Imagine a place where skateboarding dreams were born, a concrete serpent winding through the Australian landscape. That place is the Albany Snake Run, and it's celebrating its 50th birthday! This isn't just about a skate park getting older; it's about recognizing a vital piece of skateboarding history, a place that helped shape the sport we know and love.
Located in a coastal community in Western Australia, the Albany Snake Run holds the distinction of being Australia's oldest skate park. But its significance extends far beyond national borders. It's also the second-oldest surviving skate park in the world! This makes it a living monument, a testament to the early days of skateboarding culture. But here's where it gets controversial... some might argue that its age alone doesn't guarantee its importance. What truly sets it apart?
The story of the Snake Run is one of community spirit and youthful determination. Back in the early 1970s, a group of local kids and teenagers, fueled by their passion for skateboarding, embarked on a mission: to create a dedicated space for their sport. They weren't just passive recipients; they were active participants, rolling up their sleeves and fundraising thousands of dollars.
Graham Macaulay, who was just starting high school at the time, recalls the skateboarding craze that swept through Albany. "Around about 74/75, it was just the start of a full-blown skateboard phase," he said. "Plenty of kids skateboarding around the roads and footpaths and driveways, but all those skateboarding areas had issues." These makeshift skateboarding spots were often unsafe or unsuitable, highlighting the need for a proper skate park.
With the support of Graham's father, Jim Macauly, and Albany Mayor Harold Smith, the young skateboarders set out to make their dream a reality. They organized various fundraising activities, including selling raffle tickets for a brand-new color television. "To incentivise some of the kids to go out and sell these raffle tickets, the two or three kids that could sell the most tickets were given a skateboard," Graham explained. Think about the dedication it took – underage kids going door-to-door, even venturing into hotels, all to raise money for their skate park! And this is the part most people miss... it wasn't just about the skateboarding, it was about learning valuable life skills like teamwork, perseverance, and community engagement.
Graham's brother, Steve Macaulay, remembers the group also selling fairy floss and drinks at community events. On one memorable occasion, they were even paid $300 by the council to inflate 1,000 helium balloons for the opening of the Brig Amity, a replica of a historic ship. Imagine the scene: a group of young skateboarders, buried in the "belly" of a ship replica, puffing away to make the event a success!
In total, the community raised $3,000 – a significant sum in the 1970s. This money was used to transform an old gravel quarry in the Albany suburb of Mount Clarence into the iconic Snake Run. The design of the park was heavily influenced by the skaters' other passion: surfing. "They tried to set it up to look more like a surf break," Steve Macaulay said. "The whole shape of it is inspired by a wave so that you could ride the wave either way, left or right." This wave-like design, mimicking the flow and rhythm of surfing, is what gives the Snake Run its unique character.
The park opened in February 1976 to massive crowds, instantly becoming the heart of the Albany skateboarding scene. "On the day, there was just a countless number of people here, and from there on, probably for the next two or three years, you couldn't move on the track," Graham recalled. "It was so popular, it was just the place to be." The Snake Run wasn't just a skate park; it was a social hub, a place where friendships were forged and memories were made.
Graham fondly remembers spending every spare moment at the skate park. "During phys ed [class], we would come down and have skateboarding as an option," he said. "Lunch times, after school, before school, weekends were just packed. We were just living this dream … we were all starting to learn to surf, and we had this skateboarding, surfing lifestyle, and it was just amazing to grow up here in the 70s and have this as a way of life." The Snake Run provided a sense of community, belonging, and purpose for these young skateboarders.
With a dedicated space to practice, the skaters' skills rapidly improved. "Originally, it was just go down and hang on and try and steer your way through, but then the kids got better at skating … someone always seemed to be able to break some new ground." The Albany Snake Run fostered a culture of innovation and progression.
In 1979, the skate park hosted Australia's first National Skating Championship, further solidifying its place in skateboarding history. Kus Rolf, now based in Albany, remembers traveling from Perth to try the Snake Run for the first time in 1998. "We thought we could skate pretty good, and then we got to this place and realised that it was way gnarlier than we had ever imagined, and way rougher," he said. The Snake Run wasn't just old; it was challenging, demanding respect from even the most experienced skaters.
Rolf, who is now the president and co-founder of the Albany Skateboard Society, emphasizes the park's unique design. "That's what makes this place so unique — it's a different shape … this is really lumpy and organic and fast and steep," he said. The combination of the surf-inspired design and the natural features of the old quarry create a skateboarding experience unlike any other.
The Albany Snake Run even inspired the design of early skate parks in the United States. While skate park design later shifted towards ramps and bowls in the 1980s, the Snake Run remains a testament to a different era, a different approach to skateboarding.
For Graham Macaulay, helping to create the skate park was an "amazing" experience. "We've been part of the journey, a stepping stone for a lot of other parks around the place," he said. "It seems to have morphed into a different type of skating nowadays, but who's to say it won't come back to this being the main type of skating in another 10/15/20 years?"
So, as the Albany Snake Run celebrates its 50th birthday, it's a reminder of the power of community, the passion of youth, and the enduring legacy of skateboarding. Do you think the Snake Run's unique design and historical significance are enough to warrant its continued preservation and celebration? Or should we focus on the evolution of skate park design and embrace the modern styles? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
