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Produced and published by the School of Historical & Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne
Published July 2008
Published July 2008
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A game unique to Melbourne, Trugo was devised by workers in the Newport rail yards in the 1920s. A rubber 'ring', specially made to replicate the original railways' part, is placed on its edge on a mat and hit with a mallet, with the aim of rolling it between goal posts at the other end of the grass court. A catcher controls its flight. Male 'tunnelers' swing the mallet between their legs with their backs to the goal. Females swing the mallet to one side rather than between their legs. In 2004, 11 men's and five women's teams competed under the Victorian Trugo Association.