Western Athletics Club

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Western District Athletics Club was formed on the 20th February1929 at a meeting held in the Thebarton home of Mr C.V. Gibson and chaired by the then Mayor of Thebarton, Mr M Watson, who was to become the first Club President. . The members chose the club’s insignia of a white “W D” pierced by an arrow on a black back-ground. The first track & field competition conducted by the club was held at the oval of the Thebarton Primary School, in November 1929. The Western Women’s club was active from 1930, but officially established in 1942 and merged with the men’s athletic club in 1975, forming one of the oldest, largest and most successful athletic clubs in South Australia. Women members went on to build a proud tradition in the club, well emulating the men’s achievements in interclub, state and national competitions as well as producing some highly respected athletic administrators and officials. During the 1970’s, the club uniform was changed to a yellow top with a black insignia and braid with black shorts.

The club established its own ground in the parklands near West Terrace where the original ""tin shed"" was built, in a location close to the present clubrooms. In the gloomy days of the depression a number of other sportsmen joined the club to use the ground and its facilities where boxing and wrestling matches were regularly staged under the banner of Western Districts. In 1953 new clubrooms were built at Ellis Park entirely by voluntary club labour. In 2019 we moved into our new gym, which is part of the 3.4million dollar multi-purpose facility shared with the Comets Soccer Club. This was the same year that our club celebrated its 90th birthday.