History

The Malvern Harriers Athletic was established in 1892 after several members of the Malvern Gymnastic and Athletics Club enjoyed a run together after gym practice. This soon evolved into organized cross country and hares & hound events throughout the local area. In 1994 Malvern Harriers amalgamated with the Malvern Glen Iris Women’s Athletic Club, which had formed in the 1920s.

Running Into History

Full details of the club’s history are available in our book Running Into History by Trevor Robbins, with the forward written by Australia's middle distance legend of the 1950's, John Landy. About the author: Trevor Robbins joined the Malvern Harriers in 1946. A life member and former president (1969-1973), he won numerous middle distance club track and cross country championships in the early and mid-1950s, was twice winner of the club Nim Gorrie road race handicap (1947 and 1981) and was club press officer in the late 1940s. He finished second in the Tasmanian 10,000m cross country championship in 1952 and later donated a perpetual trophy for the winner of the handicap section of the club 5 mile (now 8km) championship. John Landy writes: Running Into History is a fascinating account of an athletic club which has flourished for more than one hundred years. It has done so despite the uncertainties wrought by two world wars, several location changes and increasing competition to recruit members from a plethora of “new” sports, which have sprung up in the past twenty years. If you would like to purchase Running Into History, please contact the club.