In the middle of 1850 steps began to be taken for establishing public games in the Port Phillip District similar to the popular Border Games that were held in Scotland. An initial meeting was held on Saturday, 15 June 1850 at the "Governor Arthur" Inn, Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. In attendance were - Messrs. John Brock, Dalmahoy Campbell, Disher, James Bowie Kirk, W. Lyall, J. Mills, James Purves, and Francis Stephen. The following preliminary arrangements were unanimously agreed upon:

1. That public athletic games, under the designation of the "Victorian Gymnastic Games" be established in Melbourne.
2. That the first meeting for competition be held at the race-course on the 12th day of August, 1850.
3. That the games to be then exhibited, with the amount of prizes and entrance fees, be set.
4. That prizes be awarded by the Stewards in their discretion, for the successful exhibition of any remarkable feat requiring the exercise of energy, agility, and skill, although not included in the preceeding list of performances.
5. That three refreshment booths be erected on the race-ground on the day of competition, the same to ballotted for, and that the successful parties each pay the sum of £3.
6. That such additional rules and arrangements may be subsequently made as circumstances shall require.
7. That Mr. Disher be requested to act as Secretary, and Mr. Henderson as Treasurer, and that all subscriptions shall be paid to the Treasurer.
8. That the following gentlemen be requested to act as Stewards, to regulate and superintend all measures deemed necessary for the successful exhibition of the games, and to award and distribute the several prizes:- His Worship the Mayor of Melbourne, Messrs. John Bell, J. Calvert, Colin Campbell, Hugh John Chambers, Mr. Erskine, T. Hamilton, James Bowie Kirk, W. Lyall, M. Lynch, J. Mills, John O'Shannassey, Francis Stephen, and J. Turnbull.

Another meeting of the Committee was held at the "Governor Arthur", Little Bourke- street, on Tuesday evening, 23 July 1850 to decide by ballot the licensed victuallers for booths at the race course during the games. Messrs. Disher, Erskine, Henderson, F. Stephen, and Wills, opened the business, and the following publicans were declared the successful candidates: - No.1, Mr. Dowling; No.2, Mr. Lynch; No.3, Ewen Tolmie and No.4, Mr. M'Cormack. It was proposed and carried, that Messrs. Erskine and Francis Stephen wait on his Honor the Superintendent to request that he will extend his patronage to the games, and also to solicit that Mrs. La Trobe will honor the public by distributing the prizes to the successful competitors. It was suggested by the publicans who obtained the booths that it would be necessary to obtain the sanction of the Bench, which Mr. Francis Stephen said he would do gratuitously.

The committee met again on Wednesday evening, 7 August 1850. Dalmahoy Campbell, Esq. was voted into the Chair. Surprise was expressed at the refusal of the Bench of magistrates to grant licenses, and after a sharp discussion, it was agreed to try the effect of another application to the Bench, requesting them to reconsider the matter. Accordingly, a renewed application was presented by Mr. Stephen to the Bench, composed of Charles Payne, Esq. (chairman) William Jacomb, James Simpson, James Smith, Evelyn Pitfield Shirley Sturt and William Thomas, Esqrs. and a stranger, whose name was not known; and, after deliberating upon it for a few minutes, it was announced by the chairman that the Bench could see no good reason for disturbing the decision previously arrived at. Mr. Simpson observed that the Bench could not entertain such an application. It would never do for the Bench to be occupied one day in reviewing the decision of a different Bench on a preceding day; besides, in the present case, he fully concurred in the decision of the Bench. Mr. Stephen, in support of the application, said that some of the magistrates who had formerly adjudicated in the matter were prepared to grant the present application, having been convinced that it would be in the interests of the public to allow spiritous liquors to be disposed of as refreshments at the games. Mr. Smith said, as one of the magistrates referred to by Mr. Stephen, he was still disposed to adhere to the decision in the matter that had been unanimously given by the Bench, and he believed they were mostly all willing to confirm that decision; and he would state, positively, that he had obtained the knowledge that some of the Stewards of the games were of the opinion that it would prove advantageous to the interests of the public to restrain the sale of spiritous liquors on the occasion. He did not apprehend that much inconvenience would be entailed either upon the public or the committee by the decision of the Bench, as persons going to the games from Melbourne could easily take a supply of refreshments with them. It should be borne in mind that the magistrates had offered no objection to the extension of confectioner's licences. The application was formally dismissed.

