Senator calls for Sandown to be heritage listed

The famous motor and horse racing precinct is under threat from housing developers, with owners the Melbourne Racing Club unsure on its future beyond 2019.

But Muir, a representative of the Australian Motoring Enthusiasts Party, plans to try and stop the circuit from being demolished by having it added to the National Heritage List, which includes the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Sydney Opera House, and the Great Barrier Reef.

“Over the past 20 or so years, we have seen city racing circuits in other parts of the country close,” said Senator Muir.

“These include Surfers Paradise Raceway, Amaroo Park, and Oran Park in Sydney.

“Nobody in the motorsport community wants to see a future Prime Minister stand here and launch ‘Sandown Raceway Town’, as we saw with Malcolm Turnbull at Oran Park last week.

“But this isn’t just a venue for the motorsport community – Sandown Raceway is an important part of Australia’s heritage that should be protected.

“The heritage listing of sporting venues is not that common in Australia, and I have some awareness of the unsuccessful moves to save another venue not that far from here – Waverley Park.

“Sandown Raceway is unique and it should be protected. I am making this call today as the community cannot wait a day longer if this venue is to be saved from becoming a housing estate.

“There have been varying reports, but it is pretty clear to me that the owners of this land have future plans that don’t involve motor racing.

“Many have thrown their hands in the air and said ‘it’s too late already’, but as I have done with everything I have considered during my time as a Senator, I have looked at the facts.

“And I believe that Sandown Raceway meets the criteria to be placed on the National Heritage List, and so it should be.”

Muir went on to cite Sandown’s rich motor racing history as the driving force behind his bid.

“Sandown Raceway has a unique and special place in Australia’s motor racing and horse racing history,” he said.

“As a venue it dates back to the 19th century, and the bitumen race circuit has been in use since 1962. Sandown has hosted six Australian Grand Prix events with winners including Formula 1 world champions Sir Jack Brabham and Jim Clark.

“Sandown Raceway was the venue for the first FIA-sanctioned international event ever held in Australia – the final round of the 1984 World Sportscar Championship.

“The Sandown 500 ‘enduro’ was first run here in 1964, and after a short break, has been back on the Supercars calendar since 2012. The Sandown 500 itself is an iconic Melbourne, Victorian, and Australian event.

“Peter Brock won nine Sandown 500s, including seven in a row from 1975 until 1981.

“Due to its unique place in Australian motorsport history, this venue should also be retained for all time, recognising its importance in the course of Australia’s cultural history.”

Several months ago, a local newspaper reported that Sandown looked set to be safe until at 2019. Its future beyond that, however, is very much up in the air, thanks to its prime suburban location just 25 kilometres from the Melbourne CDB.