Stawell Gift
BgcolourSilver
DateEaster weekend
LocationStawell, Victoria, Australia
Distance120 metres
SponsorPowercor Australia (since 2021)
Est1878,
Homepagewww.stawellgift.com

The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short-distance running race. It is the main event in an annual carnival held on Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club, with the main race finals on the holiday Monday, at Central Park, Stawell in the Grampian Mountains district of western Victoria. As of 2016 the carnival encompasses events for both men and women of all ages and abilities, across distances from 70 to 3,200 metres.[1]

The final of the iconic main race is run on grass over 120 metres up a slight gradient. Competitors are handicapped according to their form, with each competitor "marked" by between 0 and 10 metres or more to theoretically reach the finish line at the same time.[2] This process is administered by the Victorian Athletic League (VAL). Due to the relatively short handicap limit, the class of runners that can potentially win the event is limited compared to other Gifts in Australia.

The winner is, hypothetically, the runner who can best "rise to the occasion" and perform better than their previous form, although the key can often be to perform slightly below their best in lead-up events and thus receive a favourable handicap. In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia the race was postponed, but in March the race was cancelled, the first time since World War 2. In 2021, branded as the "Powercor Stawell Gift", the race was run at its usual Easter long weekend dates on 3–5 April.

History

The Stawell Gift began in 1878, at the end of the Victorian gold rush, as the "Easter Gift", with prize money of £24 (several thousands in today's dollars), conducted by the Stawell Athletic Club in a program of seven races, most run in multiple heats.[3] It has been raced every year since, except for four years during the Second World War,[4] and in 2020 due to the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

1920 winner, Archibald Gordon Cashmore was born in Stawell, thus becoming the first local to win this prestigious event. Cashmore was also a soldier in World War One.[6]

In 1937, the event celebrated its diamond jubilee with £1,500 in prize money, making it the richest footrace in the world.[7]

Originally it was part of a number of entertainments put on by the townspeople over Easter, complete with special trains to the event. Today, it is the most prestigious footrace in Australia, with a $40,000AUD first prize. The finals are televised live around Australia,[8][9] and internationally.[10]

The event was historically run over 130 yards (118.9 m).[11] In 1973, the race converted to the metric system, and the length of the track was altered to 120 metres (131.2 yd), essentially an identical distance. Electronic timing was introduced in 1982, thus allowing greater precision in determining race results.[12]

In recognition of the late Eric Cumming's contribution to professional running,[13] (Australia's only Powderhall Gift winner) the Stawell Athletic Club awards the most successful sprinter over 70 m, 120 m, and 200 m, at its annual Stawell Gift carnival, the Eric Cumming Memorial trophy.

In July 2009, the city of Ballarat made a bid to poach the Gift. It offered the Stawell Athletic Club A$1.25 million to host the race for five years from 2010. At the time, the Gift was experiencing financial difficulties.[14] The offer was withdrawn later in July. The Victorian state government ruled out providing monetary assistance.[15]

In 2010, the Gift track was found to be around three metres too long, with times much slower than expected during the heats.[16]

In 2019, the Gift was having trouble attracting sponsors, which resulted in a reduction in prize money. In 2018, the prize pool for the men's and women's Gift had been A$40,000 each race, but that was reduced by A$15,000 in 2019. The Northern Grampians Shire Council offered assistance.[17] It has been estimated that the Gift contributes A$5 million to the local economy.[18]

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was initially postponed, and the Stawell Athletic Club considered options to run the event later in the year.[18] In May the 2020 race was cancelled, for the first time since World War II.[5]

Powercor Australia became the naming rights sponsor for five years, starting in 2021.[19]

The 2021 Gift, branded as the "Powercor Stawell Gift", and the 139th running of the event, was held as usual during the Easter long weekend. It was won by Edward Ware of Victoria, and the women's event was won by Hayley Orman from South Australia.[20]

Format

On Easter Saturday the heats are conducted, with the winner of each heat going through to the semi-finals along with the next best fastest times. On Easter Monday, the six semi-finals are run approximately two hours before the final, with only semi-final winners advancing to the final. Six semi-finals were first run in 1988, before which there were only five semi-finals.

