That's right Dan. But further, The Australian Open was also held in Perth. All five mainland capital cities hosted the tournament on a rotating basis.
The Australian Open was viewed as a Minor Major. It was still a Grand Slam but it ddn't have the importance in the players eyes (non-Australian players) as the other three Slams. In fact, under Ford, it was the only Grand Slam to have a naming rights sponsor, something very "improper" in the Tennis world. They have sinced dropped it.
Thus many big name overseas stars would regularly shun the tournament. Names such as McEnroe, Connors, Borg, Nastase wouldn't make the trip every year, if at all. Even Andre Agassi didn't start coming here until 1995. It has only been with the move to Flinders Park (the other name is cheap Kennett trash with no regard for history) and increased prizemoney to the level of the other slams that the players have paid more attention to it.
For the recrd White City still exists. It was named White City after a theme park in London of the same name. Before the Tennis Club, a theme park was located on the site. This was around the late 1800s early 1900s. The centre court still looks the same as the photo above. It is a bit like Kooyong now. Used for the Tennis Club members only (of course Kooyong has the Commbank International). It is an exclusive Tennis Club much the same as Kooyong is set in Sydney's leafy and rich eastern suburbs.
http://203.147.207.2/your_area/halls.asp says the club has 18 grass courts, 6 rebound ace courts and 6 synthetic grass courts.
It is a great complex. There were plans for Kerry Packer to buy the club lands north of the canal that runs right through the complex, and for hm to devlop the property with apartments. But I think resident backlashes killed that idea off. The council wouldn't approve.
I always liked the place. Very cosy and historical unlike the Homebush facility. But Homebush is growing on me and I do feel the Move away from Paddington was necssary. It isn't demolished. Don't put it in taht section if you guys do add it to the site
