Save Albert Park (SAP) was formed in February 1994 following the announcement by the Victorian Government that a ten-year contract had been signed to stage Formula 1 car racing in Albert Park Reserve.

SAP maintained an active protest campaign involving rallies and demonstrations until 1999, when the focus changed to the dissemination of the real facts behind the claims issued by the state government and its agency the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

1993

17 December
Premier Kennett announces Grand Prix to be held in Albert Park Reserve.

1994

20 February
SAP formed at a meeting of residents.
24 February
First meeting of SAP committee.
March
First of SAP Working Groups (Lobby, Publicity and Information) established.
April
Councils of South Melbourne, St Kilda and Port Melbourne vote against holding the Grand Prix in Albert Park Reserve.
7 May
Richard Burke, Manager of Albert Park Reserve, resigns in protest.
15 May
10,000 rally in Albert Park Reserve to oppose the Grand Prix in the Park.
May
SAP Newsletter starts.
7 June
SAP Executive elected and a campaign office opened.
22 June
Elected Councils of Cities of South Melbourne, Port Melbourne and St Kilda replaced by State Government-appointed Commissioners.
10 July
10,000 attend rally addressed by Dr Bob Brown.
SAP seeks information about financial arrangements under FOI.
August
Doctor’s Group Health Report released. This focussed mainly on the event’s effect on hearing.
September
SAP Campaign Coordinator appointed.
18 September
Park Watch launched. This group monitored and reported on Grand Prix changes to the park.
Yellow ribbons adopted as a symbol of the campaign.
2 October
Park Action training commences.
9 October
Ring of Protest rally encircling Albert Park Lake.
October
Local residents’ Supreme Court challenge to Governor-in-Council order exempting the Grand Prix from the Environment Effects Act 1978.
18 October
Australian Grand Prix Act passes, exempting Grand Prix from Environment Effects Act amongst others.
24 October
SAP adopts Code of Non-Violent Conduct for park actions.
26 October
Demolition of Hellas Soccer Ground commences.
5 November
Daily vigil commences. Telephone Tree established.
7 November
16 months of park action commences. First of 675 arrests of park protesters.
15 November
Plans for Grand Prix track released, including permanent pit garages.
11 December
6,000 attend Reclaim the Park rally. Mass ribboning and breaching of fencing.
13 December
Chainsaw Tuesday. Over 400 trees removed by nine cutting teams. 71 arrests.
14 December
Mock funeral held in Aughtie Drive to mourn fallen trees.
16 December
800 SAP members and supporters attend special service at Wesley Uniting Church, Melbourne.

1995

January
Marginals Electorate Working Group set up (to become Outreach group in May 1996)
6-7 February
All-night blockade of trucks engaged in tree-felling and wood-chipping.
10 February
20,000 attend Victorians Under Threat rally in City Square.
20 March
Protests against compaction works and damage to local houses. 29 arrests.
26 March
200 SAP members rally in London’s Hyde Park near office of Bernie Ecclestone.
6 April
Victorian Trades Hall Council passes resolution condemning Government’s stance on Albert Park Reserve.
May
SAP establishes its initial website.
1 May
SAP ‘9 x 5 Art Exhibition’ with paintings donated by Arthur Boyd and other prominent artists.
24 May
Magistrate Couzens found that Grand Prix Act invalidly gazetted.
Charges for trespass against 97 defendants dismissed.
7 June
Australian Grand Prix Act amended to retrospectively make park actions unlawful. Government grants amnesty to 97 defendants.
July
SAP establishes contact with protest group at Monza Park, venue of Italian Grand Prix.
8 July
102 SAP protesters arrested in Pit Building.
30 September
SAP members burn Grand Prix flag outside Ecclestone’s London office.
15 October
Pit Buildings rally in park to launch the Parklands Code and SAP flag. Addressed by President of Australian Conservation Foundation and Ben Haber of Committee Against Motor Racing in Flushing Meadow-Corona Park, New York.
24 October
Jenni Chandler lodges writ claiming damages for slander and libel against Premier Kennett for his remarks linking SAP with tacks on the road on 22 October (MP&W People’s Day at the Park).
15 November
Transurban (City Link) announced as the Grand Prix sponsor. ‘The Grand Prix is now tarred with the City Link brush.’ – The Age
20 November
SAP ‘No Entry’ photographic record of the campaign by Nina Landis launched.
13 December
Arrest powers of the police in relation to the Australian Grand Prix Act found to be unlawful. Charges against three defendants dismissed.

