King of the Mountain

ABOUT THIS ITEM

Additional InformationThe annual footrace up the near vertical 439m Mt Cooroora has its origins in a wager made at the bar of the Railway Hotel in 1958. Bruce Samuels, a railway porter and local footballer, boasted that he had run up and down the mountain in under an hour and he was challenged to repeat this feat. He completed the run in 40 minutes, won £100, became a local legend, and earned the nickname ‘Hilary’ Samuels.

In 1959, 21 year old Brisbane man Barry Web saw the feat recorded on the wall of the hotel and took up the challenge, completing the run in under 25 minutes. Samuels was keen to reclaim his title and on 27 July 1959 the first King of the Mountain race was held. Five competitors entered the race and all achieved race times under 34 minutes. Frank Mainwaring was the winner with a time of 31 minutes 50 seconds. Samuels came in second.

The race became a regular event thereafter. In 1979 the Lions Club took over the organisation of the race and by the 1980s the event had grown into a full festival with novelty games including pig races, billy cart races and the World Thong Throwing Competition, results of which have been entered into the Guinness Book of Records. A Queen of the Mountain race was introduced for female competitors.

In 2022, the race course increased in length by 1 km due to the permanent closure of some tracks on the mountain by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. The event continues to attract runners from across the globe keen to test their speed and grit.

In March 2024 the event was cancelled with organisers saying the stricter conditions proposed would compromise the "essence" of the race.

The decision was "tough … and a weighty one", a statement from organisers read. "Through years of collaboration with QPWS, the committee has strived to strike a balance between preserving the environment and hosting a memorable race."

The organising committee thanked past competitors and the community for their support and said the race's legacy "would live on in their stories".
"The decision to end the event is a testament to our respect for the land and our commitment to upholding the integrity to the race experience," the statement read.

For more information see https://kingofthemountain.com.au/mountain-race-history/

Photograph

Aerial view Stan Topper park during the 'The King of the Mountain' carnival, Pomona, 1980s

Competitor and crowd, The King of the Mountain, Pomona, 1980s

Competitor, The King Of The Mountain, Pomona

Competitors and crowd, The King of the Mountain, Pomona, 1980s

Competitors and crowds, The King of the Mountain, Pomona, 1980s

Competitors and spectators, King of the Mountain, Reserve Street, Pomona, 1 September 1979

Competitors, The King Of The Mountain, Pomona

Crowds, The King of the Mountain, Pomona, 1980s

Finish line, King of the Mountain, Pomona, 1 September 1979

George Fewtrell crowned 'King of the Mountain' and Festival Queen and runners up, Festival of Waters Ball, Cooroy Memorial Hall, Cooroy, 1 September 1979

George Fewtrell crowned 'King of the Mountain', Festival of Waters Ball, Cooroy Memorial Hall, Cooroy, 1 September 1979

George Fewtrell, King of the Mountain with Festival Queen, Festival of Waters Ball, Cooroy Memorial Hall, Cooroy, 1 September 1979

Heritage Library Catalogue

Pomona King of the Mountain [poster]. Saturday & Sunday 25, 26 July, Two days of fun and excitement for everyone!

Pomona King of the Mountain [videorecording] 1998

People & Family

Ray Kelly

Oral History

Ray Kelly Oral History

Oral History Transcript

Ray Kelly Oral History - Transcript

IDENTIFIERS

Subject (Keywords)EventsFestivals

CONNECTIONS

LocalityPomonaPlaceMt CoorooraMenuTopic | CommunityLocation | Pomona