Australasia at the 1908 Summer Olympics


Australasia was the name of a combined team from Australia and New Zealand that competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. It was the fourth appearance of Australia, which had not missed any edition of the Summer Olympic Games, and the first appearance of New Zealand. The two would compete together again as Australasia at the 1912 Summer Olympics before competing separately at every edition of the Summer Games since. In 1908 there were three New Zealanders, Harry Kerr, Henry St Aubyn Murray and Albert Rowland ; all other competitors were Australian. There were 30 competitors for Australasia who competed in 20 events in six sports. A further two competitors, who were to compete in tennis, did not play as their nominations failed to reach the organisers.

Medallists

Results by event

Athletics

Australasia's best athletics result, and only medal, was Harry Kerr's bronze medal in the 3500 metre walk.
EventPlaceAthleteHeight
Men's standing high jump19-23Ernest HutcheonUnknown

Boxing

Australasia had one boxer in 1908, the middleweight Snowy Baker. He took the silver medal, and was the only non-British boxer to win a bout.
Weight
class		PlaceBoxerRound
of 16		Quarter-
finals		Semi-
finals		Final
Middleweight
Up to 158 pounds		2ndSnowy BakerDefeated Dees
KO, 2nd round		Defeated William Childs
2-0 decision		Defeated Philo
KO, 1st round		Lost to Douglas
2-1 decision

Diving

Baker, the silver medal-winning middleweight boxer, also dove in the springboard event, placing 22nd of 23 overall.

Rugby

Australasia won the only rugby union match played in 1908 against Great Britain, earning the gold medal. The Australasian representative was the Australia national team.
EventPlacePlayersFinal
Men's rugby union1stPhil Carmichael, Charles Russell, Daniel Carroll, John Hickey, Francis Bede-Smith,
Chris McKivat, Arthur McCabe, Thomas Griffen, John "Jumbo" Barnett, Patrick McCue,
Sydney Middleton, Tom Richards, Malcolm McArthur, Charles McMurtrie, Bob Craig		Won vs.
Great Britain
32-3

Shooting

EventPlaceShooterScore
Men's stationary target small-bore rifle16thWilliam Hill354
Men's moving target small-bore rifle—William HillDid not finish
Men's disappearing target small-bore rifle18thWilliam Hill36

Swimming

Tennis

and Anthony Wilding were nominated for the Australasian team by the Australasian Lawn Tennis Association, but their nominations failed to reach the organisers. So the pair watched the "small, impoverished and out of place" Australasian contingent alongside the "tailored splendour" of some European teams. Although many leading tennis players bypassed the Olympic tournament and his goal had been Wimbledon, Wilding regretted the missed opportunity and endorsed his mother's summing up of the administrative bungling: "seems very careless of them & very annoying".