ALBANY "ROUND THE HOUSES" RACE, THE FINISH LINE

Albany's "Round The House" car race was a 50 Mile T.T. Grand Prix (Tourist Trophy) event, billed as a first for Western Australia. A twenty lap car race on a 2 1/2 mile street circuit first run on Sunday the 8th of March 1936 and continued in Albany in subsequent years until 1940. The event was only part of a host of events held to revitalise 'Back to Albany Week' run by the Back to Albany committee to promote the town and bring in tourist dollars (pounds). The same circuit was the venue for a 100-mile cycling Grand Prix held the same week. Other motor racing events held at Back to Albany in 1936 were both car and motorcycle hill climbs on mount Clarence.

The 1936 debut of 'Round The Houses' was not without controversy with protests about the event made by local church leaders regarding the original Sunday date. This culminated in the then WA premier vowing the event would never be held again. A decision reversed almost as soon as it was made.