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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 novelty event of European origin, waiters' races became a feature of local festivals including the Melbourne Fringe Festival, Lygon Street Festa and Lunar Festival in Victoria Street, Richmond. As early as 1961, 42 starters carrying trays of wine bottles and partly filled glasses competed in a Wine Waiters' Guineas during Moomba. Radio 3DB commentator Bill Collins called the quarter-mile (400 m) event in race fashion. From 1988 waiters racing with trays of coffee were the centrepiece of the Brunswick Street fringe celebration, with winners drawn from local cafés including Joe's Garage, Mario's, Baker's and the Black Cat.