1996

14 January
SAP makes submission to Rassaby Review of Section 18 of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992.
20 January
Day of Defiance. Approximately 500 entered the Park to challenge new regulations under the Grand Prix Act. 95 arrests.
24 February
74 protesters arrested playing games in pit straight area.
Total arrests now 620.
6 March
Daily vigil temporarily suspended after 488 consecutive days. Resumed immediately after race. Four SAP members unfurl a SAP banner in main grandstand.
10 March
3,000 march in protest outside the Grand Prix fence.
16 March
SAP supports election campaign of community-oriented local government candidates in the City of Port Phillip. Majority of new Port Phillip councillors opposed the Grand Prix in Albert Park Reserve.
24 April
City of Port Phillip Council voted to lease former Post Office Information Centre (previously used by Grand Prix Corporation) to SAP for a new office.
April
Victorian Police adopt new guidelines governing health and welfare of prisoners in transit as a result of complaints lodged by members of SAP about police van conditions while in custody on 8 July 1995. Subsequent Ombudsman’s Report critical of condition and use of van.
20 May
The Age reports information obtained under FOI that police had doubts about lawfulness of arrests under Grand Prix Act regulations in November 1994.
15 June
Qantas replaces Transurban as naming rights sponsor of Grand Prix. Boycott campaign commences.
14 July
SAP members occupy Pit Building to draw attention to lack of use four months after the Grand Prix.
21 July
SAP hosts delegates to the 28th Annual International Conference of the Community Development Society and invited to operate information booth at the Conference.
24 July
City of Port Phillip (CoPP) Council adopts policy calling for relocation of the Grand Prix from Albert Park Reserve to a more suitable venue.
7 September
Park Watch Report on dismantling program and post-race condition of the park released.
September
SAP delegation to Monza to maintain international profile and expand Qantas campaign.
12 September
Magistrate Couzens awards $47,830 in costs against police arising from successful defence of 95 members against charges of trespass in May 1995.
20 November
Protest held outside and inside Qantas Annual General Meeting.
16 December
SAP 3CR radio program commenced.
18 December
Protest actions against setup works for 1997 Grand Prix recommence.

1997

23 February
Hands Off Our Parks alliance of over 80 environmental and parkland groups holds rally in Carlton Gardens.
5 March
SAP protesters breach security to reach F1 crews in pit area.
March
SAP Lobby Group forwards detailed submission to all relevant ALP policy committees and commences a series of presentations to policy committee meetings.
30 May
SAP makes a submission and presentation to review by Public Accounts and Estimates Committee into the impact of commercial confidentiality on public accountability.
16 June
SAP submission to CoPP Open Space and Sports and Recreation Strategies gains positive recognition of negative impact of Grand Prix and importance of the Park.
20 June
Circular letter sent to all ALP branches on the Grand Prix and the Parklands Code.
27 October
More charges of trespass dismissed. Arrest under Regulation 21 found invalid.
9 November
1,000th day of the SAP daily vigil commemorated.

1998

15 January
Protest outside Australian Grand Prix Corporation office against tobacco advertising in parkland, with Smoking Kangaroo and Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, marks first protest action against 1998 race.
31 January
John Thwaites MP launches SAP 1997 Post Race Report.
February
Graeme Bannerman’s Built for Excitement, Not Safety report on park road/race-track design and vehicle accidents released.
19 February
Annual letter on impact of the Grand Prix on the park sent to all Formula One team chiefs.
25 February
Francis Grey’s audit of economic impact of 1996 Grand Prix, Grand Prixtensions, launched.
2-8 March
Week of protest actions including annual breach of security, Bad Taste Grand Prix Ball, SAP Supporting Local Traders bus, attendance count, and race-day protest.
March
Survey of 325 local businesses by SAP members finds 47% suffered drop in trade.
May
Charges against SAP member for releasing flare at March 1997 race-day protest dismissed.
23 May
SAP presents paper at PCOM forum on city planning and development.
June
Letter on financial and environmental costs of the Grand Prix sent to all ALP members.
June
SAP lodges objection against construction of Optus mobile phone tower and base station in Albert Park Reserve.
13 August
Parklands Defence Council launches the Parkland Principles with support of SAP.
September
Letters outlining SAP position on Grand Prix sent to 450 companies.
18-23 October
SAP submits anti-GP poster for display at 18th World Congress of Federation of International Parks and Recreation Administration at the Melbourne Convention Centre, and distributes information to delegates.
7 November
Fourth anniversary of daily vigil celebrated, attended by Mayor Dick Gross and Senator Lyn Allison.
November
SAP adopts additional objective: ‘To work to protect Albert Park from the impact of the Grand Prix and other inappropriate development and activities.’
November
Article on campaign submitted and published in New York-published journal Festival Management and Event Tourism: An International Journal.
15 December
Senator Lyn Alison launches 1998 Park Watch Post-Race Report outside office of Minister Marie Tehan.
December
SAP submission to draft Albert Park Traffic Management Implementation Plan points out safety and management problems arising from use of F1 circuit as park and commuter roads.

1999

February
Annual letter on impact of the Grand Prix on the park sent to all Formula One team chiefs and editors of all major British daily newspapers.
1-7 March
Week of protest actions including annual breach of security bus trips to country centres, SAP Supporting Local Traders bus, attendance count, and race-day mass silent vigil protest at Grand Prix gate 1.
4-7 March
150 members conduct comprehensive attendance count, which records on race day 20,000 fewer than offical figures. AGPC forced to reveal use of laser beam to estimate attendance numbers.
20 March
Carolyn Hutches, immediate past-President of SAP, elected to CoPP Council.
30 April
Daily vigil moved to Royal Park to help promote Saturday protest rally against Commonwealth Games stadiums.