The Gift is run on a 120 m grass track in front of the 100-year-old Stawell Grandstand, and the athletes run in lanes that are separated by lane ropes rather than painted lines.[2]

The idea of the handicap system is that all runners should, theoretically, cross the line at the same time. The handicapper works out what mark or handicap the runner will have according to their previous performances in sprint events. Currently the maximum handicap is 10 metres, although this is occasionally increased to 11.

Each metre in handicap denotes approximately a tenth of a second in time. Race winners are often those that are able to "beat the handicapper", in that they need to perform well enough to qualify for the event and the finals, but below what they are truly capable of, so that they receive a handicap that gives them the best chance of a victory.[2] The handicapping system often ends up pitting local runners against international professionals.

Gambling is allowed in the venue, and there is an extensive bookmaker's compound.

While the Stawell Gift is the feature race, the meeting also includes many other races, with more than sixty events taking place over the three-day meeting.[12] The Women's Gift has run since 1989.[12] In 2015, the Women's Gift had equal prizemoney with the men's for the first time.

Records

Winners – Men's Stawell Gift

The list of winners of the Stawell Gift:[12]

YearWinning RunnerCity/TownCounty/State/TerritoryNationHandicap
(yd or m)
Time/s
1878William J MillardCondahVictoriaAustralia3 yards12.75
1879E.S. GroseCreswickVictoriaAustralia6.513
1880C.G. WitneyBrightonVictoriaAustralia7.512.7
1881J. RodgersAvocaVictoriaAustralia912
1882A.B. ParkinsonSaleVictoriaAustralia1112.75
1883Bobby Kinnear[21][22]DimboolaVictoriaAustralia1412.5
1884W. SmithMelbourneVictoriaAustralia7.512
1885Walter Mummery[23][24][25][26]Bowman's ForestVictoriaAustralia1012.25
1886W.B Clarke[27]England711.75
1887J. BrownBalmoralVictoriaAustralia1211.75
1888Charles BinghamFitzroyVictoriaAustralia10.511.75
1889E.S Skinner[28][29]U.S.A912
1890J. MidsonEaglehawkVictoriaAustralia1111.875
1891H. MartinMaryboroughVictoriaAustralia1311.75
1892A. HeppnerPort MelbourneVictoriaAustralia1212
1893E.J. HoughMudgeeNew South WalesAustralia12.511.5
1894P.J. BreenGippslandVictoriaAustralia1111.75
1895W.E. JoyDunollyVictoriaAustralia512.25
1896R.G. NesbittAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia11.512.5
1897George StuckeyNorth MelbourneVictoriaAustralia1212.2
1898J.S. LewisEuroaVictoriaAustralia1411.8
1899Norm ClarkRoseberySouth AustraliaAustralia14.511.8
1900Dave StricklandManziesWestern AustraliaAustralia1012
1901E.T. KennyWoodendVictoriaAustralia1412
1902Alf TredinnickMalvernVictoriaAustralia11.512.2
1903H. DewAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia1212.0
1904J.F. FlanaganEast MelbourneVictoriaAustralia1212.2
1905C.N. McKenzieMount GambierSouth AustraliaAustralia10.512
1906E.W. Thompson[30]AbbotsfordVictoriaAustralia1012.2
1907C.W. KnoxNumurkahVictoriaAustralia12.512.4
1908Chris King[31][32][33]RutherglenVictoriaAustralia1211.8
1909Harold Franklin RigbyBurnieTasmania[34]Australia11.511.8
1910Tom Dancey[35][36][37][38]DirranbandiQueenslandAustralia1311.6
1911D.H DevineStawellVictoriaAustralia1311.4
1912Ernest CarterKewVictoriaAustralia11.512.2
