About this Event
Join us as for this informative presentation with Dr Marc Rerceretnam celebrating women's racing in NSW Sport Cycling, 1958-1980.
Background
Because of an arbitrary ban, women’s cycle racing in NSW remained stagnant for almost a century. While some independent events occurred, they were isolated and informal, with no state or national competitions. The NSW Amateur Cyclists Union was particularly strict in enforcing the ban.
By the 1940s and 50s, shifting community attitudes made the restriction increasingly untenable. In 1958, Sydney clubs including the Lidcombe‑Auburn Cycle Club (LACC) and St George Cycling Club openly defied the ban by establishing women’s track racing and training programs. The LACC sessions, held every Sunday at Lidcombe Oval, quickly gained popularity and attracted riders from clubs such as Dulwich Hill and Enfield‑Burwood.
From 1958 to the mid‑1960s, many women competed, including 21‑year‑old Margaret McLachlan from Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club. Despite her achievements, McLachlan was ignored by cycling authorities for 59 years. In December 2025, aged 81, she was finally inducted into the AusCycling Hall of Fame.
About the speaker
Marc Sebastian Rerceretnam is an independent researcher, a published author, social historian and trainer. He has a Ph.D. (Economic History) from Sydney University and is the author of the 2021 book, ‘A History of Immigrant Roman Catholics and Converts in Early Singapore 1832-1945’. The book was nominated for the Anthony Reid Prize in Southeast Asian Studies in 2022 and the National University of Singapore, Singapore History Prize in 2024.
He received a history grant from the Inner West Council in 2018 and again in 2024, a fellowship with Singapore’s National Library Board in 2019 and just completed a lecture for Singapore’s National Heritage Board (NHB) at the Asian Civilisations Museum in Feb 2025. In April 2025, he published the book 'Sydney's Cycling Communities 1820s to 2020s'. He lives in Sydney with his wife and three daughters.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Marrickville Library and Pavillion, 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville, Australia
AUD 0.00
