delhi before nominations closed on June 15.
The Lord Mayor of Perth, Alderman H. R. Howard, who has been in Sydney since Wednesday, said: “We believe now that we will get the Games. They will be the first major international event to be held in Perth.”
The two Australian cities contending for the Australian nominations were Perth and Adelaide. Voting in favour of Perth was not disclosed.
Prince Philip officially opens the 1962 Perth Commonwealth Games.Credit: British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Guaranteed
In the official case for Perth presented to the Federation it was stated that £1,167,000 had been guaranteed for the Games.
This was to be spent on: Athletic stadium, £400,000; Games village, £300,000; Olympic pool, £200,000; Velodrome, for cycling, £87,000; oval for athletes training, £50,000.
The State has guaranteed £200,000 and full financial and other cooperation.
The Commonwealth Government has guaranteed £100,000.
Perth City Council has already set aside £135,000 and promised full support.
A guarantee of £100,000 has been given by the Games Federation.
Alderman Howard said tonight that a site for the athletic stadium had been set aside four miles from Perth, at Rabold Hill (also known as Perry Lake).
It was a “perfect natural site” and would be retained as a permanent athletic stadium.
Adelaide “Feels Bitter”
In Adelaide, the chairman of the S.A. division of the Australian British Empire and Commonwealth Games Association, Mr C. R. Aitken, said: “One cannot help feeling bitter over the decision.”
“The Association which voted in favour of Perth is the same one which in 1954 unanimously congratulated Adelaide on its initiative in apply for the Games, then in 1956 allotted them to Adelaide by 13 votes to four.
“I wonder how these gentlemen would have felt if the International Olympic Committee had taken the Olympic Games from Melbourne after having allotted them.”