The History of the 1962 Commonwealth and Empire Games in Perth

This documentary tracks the metamorphosis of a remote and small city into a thriving metropolis, by using a sporting event as the catalyst.

In the early years Western Australia was the Cinderella state, and Perth resembled a small country town until the discovery of gold changed the physical nature of Perth city dramatically, with economic prosperity and an increase of population.
It was a time before Decimal Currency, women were banned from drinking in public bars. A time when the White Australia Policy was in force, and steam trains populated our railways, with trolley buses still in use.

Perhaps the most exciting events were the opening of the state’s first television station, followed soon after by the second.
In 1958, The City of Perth lodged an application with The Australian British Empire and Commonwealth Games Association to host the 7th Games in 1962. Yet prior to the Games, Perth had no world class sporting facilities.

Perth made some big promises to construct the required sporting structures to an international standard, as established by the Olympics, on time and on budget.
This was achieved and despite the temperature reaching 40 degrees Celsius on the day the Games were opened. Such that the scorching heat caused 50 bush-fires to rage in the metropolitan area, yet a crowd of 50,000 people attended, even though many collapsed owing to heat stoke.
The Games were an outstanding success, despite the many obstacles placed in its way.
This video not only covers the Games but also the changes in Perth since then, the alternate uses of the Perry Lakes Stadium, its demolition and replacement with residential, then the new Sporting facilities which have replaced it.

In conclusion, we pay tribute to the many broadcasting people who brought this spectacle to the viewing and listening audiences.

In particular, we wish to acknowledge the valuable information provided by Darcy Farrell, the inaugural News Editor at TVW Channel 7 and the late Arthur Povah, a key coordinator of this event from a broadcasting point of view. Mr Povah went on to become the State Manager of the ABC in Western Australia.

We thank the State Library of Western Australia, Channels Seven and Two in Perth, the National Film and Sound Archive, Pathe cinema newsreels of the day and the many anecdotes and images supplied by veteran broadcasters who lived the experience.

We make no claim to these resources, in particular the music which accompanied the newsreels.

Everything here is provided as a historical account of the times and ways of the era. It is thus supplied for educational and informational purposes.

This was an inFocus Presentation for the Pictures in Motion Film and Television Museum.

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