Get ready, Melbournians! The Australian Boat Race is set to return to the city after four years. The University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney will take on each other on Saturday 14 October in an annual contest that dates back over 160 years.
It is not just a rivalry between the rowing clubs of the two universities. It is Melbourne vs Sydney. A truly iconic rivalry indeed. The two oldest Australian universities competed unofficially for the first time in 1860 in the waters of the Yarra River. Melbourne also hosted the race in 2009, when the universities decided to revive the competition. Since then, Melbourne has won the women’s trophy in 8 out of the 12 years, while Sydney leads the men’s tally 10-2. Melbourne’s Yarra River and Sydney’s Darling Harbour take turns every alternate year to provide a glorious setting for each contest.
The men’s trophy is named after Edmund Barton, the first Prime Minister of Australia, who also represented the University of Sydney in the first official intervarsity race in 1870. The women’s trophy, on the other hand, takes its name from Bella Guerin, the first woman graduate of the University of Melbourne.
The race returned in 2022 from a two-year COVID-induced hiatus, with Sydney playing the host and also claiming both men’s and women’s titles. Melbourne did not return empty handed though, as Trinity and Ormond won the two College races.
Back at home for the first time since 2019, the Melbourne teams would be hoping to ride on the home support this year and win back the two trophies. The Saturday afternoon would start with the Women's College Race between Ormond College, Melbourne and Wesley College, Sydney at 12:15 pm, followed by the Men's College Race, where Trinity College, Melbourne will face St. Paul’s College, Sydney at 12:30 pm. The Women’s Australian Boat Race is scheduled at 1:00 pm and the Men’s Australian Boat Race at 1:45 pm.