This collection contains a small selection of archives relating to skating and ice skating in Sydney.
Skating was a popular pastime in Sydney. There is evidence in City records of roller skating rinks at the Exhibition Building in Prince Alfred Park as early as 1870s. Other examples of 19th century roller skating rinks were at the Sydney Elite Skating Rink on Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills and the Darlinghurst Skating Rink on the corner of Forbes and Liverpool Streets. Two skating rinks operated near Prince Alfred Park: the Elite Skating Rink on Elizabeth Street and the Redfern Palace Skating rink at 185 Cleveland Street in the 1890s. The Grand Crystal Palace Skating rink was operating by 1890 at 89 York Street which later became the York Street Skating Rink.
The Trocadero in Newtown was purpose built for roller skating in the 1880s and one of about 25 skating rinks at the time. It shut in 1893 and was extensively renovated and reopened in 1903 as Williams Skating Rink and Music Hall.
Roller skating continued to be popular in the 20th century, peaking in the 1970s. For example, the Plaza cinema reopened as Maxy's disco roller rink in 1977.
Ice skating was also introduced into the local government area in the 20th century. The Glaciarium, an artificial ice skating rink was opened on George Street near Central Station in 1907, closing in 1955. It is widely believed to be the first indoor ice skating rink in NSW. A second rink known as the Ice Palais operated in the Hall of Industries at the old Sydney Showground from 1938 to 1951. An ice skating rink was built behind the pool at Prince Alfred Park in 1959 and was demolished in 1996/7.
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