1928 Australian Grand Prix

The race was originally to be held on Monday 26 March however rain forced postponement until Saturday 31 March.^[3] It was open to "light" cars of up to 2-litre capacity^[3] and it attracted 30 entries, of which 25 were accepted and 17 started.^[4]

Competing cars were classified into classes according to cylinder capacity:^[5]

• Class A: Cars up to 750cc^[5]
• Class B: Cars over 750cc and up to 1100cc^[5]
• Class C: Cars over 1100cc and up to 1500cc^[5]
• Class D: Cars over 1500cc and up to 2000cc^[5]

The event was conducted as two separate races, with the first held in the morning for Class B and D entries, and the second held in the afternoon, for Class A and C cars.^[3] The competitor setting the fastest time was to receive a £100 trophy donated by Charles Brown Kellow and would be regarded as "Champion of the Day".^[6] Trophies were also to be awarded for first and second places in each class and all other competitors who finished within the 2½ hour time limit would receive a Club award.^[6]

Only two cars completed the course without stopping.^[7] They were the Morris Cowley of J. O. McCutcheon and the Austin 12 of C. R. Dickason.^[7]

Although the 1928 race is recognised by Motorsport Australia as the first Australian Grand Prix,^[11] a dispute exists given that an event held in Goulburn, New South Wales in 1927 was actually advertised as a grand prix at the time.^[12] However the 1927 event was not a motor race but rather a series of elimination sprints.^[13]