Running, walking, jumping, throwing - sport at its most pure. Athletics dates back as long as people have been doing these activities. What is the structure of the sport now?
The earliest evidence of athletics goes back to 3800 BC in Memphis (EGY) and has continued in various forms including the ancient Olympics to today’s highly organised competitions with its up to date technology and business. It also includes the relaxed form of fun athletics where people compete purely for the love of it or its exercise value. Athletics is now totally inclusive providing for juniors, seniors, masters and disabled. Athletics has spanned time and generations.
Australia has been a place for much athletic participation, both at the elite and recreational levels.
Evidence shows Australia's indigenous people, the Aboriginals, engaged in athletics events. These were based around survival skills such as spear and boomerang throwing, mock fights, a form of soccer and hockey and tree climbing.
When Australia was colonised in 1788, European settlers bought with them athletics competition familiar to what we know today.
The earliest record of athletics competition is from 1810 in Hyde Park, Sydney where Dicky Dowling won a sprint race over 50 yards.
Professional athletics (called pedestrianism) grew considerably around this time. Stories of huge crowds placing enormous wagers on the success of incredible feats of athletes paint a colourful picture of the sport in these early days.
Professional foot racing boomed particularly in the gold rush towns of New South Wales and Victoria. Miners raced against each other in handicapped races for the gift of a gold nugget offered by the mine owner. "Gift" races were born.
Long distance walking was very popular in the late 1800s. W. Edwards won a 100 miles race in 24 hours in 1878. In 1882 he won a six-day tournament over 432 miles around Melbourne.
Amateur athletics on the other hand had to attract athletes who would compete for no financial return. The Grammar Schools of Sydney and Melbourne were proponents of the amateur side of the sport.
The first amateur athletics club in Australia was formed in Adelaide in 1867. Called the Adelaide Amateur Athletic Club it held regular athletics meetings and other clubs were formed soon after.
As clubs began to develop, there became need for a governing body. This was first recognised in New South Wales and on 20 April 1887 at a meeting in Oxford Street Sydney, the honorary secretary of Ashfield Amateur Athletic Club moved "it is desirable to form an association to be called the Amateur Athletics Association of New South Wales to take the management of amateur athletic sports in the colony." Other states followed suit.
At the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, Australia's Edwin Flack won the 800m and 1500m - Australia's first Olympic gold medals.
The National body, the amateur Athletic Union of Australasia was formed in 1897, now known as Australian Athletics. Australia loves champions and over the years, athletics has provided many.
In 1928, New Zealand broke away to form its own national body, leaving what was known as the Amateur Athletics Union of Australia (AAU). In 1932, an Australian Women's Amateur Athletics Union (AWAAU) was instituted and remained responsible for women's athletics until 1978. In that year, the separate national unions amalgamated into one governing body which, in 1989, was rebranded as Athletics Australia.
In 2025, we are proud to see the organisation evolve to become Australian Athletics - a brand that reflects not only our elite athletes but the wider community. The transition to Australian Athletics marks the start of a new journey. One where we unite the elite and the everyday, inspire future generations, and remind Australians that athletics is for everyone—whether on the world stage or in their local park. Together, we will create a brand that truly reflects the spirit of our sport and the limitless possibilities it holds.
Fields of Green, Lanes of Gold - The Story of Athletics in Australia.
Author: Paul Jenes.
This publication, containing 304 glossy pages, is the story of Australia's athletics history and is written by Paul Jenes, Australia's leading research and statistical expert in athletics.
If you would like to learn more about the story of athletics in Australia, this publication is available from Australian Athletics.
Little Athletics evolved, like most voluntary community organisations, through the mind and conscience of one man. Trevor Billingham followed the pattern set by many pioneers in the field of community service - he recognised a need and introduced an idea designed to meet that need.
On an October day in 1963 three boys turned up at an athletics meeting in Geelong, Victoria. They were ready to compete. On approaching an official they were told that they were too young to take part. That official was Trevor Billingham.
The disappointment, evident in the boys, left a marked impression on his mind.
The thought was forgotten; it came alive again several months later. At a coaching clinic designed for secondary school students it was noted that the majority of children were of primary school age.
Reminded of his earlier experience, Trevor Billingham had an idea. The answer to the need expressed in the children would be a simple Saturday morning competition.
On the first Saturday of October 1964, he met with a small group of children on a Geelong oval. They took part in a short program of running events.
From that simple beginning, athletics for under 12 boys and girls developed at a phenomenal rate. Little Athletics created tremendous interest; by 1967 the Victorian Little Athletics Association was formed.
Australian Little Athletics Union was formed in Perth on the 31st March 1972.
Victoria, New South Wales, Northern Territory & Western Australia were the founding members.
South Australia, Queensland & Australian Capital Territory joined in the 1973/74 season
Tasmania joined in the 1974/75 season.
The first Executive members of the Australian Little Athletics Union were:
Bruce McKenzie, President
Alan Triscott, Secretary/Treasurer.
Australian Little Athletics Union became Australian Little Athletics (ALA) during the 1992/93 season.
In 2008/2009 season there were approximately 98,000 Little Athletes competing throughout Australia on a regular basis, and in the 2012/13 season, over 104,000 Little Athletes participated across the country.
On 19 March 2026 Australian Little Athletics unified with Australian Athletics.
Presidents - Australian Little Athletics
† deceased
