Despite two world wars and a pandemic in the 20^th century, the race survived and has grown in its stature and prestige.

And now, after a life-changing pandemic of our own, people from all over Australia will meet again in Stawell to watch a race that has stood the test of time.

In 2020, Central Park was hauntingly quiet, but a year on the storied venue will one again come to life with all the colour, noise and action that has made this event so famous.

Everything must start from somewhere and for the Stawell Gift, it was from truly humble beginnings.

The first race was run 1878 and was one by W. J. Millard of the small south-west farming township in Condah in a time of 12.75 seconds.

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His win came after initial tension between Stawell businessmen, who wanted to begin an annual Easter athletics competition and the town's miners who also ran their own races in October.

Eventually an agreement was arranged and the Stawell Athletics Club was born.

For the first event 24 (pounds) was the prize money for the winner, well short of today's major prizes.

The first races took place at the dusty Botanical Reserve on the outskirts of town, but as the event grew, the now famous Central Park was constructed and became the new site for the race from 1898 onwards.

In 1923 the first Stawell man claimed the win, with Jack Curran winning off nine yards in just 12 seconds.

Curran came from a sheep farming family in Stawell and when his dad passed away, he was left to provide for his widowed mother, two sisters and four brothers.

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In 1923, Curran gave up his work as a drover and trained for three months, enough to help him win the title and collect the much needed 130 (pound) prize.

Over the years winners have come from all over the world, some local and some from far away places.

In 1928 23 year-old Lynch Cooper travelled down from Jeparit to win the race and in 1960 Dimboola man William McCann also claimed his own slice of history.

The event also took on an international flavour when, in 1975, Jean-Louis Ravelomanantsoa became the first winner from scratch as he ran the full 120 metres in just 12 seconds.

There is no certain moment when this became "iconic" or "famous", that just happens over time and as people continue to do outstanding and amazing things.

And that is what is on the table in 2021, a chance for athletes to make their own history at the 139^th running of the Stawell Gift.

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