The Stewards were occupied the greater part of Saturday, 10 August 1850 in allotting, marking off, and properly securing the ground upon which the various feats of strength, skill, and agility were to be performed, and otherwise making such arrangements as they deemed necessary for giving a fair trial to the first experiment made of introducing a regular series of such manly sports and games to the colony. A covered platform was erected for the accomodation of such ladies as were desirous of witnessing the sports but felt reluctant to be mixed in the crowd surrounding the contested field.

On the day of the games the following Monday the Stewards commenced making the entries for the several games to be contested at half-past ten o'clock, and the sports commenced at eleven o'clock sharp. The weather was most favourable, and concurring circumstances gave promise of the sports passing off in the most creditable and satisfactory manner. The games excited fully as much, if not greater interest, than the Annual Races, and nearly as many were assembled on the Race Course at Flemington as on that occasion. The steamer "Diamond" was dressed in her best array, and was crowded with passengers, who were enlivened during the short river trip from Melbourne by Hoare's Brass Band.

The course presented a most animated scene. Numerous carriages filled by the elite drove up the course, accompanied by a goodly number of well mounted equestrians both male and female. The Mounted Police as well as a number of the civil force were on the ground, but were scarcely required to quell distrubance; but one "row" took place during the day, and the parties who had proceeded to display their fistic science were immediately taken into custody and marched off the course. The games were protracted to an unwonted length of time by the pressure of the mob upon the arena where the games were contested. The Stewards were kept on their legs during the whole of the day, and their united power, notwithstanding that they were armed with whips and sticks, were of no avail in keeping the arena clear. A stand was erected by Ewen Tolmie, for admission to which the charge of half a crown was made (the Press were admitted gratuitously) and with the exception of the view which was obtained by those who occupied the line of carriages drawn up along the ropes, this was the only situation on the ground from which a good sight of the sports could be obtained.

His Honor Superintendent Charles Joseph La Trobe was in attendance but Mrs. La Trobe was unable to be present. When the bugle sounded at eleven o'clock to prepare there must have been from five to six thousand persons on the course. A second bugle sounded and the games commenced.

As the day was by this time fast wearing to a close, the Stewards announced that the remainder of the prizes would be competed for on the following day. Some attempts were then made to get up a hack race, but the lateness of the hour prevented anything being done in this line, and the assemblage consequently dispersed homewards. Two steamers were in attendance, and were filled on their return to town.

In the course of the day, a very pretty fire balloon was sent up, which sailed out of sight in a few minutes. An accident occurred when Mr. Robinson, of Condell's brewery, in leaping his horse over the ropes was thrown and received several severe contusions. No limbs, however, were broken, and it was expected that he would soon recover. He was taken from the course and conveyed home by steamer.

The programme of the games as laid down by the Stewards, was continued the second day; and all things considered, a very fair sprinkling of visitors attended. An estimated 800 to 1,000 persons were present. Of course the line of road was not thronged so thickly as on the preceeding day, and by far the larger majority of the travellers were really sporting men. As the Stewards were rather behind time in reaching the course it was near noon when entrances were called for.

During the games a well contested pony race, between James Dunbell's Boiler, ridden by Johnny Dawson, and Ewen Tolmie's Budgera, ridden by Johnston, came off for £1 a side. The race was once around the course, and was won easily by Boiler, who came in nearly a distance ahead. Fault was found with Johnston's riding, and a second race was made between the parties. Boiler, ridden by Dawson, as before, and Budgera ridden by William Lang, the jockey. Boiler took this race also, but had his work to do, the pony being but a few yards in the rear.

After the games a number of follow-up matches were held amongst the contestants, including a match of quoits between Richard Sutcliffe and Charles Wood on Saturday, 17 August 1850.

At the Flemington Race Course on Monday, 26 August 1850 at 3 o'clock a foot race of 200 yards between Henry Manuel and Thomas Pinkerton was eventually run. At £10 a side it was easily won by Mr. Manuel in 22 seconds, beating his opponent by three or four yards. A pony race was then held for £10 between the ponies of Mr. Mills (of Flemington); Mr. F. Stephen and another. This race was won easily by Mr. Mills' pony.