Get ready to ride through history! Geelong Sports Museum is proud to launch Soaring Eagles, Roaring Thunder: Geelong’s BMX Story, a collaboration with the Australian BMX Museum. The exhibition celebrates the vibrant culture of BMX—from its grassroots beginnings to world-class achievements. Opening Thursday 20 November 2025, this exhibition will engage, excite, and entertain visitors of all ages with historical insights and inspiring community stories.
A local legacy that took flight
The history of BMX racing in Geelong dates back to October 1980, when the Barwon Eagles BMX Club was formed after a group of locals attended a race at Lalor BMX Club featuring American Pro riders. Fired up with enthusiasm, they voted at the Historic Eagles Cycle Shop to create Geelong’s first BMX club.
By 1981, new clubs and tracks were popping up across the region, including Lara, Anglesea, Bellarine, and Corio. Bellarine BMX Club became a powerhouse, hosting numerous state-level events and, in 1997, the first-ever UCI BMX World Cup Round in Australia. Today, that legacy lives on through Geelong Thunder BMX Club, which continues to thrive as a family-friendly, inclusive club run by passionate volunteers.
Soaring Eagles, Roaring Thunder pays homage to the 1980s era with a bike and riding gear from Geelong’s former top pro-rider, Grant Williams. It celebrates next-generation success and recognises the outstanding achievements of the World Champion rider, Cameron Gatt. Visitors will learn about the creativity and culture of freestyle BMX, and how BMX and its community values inclusion and welcomes all.
Cameron Mitchell, Chair, Australian BMX Museum says, “the Geelong Sports Museum collaboration has given the Australian BMX Museum a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on Geelong’s incredible contribution to BMX in Australia. This region has produced World Champions, passionate administrators, talented pro riders, and even played host to major international events.
This showcase is really a celebration of the community spirit that has always powered BMX in Geelong — the dedicated people who have nurtured, supported, and grown the sport for decades. We’ve absolutely loved bringing this exhibition to life, and we hope visitors enjoy exploring it just as much as we’ve enjoyed creating it.”
Jessica Reid, Manager, Geelong Sports Museum says, “it has been fantastic to collaborate with the Australian BMX Museum and showcase what’s possible when we hand this gallery space over to a sport and its community. The exhibition is a wonderful example of how local stories come to life through partnerships and passion. We’re proud to also work alongside Geelong Thunder BMX Club, Tailwhips Coaching, and Geelong Stars to make this happen. Soaring Eagles, Roaring Thunder is a great reason to visit the museum over summer, whether it’s your first time or you’re coming back to see something new. Geelong Sports Museum continues to offer our visitors fresh, exciting and interactive exhibitions that hopefully inspire our future generation of stars and sport-lovers!”
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by Gartland and presented in partnership with Geelong Thunder BMX, Tailwhips Coaching, and Geelong Stars.
Soaring Eagles, Roaring Thunder: Geelong’s BMX Story
- Open: 20 November 2025 – August 2026
- Location: Geelong Sports Museum
- Exhibition tickets: included with Geelong Sports Museum admission – Adults $14.00, Child (5–15) $7.00, Concession $10.00 and Family $38.00. Group bookings welcome.
Visit https://www.geelongsportsmuseum.vic.gov.au/ for more information.
