From the start of European settlement gymnastics was part of the community. Prior to the gold rush period in the 1850s, the 1840s were a formative time for gymnastics. A number of newspaper articles refer to gymnastics when reporting various physical activities. On Monday 3 January 1842 the *Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser* (operating from 1839-1845) reported with gusto that at the *William's Town* (now Williamstown) *Grand Gala in commemoration of the new year* the 'Jumping in Sacks' races. The crowd had a roaring time including the first heat of the day - the 60-yard sack race - local young fanciers including Samuel Bloom, James Freeman, Henry Moffitt, and Issac Hussey all competed for the grand total of £1 prize. The report of the day noted: ***At the signal to start Broom took the lead, Hussey at the first jump, ingloriously fell, ploughing Mother Earth with his nose, and then exhibiting a series of gymnastics, to the surprise and delight of the gaping multitude, the finding it was "no go" his backers released him from the predicament in which he had incautiously placed himself. .... Broom kept on going towards the winning post.***

On Monday 25 August 1845 Monsieur E. C. Greene attempted to whip up a groundswell of enthusiasm for a gymnastics facility and wrote an article for The Melbourne Courier (1845-1846). He included a call to action to establish a gymnastics facility in the city. His article finished with the following words:

*\*\*To accomplish these various ends, Monsieur Greene, after several years of experience in every variety of Gymnastics Exercises, intends, in the course of the present to establish a Gymnasium, with all the necessary apparatus for Gymnastics and Equestrian exercises, where classes will be formed and effort to excite emulation of the pupils. To erect every particular part of the establishment, will cost a considerable sum of money he is therefore desirous of obtaining a sufficient number of subscribers at one guinea each, for the season.\*\**

More gymnastics activities were reported throughout the gold rush period of the 1850s. In 1855 '*Equestrian and Gymnastics Performances*' were promoted in the local papers at 'Astley's Amphitheatre' on Spring Street (current site of the Princess Theatre in Melbourne).

In May 1856 a number of advertisements appeared in the newspapers of the day promoting the Victoria Gymnastics Institute. This includes the note below that appeared in the Argus and the following quotes in the Courier - the ads say '*many an awkward form has acquired an elegant and easy bearing'*. The ads go on to say *'after only a few lessons the breast expands, the eyes become brighter, the step more classic and the voice clearer'*.

The Victorian Gymnastic Institute opened in Lonsdale Street in Melbourne in June 1856. A number of articles appeared in the newspapers of the day and in the same month the *'Melbourne Punch*', an illustrated magazine published a number of articles, including those below. The first illustration shows a wonky-looking gentleman going into the gymnastics facility and coming out looking healthy and refreshed. The second that appeared was related to 'Gymnastics for Ladies' showing a variety of activities including fencing, boxing, and lifting weights

History