Koori Knockout: 50 years
Mondays to Thursdays, 9am to 8pm Fridays to Sundays, 9am to 5pm Wednesday 3 May to Sunday 27 August
Over 30,000 spectators. Countless sporting heroes. One tournament. Take a front row seat in this major celebration of First Nations sporting excellence.
In 1971 at the Clifton Hotel in Redfern, six young First Nations men created what is today the largest gathering of First Nations peoples in NSW — known as the Koori Knockout.
In 2022 more than 30,000 players and spectators arrived on the NSW South Coast to celebrate the Koori Knockout's 50th anniversary.
In this exhibition, follow the competition from those early days played at Camdenville Oval, St Peters with just seven men’s teams in the first Knockout, to becoming a fixture in the First Nations calendar and the biggest rugby league knockout carnival anywhere in the world.
See important memorabilia, and hear stories, oral histories and recordings from those who have helped shape the competition over the years. Experience the excitement and joy of game days with the State Library's collection of photos and see the amazing talent that is showcased — from young rising stars to football legends like Greg Inglis.
Join the celebrations as together with the Koori Knockout community we recognise and celebrate this important and enduring event in Australian sporting history.