1913Ernest GeorgeNorth MelbourneVictoriaAustralia12.512.2
1914Billy Robinson[39]MaldonVictoriaAustralia1211.8
1915E. FlemingElphinstoneVictoriaAustralia1011.4
1916C.P. CassidySouth MelbourneVictoriaAustralia13.2512
1917F.C SwindellsMoonee PondsVictoriaAustralia11.7512.2
1918A. RoachMelbourneVictoriaAustralia1412.6
1919H.W. Evans[40]AbbotsfordVictoriaAustralia10.512.2
1920A.G. Cashmore[41][42]BalliangVictoriaAustralia712.4
1921L.J. Jennings[43]ParkvilleVictoriaAustralia10.2512.4
1922P.L. Till[44][45]CobdenVictoriaAustralia10.511.7
1923Jack E. Curran[46][47][48]StawellVictoriaAustralia912
1924Bill Twomey, Sr.[49]StawellVictoriaAustralia8.512.1
1925Tim. Banner[50]CarthcartVictoriaAustralia512.15625
1926W.G. Allen[51][52]CoburgVictoriaAustralia9.512 4/16
1927Tom Miles[53][54][55][56]BundabergQueenslandAustralia1012.0625
1928Lynch Cooper[57]JeparitVictoriaAustralia811.9375
1929Clarrie Hearn[33][58][59]TocumwalNew South WalesAustralia1011.9375
1930R.K. Hodge[60]Lakes EntranceVictoriaAustralia11.7511.8125
1931Frederick J. Ralph[61][62][63]RichmondSouth AustraliaAustralia9.511 14/16
1932Roy L. Barker[64][65]Yarrawonga, then EssendonVictoriaAustralia11.7512 2/16
1933Cyril G. "Goldie" Heath[66]Baileston Est, (Nagambie)VictoriaAustralia1111 10/16
1934Tom L. Roberts[67]MulwalaNew South WalesAustralia9.7511 9/16
1935M.M. Bishop[68][69]Port PirieSouth AustraliaAustralia7.512
1936Ron McCann[70]Castlemaine[71]VictoriaAustralia6.512 4/16
1937Frank A. Bradley[33]CoolamonNew South WalesAustralia1012
1938Jack Grant[72]GeelongVictoriaAustralia11.511 11/16
1939L.W. Sprague[73]BallaratVictoriaAustralia9.511 14/16
1940A.J. Reid[74]Port AugustaSouth AustraliaAustralia8.512 3/16
1941Ken Hutton[75][76]DevonportTasmaniaAustralia7.2512 6/16
1942No Stawell Gift due to World War II [77][78]
1943No Stawell Gift due to World War II
1944No Stawell Gift due to World War II
1945No Stawell Gift due to World War II
1946Tommy Deane[79][80]WahringVictoriaAustralia711 14/16
1947Arthur Martin[81][82]BallaratVictoriaAustralia4.511 14/16
1948Tom Brudenall[83][84][85]BallaratVictoriaAustralia812 3/16
1949J.E. Cann[86][87][88]Broken HillNew South WalesAustralia8.2511 15/16
1950Ken Trewick[89]BrisbaneQueenslandAustralia1011 15/16
1951Gerald Hutchinson[90][91]BrightonVictoriaAustralia811 13/16
1952Lance Mann[92]AlburyNew South WalesAustralia7.2511 14/16
1953Roy Hart[93]ChelseaVictoriaAustralia5.7512
1954Jack Hayes[33][94][95]RutherglenVictoriaAustralia911 8/10
1955John O'Donnell[96][97]PrestonVictoriaAustralia8.7512
1956Bill Williams[98]AltonaVictoriaAustralia1211 8/10
1957Jack CarrBacchus MarshVictoriaAustralia10.511 8/10
1958Malcolm DurantAscot ValeVictoriaAustralia8.511 8/10
1959George TreaceyNorthcoteVictoriaAustralia11.2511 8/10
1960Bill McCann[99]DimboolaVictoriaAustralia6.7511 8/10
1961Colin SavageNunawadingVictoriaAustralia6.2512 2/10
1962Neil BeachleyRosannaVictoriaAustralia8.2512 1/10
1963A.J (John) BellMoonee PondsVictoriaAustralia1212
1964Noel Hussey[100]EchucaVictoriaAustralia8.512.1
1965Bruce Cox.BrightonVictoriaAustralia7.512
1966Bill HowardWodongaVictoriaAustralia8.7511.9
1967Bill HowardWodongaVictoriaAustralia5.7511.6
1968Ian MillerSurry HillsVictoriaAustralia9.7511.6
1969Barry McLeodBraybrookVictoriaAustralia7.7512
1970Barry FoleyAscot ValeVictoriaAustralia1111.8
