Canterbury Velodrome, located in Earlwood, is a cycling park and velodrome facility in Australia. It features a 250m long, international standard Baltic pine track, designed and built by renowned Australian track designer Ron Webb. Webb also built the Olympic cycling tracks in Seoul, Adelaide, Perth, Manchester, and Athens. The track at Canterbury Velodrome has a unique design, with a bank at an angle of 42 degrees and a straight section at a 12.
5-degree angle.
The velodrome, officially dedicated on 28 November 1999, played a significant role in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. It hosted six days of track cycling events during the Olympics, as well as Paralympic cycling. The velodrome's design is visually striking, resembling a giant cycling helmet when viewed from above, seamlessly blending into the sporting landscape at The Crest.
Covering a total area of approximately 11,000 square metres, or the equivalent of two rugby fields, the Canterbury Velodrome boasts permanent seating for 3,000 spectators. During the Olympics, it accommodated around 6,000 spectators each day. The velodrome's track has a lower infield to cater to other sports and events, such as indoor hockey and soccer.
The Canterbury Velodrome serves as a hub for all levels of cycling, including high-performance cycling, the coaching, and training of elite athletes, sports development, and club and school competitions and training. It is a versatile facility, offering opportunities for various sports and recreational activities. In addition to the velodrome itself, the venue includes barbecues, picnic areas, public toilets, and a sporting field.
Bookings for the velodrome can be made by clubs only through the Council's Recreation Team. Private bookings are not accepted. The Canterbury Velodrome is part of a larger array of sporting and recreational facilities in the area, including BMX and mountain biking facilities, the Bankstown Sporting Hall of Fame, basketball stadiums, Canterbury Golf Course, Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink, leisure and aquatic centres, netball courts, Sefton Golf Course, skate parks, and tennis courts. It is situated within The Crest Sporting Complex, offering visitors a range of options for physical activity and leisure.
Canterbury Velodrome serves as a testament to the passion for cycling in Earlwood and the greater Canterbury-Bankstown community. The City of Canterbury Bankstown recognises and respects the cultural heritage, beliefs, and relationship with the land of the Darug People, the traditional custodians of the area. They acknowledge the continuing importance of the First Peoples to their community.