For Western Australians, the home of postwar motor racing was Caversham in the Swan Valley on the outskirts of Perth. Similar to Goodwood in concept, but lacking the stately home and manicured grounds, Caversham started life as an emergency airfield built during WW2.
The circuit consisted of a long runway and a dispersal road connecting the ends, and was used from the early fifties until the late seventies. The Australian Grand Prix was held there in 1956 and in 1962, and on both occasions was contested by Jack Brabham, driving a Cooper Bobtail in 1956 and a Brabham Climax in 1962, a race won by Bruce McLaren.
Following the circuit’s closure, the land reverted to the Department of Defence and the circuit fell into disrepair. With the urban sprawl of Perth encroaching on the area around Caversham, the DoD relinquished ownership in recent years, which passed to the state government, to be developed for housing.
After intensive lobbying from the Western Australian Vintage Sports Car Club, to preserve the circuit, the government agreed to proclaim the infield area of remnant bushland and the surrounding circuit a public reserve.
In November 2009, Sir Jack Brabham attended a Back to Caversham celebration and the official naming of the reserve. In order to further the cause of preserving the circuit, ongoing representations to the state government managed to gain agreement to rename the about to be created new suburb, Brabham.
This May 1, Sir Jack once again traveled to Perth for the naming ceremony of the new suburb, which took place on what was the old Start line, and which featured a display of Brabham racing cars. Prior to the ceremony Sir Jack, who is in ailing health, attended a breakfast at the VSCC clubrooms where an attentive audience had the great pleasure of meeting him and asking him questions.
It is hoped that as part of the new suburban development the original track may be resurfaced to enable it to be used for an event similar to the Goodwood revival.
By Lindsay Taylor