1971Treva McGregorTemplestoweVictoriaAustralia7.2511.7
1972Barry FoleyAscot ValeVictoriaAustralia7.511.8
1973#Bernie MossCroydonVictoriaAustralia10.75 mts12.1
1974Peter DurhamRipponleaVictoriaAustralia7.2512.0
1975Jean-Louis RavelomanantsoaMadagascarScratch12.0
1976Allen PollockHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia8.512.1
1977Warren Edmonson[101]U.S.A1.2512.0
1978Steve ProudlockGunnedahNew South WalesAustralia811.9
1979Noel McMahonIvanhoeVictoriaAustralia8.2512.0
1980John DinanViewbankVictoriaAustralia5.512.3
1981George McNeill[102]TranentScotlandGt. Britain411.9
1982*Chris PerryMalvernVictoriaAustralia712.19
1983Dallas O'BrienBentleighVictoriaAustralia612.22
1984Paul SingletonJillibyNew South WalesAustralia511.95
1985Paul Young[103]EssendonVictoriaAustralia10.7512.07
1986Glen Chapman[104]AlburyNew South WalesAustralia712.01
1987Russell ElliottPrestonVictoriaAustralia8.2512.13
1988Scott AntonitchRoselandsNew South WalesAustralia612.28
1989Simon McIntyreWagga WaggaNew South WalesAustralia612.14
1990Dean Capobianco[105]KalamundaWestern AustraliaAustralia2.2512.29
1991Steve BrimacombeElthamVictoriaAustralia6.7511.93
1992Andrew McManusEssendonVictoriaAustralia712.03
1993Jason RichardsonCaulfield South,VictoriaAustralia7.511.94
1994Rod LewisRingwoodVictoriaAustralia7.512.05
1995Glenn CrawfordKatamatiteVictoriaAustralia6.511.79
1996Steve HuttonAlbertonSouth AustraliaAustralia612.26
1997Daniel MillardMount GambierSouth AustraliaAustralia10.7511.98
1998Dale SeersEdithvaleVictoriaAustralia7.7512.04
1999Rodney MatthewsBuninyongVictoriaAustralia9.511.91
2000Jarram PearceWodongaVictoriaAustralia812.01
2001Andrew PymSouth RiverviewNew South WalesAustralia7.7511.97
2002Stuart UhlmannCedar GroveQueenslandAustralia6.7511.98
2003Josh RossNorth LambtonNew South WalesAustralia711.92
2004Jason Hunte[106]Barbados4.2512.07
2005Josh RossGillieston HeightsNew South WalesAustraliaScratch12.36
2006Adrian MottEssendonVictoriaAustralia7.2511.98
2007Nathan AllenToowoombaQueenslandAustralia5.2512.35
2008Sam Jamieson[107]WilliamstownVictoriaAustralia6.0012.09
2009Aaron StubbsLismoreNew South WalesAustralia7.2511.87
2010Tom BurbidgeCanberraAus. Cap. TerritoryAustralia8.7512.01
2011Mitchell WilliamsGold CoastQueenslandAustralia6.5012.18
2012Matthew WiltshireBallaratVictoriaAustralia8.0012.22
2013Andrew RobinsonLauncestonTasmaniaAustralia7.2512.01
2014Luke VersaceBaysideVictoriaAustralia10.012.33
2015Murray GoodwinGold CoastQueenslandAustralia6.512.10
2016Isaac DunmallBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia6.7512.17
2017Matthew RizzoLangwarrinVictoriaAustralia7.512.01
2018Jacob Despard[108]LalorVictoriaAustralia10.012.12
2019Dhruv Rodrigues-ChicoVictoriaAustralia7.012.11
2020No Stawell Gift due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
2021Edward Ware[109]MitchamVictoriaAustralia9.7512.19
2022Harrison Kerr[110]Park OrchardsVictoriaAustralia9.2511.85
2023Ryan Tarrant[111]MelbourneVictoriaAustralia3.7512.23
2024Jack Lacey[112]Bayswater NorthVictoriaAustralia9.512.27
2025John EvansAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia9.7511.94
2026Olufemi KomolafeAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia5.012.05
YearWinning RunnerCity/TownCounty/State/TerritoryNationHandicap
(yd or m)
Time/s

