Remembering Perth's hosting of the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

As Australia prepares to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, reader Mark Bertolini has highlighted the recent 55th anniversary of Perth's hosting of the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

Held from 22nd November to 1st December 1962, Bertolini writes "I think it’s important the Games are remembered (as) they were a great showcase for Perth.

"It showcased Perth to the world (and) when you look back it took considerable courage and initiative to bid for the seconnd largest sporting event in the world.

"Perth with a population less than 500,000 and the most isolated city in the world was largely devoid of sporting facilities and all we had going for us was a great climate."

Bertolini recalls that in 1956 Perth’s Lord Mayor Harry Howard made an aggressive bid for the 1962 Games as "he could see staging the games was an opportunity to create a regional identity, a community exercise in which Perth, prone to beingdeprecatory about itself, could find its true stature.

"This was a chance for Perth to shine, representing Australia in the eyes of the world .

"We rose to the challenge, by building the best sporting facilities in the world and then conducting the most successful games to date.

"The whole state was united with one purpose n showing the world what we could do and with so much pride."

The VIIth Commonwealth Games led to major infrastructure projects which, Bertolini adds "the city still enjoys today."

Perth's Commonwealth Games also marked the first time the event had featured an athletes' village.

Prior to the Perth Games, competitors had been housed in hotels or private homes, but the Western Australia Housing Commission decided to use the need for accommodation to develop a modern housing development.

In 1959, the City of Perth set aside 65 acres of land in City Beach for the athletes' village.

At the time City Beach was still largely bushland but after the Games the houses were sold and today the area is a densely populated suburb.

Reviewing the Games in 1962, James Coote of the London Daily Telegraph wrote "the VIIth Commonwealth Games have proved that it is possible for an area as basically devoid of sports interest as Perth to stage the second most important sports meeting in the world - and stage it successfully.

"Perth has shown that these Games will continue for years to come."

Images: A poster for the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth (top) and Perry Lakes Stadium, home of the Games' athletic events (below).

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