The Port Kembla Billy Cart Derby began in 1940, with wooden carts flying down Wentworth Street. Kids would gather all kinds of materials to craft their carts with love.

From old fruit boxes, to carved out boat hulls, Wentworth Street saw many billy carts and racers throughout the years. 

While the derby began with a sense of the amateur, it quickly evolved into the sleeker race the crowds grew to love.

The carts ran the gamut; from handmade, hand painted and slightly rickety to polished bullets that would slice through the competition. 

The derby was broken up into four age divisions; seven to eleven years, eleven to sixteen, juniors and open. Racers could begin their careers at seven and not have to think about retiring for at least a few years. This was the case for Jim Manoliadis, a Port Kembla local, who raced several times and even won his division in 1987. 

“I didn’t think I was going to win. It was a bit of a shock because it was a brand-new billy cart.”

Each billy cart had to meet derby conditions, and each entrant’s vehicle was checked over before the commencement of the race. With only tires or bales of hay as barriers along the track, it was important to ensure the safety of drivers.  

“It was a single person car and had a certain weight. It had a maximum weight of 65 kilos, and it had a maximum length of 2150 millimetres [and] 1200 millimetres wide. It had to have brakes and good steering,” says Jim.

The annual event drew to a close in 1998, as the event’s owner didn’t wish to continue running it. However, there was a revival in 2012 to bring the community back together. It ran for a few more years but could not continue because of a lack of funds. 

“You need $100,000 to run that billy cart derby. $50,000 [in] donations and $50,000 in cash to pay for barriers, security, bathrooms. Nothing’s free.”

Even without the derby running annually, there is still a vibrant community in Port Kembla who look back fondly and appreciate the fun event. Wentworth Street itself continues to evolve and change, but many locals will forever look at the street as the scene of some of the greatest races of their time.