Notes:
# Converted to metric distances in 1973.
* Commenced electronic timing in 1982.[12]

  • Jacob Despard (2018) is formerly from Tasmania

1878: First winner

The inaugural winner was William J. "Bill" Millard (1855–1939), a farmer from Condah, Victoria,[113] who reputedly trained by chasing kangaroos. Millard, running off 3 yards, won the race when the leading runner, W.J. Lambell, of Birregurra, running off 11 yards,[114] fell two yards before the finish of the race.[115] In 1889, aged 34, he won the 220 yards handicap at Stawell, running off 18 yards; and, at the same meeting, having been run out in the Gift's heats, he came third (off 11 yards) in the consolation race, the 120-yard Jubilee Handicap.[116] Millard married twice, had 22 children, and died in 1939.[117][118] His great-grandson, Daniel Millard, won the Stawell Gift in 1997.[2]

Winners from scratch

Only two people have ever won the men's race running from scratch (0 m handicap):

Three women have won from scratch

Multiple winners

Three sprinters have won the race more than once:

  • Bill Howard (1966, 1967) (the only back-to-back winner);[11]
  • Barry Foley (1970, 1972);
  • Joshua Ross (2003, 2005).

Stawell Gift Olympians

Five Australian Olympians have won the Stawell Gift:

VFL winners

The following Gift winners also played senior VFL football:

Relocation

On a number of occasions there have been discussions about relocating the Stawell Gift for economic reasons.

On 14 February 2001, after much discussion about moving the event to Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, Premier Steve Bracks announced on ABC Local Radio that the Gift would be staying in Stawell and the State Government's $40,000 contribution would continue.[130]

On 14 July 2009, it was announced that Ballarat had offered the Stawell Athletic Club more than $1 million in cash and incentives, including a $20,000 grant to the Stawell Gift Hall of Fame, to relocate the Gift from Central Park in Stawell to Ballarat City Oval for five years. The Club released a statement through Secretary Ian Lawrie stating they were considering the offer but the "decision is, without question, the most difficult ever undertaken by the Committee of the Stawell Athletic Club". He said the club would investigate and exhaust all other options to ensure the survival of Australia's most famous footrace.[131]

On 16 September 2009 Victorian Premier John Brumby announced more than $300,000 State Government funding to keep the Stawell Gift in Stawell.[132]

Winners – Women's Stawell Gift

  • Race was 100m from 1989 to 2005, and over the traditional gift distance of 120m since 2006.
YearRunnerCity/TownCounty/State/TerritoryHandicap (m)Time (s)
1989Ruth TaylorSouth Australia8.511.55
1990Bernadette MarantelliVictoria8.7511.67
1991Sue CarrVictoria12.7511.52
1992Jodie O'DonellVictoria1311.39
1993Andrea BentonVictoria11.511.42
1994Karen ParkesVictoria10.511.21
1995Sue CarrVictoria1311.57
1996Kelly SimpsonSouth Australia1111.58
1997Melissa De JongVictoria4.7512.05
1998Narelle HarrisVictoria9.2511.70
1999Vanessa CowlingSouth Australia18.7511.51
2000Tamsyn LewisMelbourneVictoria511.70
2001Jennifer McGibbonVictoria411.76
2002Snezana IvisicVictoria911.67
2003Kimberley MeagherVictoria14.511.15
2004Rebecca FosterVictoria14.7511.57
2005Alison FairweatherNew South Wales1311.64
Women's race distance increased to 120m
2006Samantha BraileyVictoria14.514.25
2007Bronwyn AndersonVictoria10.514.03
2008Catherine BrennanVictoria4.7513.88
2009Trisha GreavesNew South Wales613.60
2010Jacqueline WattVictoria12.2514.06
2011Melissa HowardQueensland9.513.90
2012Melissa BreenCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryScratch13.95
2013Davina StraussNew South Wales1013.98
2014Holly DobbynVictoria11.513.13
2015Grace O'DwyerVictoria10.2513.40
2016Talia MartinVictoria1313.7
2017Liv RyanVictoria1113.74
2018Elizabeth Forsyth[108]Queensland713.69
2019Alexia LoizouVictoria13.0013.60
2020 – No Stawell Gift Carnival > (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021Hayley Orman[109]AdelaideSouth Australia9.7513.88
2022Carla Bull[110]Hervey BayQueensland613.77
2023Bella Pasquali[111]WangarattaVictoria7.2513.55
2024Chloe Mannix-Power[112]Gold CoastQueensland4.2513.42
2025Bree RizzoGold CoastQueenslandScratch13.52
2026Sha'Carri Richardson[133]Dallas, TexasUnited States of AmericaScratch13.15

