Australia's racing suburbs

Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival is well under way and this weekend is Derby Day, where Flemington Racecourse is invaded by a sea of well-dressed people in traditional black and white.

While Melbourne is the nation’s focus for racing in spring, every capital city has its racing heartland.

These are the suburbs where you’re likely to hear the jump of the starter’s gate, the roar of the crowd and the legendary ‘thunder on the ground’.

1. Flemington, VIC

Flemington is a diverse, multicultural pocket, home to leafy streets and lively thoroughfares packed with laksa restaurants, Irish pubs and trundling trams.

Flemington residents are used to the heaving masses of racegoers during Spring Racing Carnival, but as the famous Flemington Racecourse is also home to numerous musical festivals, they also contend with hordes of music fans and the distant ‘doof doof’ of bands.

Flemington is undoubtedly full of action – and not just on the first Tuesday of November – but it also boasts a good clutch of schools, parks and beautiful period houses, making it a key destination for families.

2. Randwick, NSW

Flemington Racecourse may be the revered stomping ground of Melbourne Cup legends Rain Lover, Think Big and Makybe Diva but the Royal Randwick Racecourse has also played a key role in racing history.

Australia’s oldest racing track has been operating for more than 150 years and Tulloch Lodge, which skirts the grounds in neighbouring Kensington, has stabled many an immortal champion – including twice Melbourne Cup winner Peter Pan. Racing powerhouse Gai Waterhouse currently operates out of Tulloch Lodge, assuming the legacy left by trainer father Tommy J. Smith in 1994.

With its mix of modern townhouses, apartments and older homes, Randwick attracts a range of residents. Generations of families are joined by young couples and professionals who love the closeness to the city. A skip away from the University of New South Wales, hospitals and beautiful Sydney beaches, Randwick is convenience and comfort in every corner.

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3. Ascot, WA

In Perth, racing has its moment during the summer months, for the Ascot Summer Racing Carnival. The premiere event at Ascot Racecourse is the Perth Cup, held annually on New Year’s Day.

Northerly, Rogan Josh and Hay List are just a few of the champions to have hailed from Ascot racecourse. But famous geldings are not the only thing residents have to boast about. They have their million dollar estates and state-of-the-art sporting facilities, as well as a bike track along the Swan River which gets you to the city in under 30 minutes.

4. Glenorchy, TAS

Possibly one of the most picturesque racing venues in Australia, Elwick Racecourse in Glenorchy looks out across the Derwent River and Elwick Bay with Mount Wellington in the background. It was first leased by the Tasmanian Racing Club in 1874 and is now home to the Hobart Cup, Tasmania’s biggest race of the year.

House prices are a relative steal compared to racing suburbs in other states. The stakes of the Hobart Cup – $225,000 – could buy you a two-bedroom home in the bayside suburb.

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5. Fannie Bay, NT

Made from sand and treated oil as opposed to the traditional turf overlay, the racecourse in Fannie Bay is unique to Australia. It’s the only dirt track in operation on the provincial circuit and attracts some of the biggest names in racing every winter for the Darwin Cup.

Fannie Bay is home to some 2,000 residents, who add their numbers to the 20,000 or so visitors who turn out for the Darwin Cup Carnival every year. Buying in Fannie Bay isn’t cheap, with a median house price of over $1 million, but the Timor Sea sunsets speak for themselves…

6. Morphettville, SA

Home to South Australia’s largest racing club, the South Australian Jockey Club, Morphettville Racecourse also operates as a music and corporate events venue.

Morphettville houses a fairly even divide of older couples and ageing singles. Apart from being around the corner from the races, residents also love the nearby beaches, shopping centres and transport links that make Morphettville an easy place to live.

7. Ascot, QLD

The Brisbane Racing Club hosts events at Eagle Farm and Doomben racecourses, both in Ascot. The Brisbane Racing Carnival is held in May/June and turns out the cream of the racing crop from Australia and New Zealand.

Established in 1865, heritage-listed Eagle Farm has a hall of fame studded with the finest thoroughbreds in Australasia. Doomben was built several years later in the 1930s, and has since welcomed champions of international caliber, including Black Caviar.

The suburb is equally illustrious, with large Queenslander homes and poinciana trees lining the streets. Buying into Ascot comes with an air of prestige, being close to good schools, cafes and hilly parkland. Residents of Ascot take pride in their homes and gardens, and it shows in the streetscape and close-knit community feel.

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