Rob Roy Historic Hillclimb

Next date: Saturday, 29 March 2025 | 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM

Hillclimbing is one of the oldest motorsport speed disciplines, consisting of timed runs by a single car at a time. Awards are made for the fastest in each category with one reserved for the fastest outright on the day.

The championship rounds can attract up to 100 competitors driving a diverse range of vehicles from extreme specially-built championship cars through to production-built sports cars and sedans.

The venue is unique - it has a Council heritage overlay as it is believed to be the second oldest, purpose built, bitumen sealed hillclimb track in the world. It is certainly the oldest in Australia. It was the venue for the first Victorian and Australian hillclimb championships in 1938. Prior to the track's closure in 1962 after the disastrous bushfires, eight of the record holders had also been winners of Australian grand prixs.

In 1992 the MG Car Club of Victoria, after long discussions with Melbourne Water and the then Shire of Eltham, obtained an initial lease on the property. Almost immediately reconstruction started on resurrecting a faithful re-creation of the original venue and the first return to Rob Roy was held in February 1993. This resurrection could not have taken place without the support of the wider motorsport community together with a group named the friends of Rob Roy.

Huge support was received from two like-minded clubs being the Victorian Historic Racing Register and the Vintage Sports Car Club. These clubs promote their own individual events while the MG Car Club promotes the other various public events. The premier events are the Rob Roy Revival held in March (in its third year) and the historic and classic in November (up to its 33rd year). The venue is also used by the club for other non-hillclimb sporting and social events and is used for driver training of junior members through a group known as Youth on Wheels. As a consequence of a significant government grant in 2022, together with an injection of club funds, the venue underwent significant upgrades to both the track itself, internal roads and upgrades to enhance the spectator experience. Catering is provided at all events by volunteers from the MG Car Club except at the large November meeting, where catering has been provided for many years by members of the local Panton Hill CFA who receive all catering proceeds. Rob Roy is located a scenic drive 45km north east of the Melbourne CBD in the Shire of Nillumbik, just off the Eltham-Yarra Glen Road almost adjacent to the Sugarloaf Reservoir. All motoring clubs and enthusiasts are encouraged to support events at this iconic venue to ensure its continuation into the future, either as competitors or spectators.

Events are being held throughout 2025. Visit the Rob Roy Hillclimb website for details.