Further reading

  • Watt, Gary (2008). Stawell Gift Almanac. 1st ed. Ringwood North, Vic.: Legacy Books. ISBN 978-0-9802897-5-6. OCLC 271793142
  • MacPherson, Murray Robert (2010). Twelve Seconds to Glory: the official history of the Stawell Athletic Club. Melbourne: Brolga. ISBN 978-1-921221-98-9. OCLC 450288523

Footnotes

  1. ^ History at official website, 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2020
  2. ^ "Stawell Gift: Top Ten Trivia". Official Website. Stawell Gift 2010. Archived 2011-05-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Town Talk". Geelong Advertiser. 27 March 1878. p. 2. Retrieved 24 July 2014. – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Australia's Stawell Gift cancelled for first time since WW2". Reuters. 27 May 2020.
  5. ^ "No Stawell Gift in 2020". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  6. ^ "1920 - MAN WHO WON THE STAWELL GIFT". The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954). 9 April 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  7. ^ "1937 - WORLD'S RICHEST ATHLETIC RACE". The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). 25 March 1937. p. 19. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  8. ^ "TV Broadcast – Stawell Gift". Stawell Athletic Club. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  9. ^ "ONE to deliver three hours of live Gift coverage on Easter Monday". Stawell Athletic Club. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Stawell Gift gets broadcasting boost". Australia: ABC News. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2021. ... the television network (ABC's Australia Network) will broadcast the finals live on Easter Monday into countries including China, India, Japan and Pakistan.
  11. ^ "Bill Howard's Stawell Gift, 1966". The Age. 15 April 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  12. ^ "Stawell Gift Results". Stawell Athletic Club. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  13. ^ Knox, Ken, "A Cumming to go one place better", The Age, (Monday, 15 April 1974), p.19.
  14. ^ "Ballarat looks to poach Stawell Gift". Australia: ABC News. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2021. The Stawell Athletic Club says it has received a $1.25 million offer from Ballarat to host the race for five years from next year.
  15. ^ "Ballarat withdraws Stawell Gift offer". Australia: ABC News. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2021. Victorian Premier John Brumby later signalled the race would stay in Stawell.
  16. ^ Brehaut, David (4 April 2010). "Stawell Gift: track distance error the worst mis-measure". Ballarat: The Courier. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  17. ^ Wales, Sean (7 February 2019). "Stawell Gift, Australia's richest footrace struggles to lure national sponsors". Ballarat: ABC Ballarat. Retrieved 18 February 2021. The prize pool for the men's and women's Stawell Gift last year was $40,000 for each race, with that going down by $15,000 for this year's event.
  18. ^ Wales, Sean (18 March 2020). "Coronavirus forces Stawell Gift to be put on hold putting Victorian businesses under unprecedented pressure". ABC Wimmera. Archived 18 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  19. ^ "STAWELL GIFT POWERED UP BY POWERCOR – Stawell Gift". Stawell Athletic Club. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  20. ^ Darling, Alexander (4 April 2021). "Stawell Gift makes triumphant return as Australia's richest footrace". ABC Wimmera. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Never Too Old". Sporting Globe. No. 674. 9 January 1929. p. 7 (Edition1). Retrieved 6 August 2016. – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "BOBBY KINNEAR DEAD". Sporting Globe. No. 1301. 16 January 1935. p. 10 (Edition2 : Cycling and Athletic Section). Retrieved 6 August 2016. – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "1885 – Stawell Sports". Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic. : 1882 – 1904). 15 April 1885. p. 3. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  24. ^ "1936 – SOLDIER & ATHLETE, Sgt. Walter Mummery, SERVED IN THREE WARS.". Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic). 23 September 1936. p. 1. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  25. ^ "1885 – STAWELL GIFT WINNER CLAIMS A UNIQUE RECORD". Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 – 1954). 27 April 1938. p. 1. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  26. ^ "1945 – OBITUARY MR. WALTER MUMMERY.". Myrtleford Times and Ovens Valley Advertiser (Vic. : 1930 – 1955). 