It's 1976 all over again!
The Victorian 50th anniversary rogaine

Content thanks to Neil Phillips

The folks at the VRA are holding their 48^th Victorian Rogaining Championships this year on the Tallarook plateau in northern Victoria. This is the very birthplace of the sport 50 years ago. It is a truly magnificent area for a rogaine.

Save the date:
25-26^th September 2026 (Friday – Saturday)

To commemorate the occasion perhaps we could turn this into a (NSW+ACT) vs Vic challenge since their trophies are very light and easy to carry.

Event entry details

Entries will open approximately 1 month before the rogaine.

The entry fees for the 6-hour, roving 15-hour and 24-hour are the same as follows:

By NSW standards these fees are an absolute bargain for a 24-hour rogaine!

The course setters have completed the initial setting of the course of 60-80 controls on private and public land. Vetting is now underway.

The course will provide challenges for the best rogainers but also give plenty of encouragement to beginners.

For the most up to date info wisit the VRA's Tallarook event page or if any questions email Grant Jeffrey grantj@rogainevic.org.au or Neil Phillips gneilphillips@gmail.com.

A little bit of history

Tallarook was the site for the first rogaine in 1976. The format was the now traditional 24-hour cross-country team navigation event. Its organisation was an alliance between the Surrey Thomas Rovers of Brighton and the newly formed Victorian Rogaining Association.

After 1976, rogaining events became a regular feature on the Victorian Rogaining Association calendar with 200-400 participants at rogaines in most months. Over the next decade the sport spread to every Australian state. Soon after the 1976 rogaine there was debate whether a special class for veterans over 40 should be introduced with some doubts about the potential interest (note the demographic in the photo above!). Today, rogaining caters for teenagers to octogenarians with classes for families, novices, under 23s, veterans, super vets, ultra vets, and even 'legends'.

From the late 1990s, rogaining went international with events and participants from over 30 countries. The pinnacle of competition is the World Rogaining Championships with the 20^th WRC to take place in South Australia, set for 16-17^th September 2027.

Map reproduction from the first rogaine: 1976