18 July 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  27. ^ "1886 – STAWELL SPORTS.". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 – 1954). 30 April 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  28. ^ "1889 – Stawell Athletic Club". Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 – 1918). 23 April 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  29. ^ "1889 – Easter Monday Sports". The Tarrangower Times and Maldon, Newstead, Baringhup, Laancoorie and Muckleford Advertiser. 24 April 1889. p. 3. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  30. ^ "1906 - THE STAWELL MEETING.". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954). 21 April 1906. p. 18. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  31. ^ "1908 – STAWELL EASTER GIFT – WON BY CHRIS KING". Rutherglen Miner and Howlong and Wahgunyah Times (Vic. : 1903 – 1912). 22 April 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  32. ^ "1908 – Local & General". The Yackandandah Times (Vic. : 1890 – 1931). 23 April 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  33. ^ Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Jack King, who trained his brother, Chris King (1908), Clarrie Hearn (1929), Frank Bradley (1937), and Jack Hayes (1954): Stawell Gift To Hayes, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, (Tuesday, 20 April 1954), p.3.
  34. ^ The Stawell Gift: Burnie Man's Fine Win, North Western Advocate & the Emu Bay Times, (17 April 1909), p.3.
  35. ^ "1910 - The Stawell Carnival". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954). 1 April 1910. p. 6. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  36. ^ "1910 - Stawell Gift Winner". The Ararat Advertiser and Chronicle for the Stawell and Wimmera Districts (Vic. : 1885 - 1918). 1 April 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  37. ^ "1938 - Dancey, First Queenslander To Win Gift". Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954). 12 June 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  38. ^ "Tom Dancey profile". Monument Australia. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  39. ^ "1914 - STAWELL GIFT WINNER". Winner (Melbourne, Vic. : 1914 - 1917). 5 August 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  40. ^ "1919 - FAVORITE WINS "STAWELL GIFT" EVANS, TWOMEY AND ANCHEN SHOW GREAT PROMISE". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954). 26 April 1919. p. 20. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  41. ^ "1920 - MAN WHO WON THE STAWELL GIFT". The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954). 9 April 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  42. ^ "Stride" (24 April 1920). "1920 - PEDESTRINAISM STAWELL GIFT WINNER". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954). p. 21. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  43. ^ "1921 - Stawell Gift Winner". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954). 9 April 1921. p. 26. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  44. ^ "1922 - STAWELL EASTER GIFT". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 18 April 1922. p. 7. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  45. ^ "1922 - STAWELL ATHLETIC CARNIVAL". Lawloit Times (Kaniva, Vic. : 1910 - 1929). 25 April 1922. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
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  115. ^ Stawell, The Geelong Advertiser, (Tuesday, 23 April 1878), p.2; Notes, The Colac Herald, (Tuesday, 23 April 1878), p.3.
  116. ^ The Stawell Athletic Club Sports, The Bendigo Advertiser, (Tuesday, 23 April 1889), p.2.
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  119. ^ AFL Tables: George Stuckey
  120. ^ AFL Tables: Norman Clark
  121. ^ AFL Tables: Dave Strickland
  122. ^ Athletics, Kalgoorlie Western Argus, (Tuesday, 15 April 1902), p.38; AFL Tables: Alf Tredinnick.
  123. ^ Stawell Easter Gift, (Broken Hill) Barrier Miner, (Thursday, 16 April 1914), p.2; AFL Tables: Billy Robinson.
  124. ^ AFL Tables: Bill Twomey, Sr.
  125. ^ AFL Tables: Clarrie Hearn
  126. ^ AFL Tables: Ron McCann
  127. ^ AFL Tables: Jack Grant
  128. ^ AFL Tables: Lance Mann
  129. ^ "Tigers of all sports". 3 January 2015.
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  132. ^ "Premier announces funding for Stawell Gift". 15 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
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References