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The loss by fire of the Frankston 1935 Jamboree Grandstand early on Wednesday,
13 February 2008 will sadden millions of Scouts from around the world. It was an object of significant historical importance to Scouting in Australia and has been visited by thousands of scouts from around the world. Many local Scouts have visited the site in the last few days to ponder the loss.
The Grandstand located at Frankston Park was one of two constructed in
1934 for the "Boy Scouts" Frankston Jamboree. The Jamboree was officially called the 1st Australian Pan-Pacific Jamboree & was held in Frankston (Victoria, Australia) between 27th December, 1934 and 13th January, 1935. This Jamboree was the first international gathering of Scouts outside Europe and the only Australian Jamboree attended by the founder of Scouting, Lord Robert Baden-Powell (affectionately known by all Scouting people as B-P). It was officially opened by the Governor General Of Australia, Sir Isaac Isaacs.
This small town Frankston - with a population of 3,000 - hosted the biggest event of its history. For the duration of the Jamboree, it was home to about 12,000 Scouts. By the conclusion of New Year's Day 62,000 visitors had passed through the gates. In addition, many thousands of invited guests - together with 12,000 Cubs, Guides and Brownies - had shared this unique experience.
The event, which was granted in acknowledgment of Melbourne's Centenary was "not only one of the most successful, but one of the most inspiring of all Centenary celebrations." (The Jamboree in Australia).
The Frankston Jamboree was attended by Scouts from all Australian states and the territories, together with Scouts from Belgium, Canada, Ceylon, England, Fiji, France, Holland - East Indies, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Java, Japan, Malaya, Nauru, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, United States of America, and Wales.
The "Grandstand" was originally located at the Jamboree in parkland near Jasper Terrace near what is now known as Jamboree Park. In the words of B-P, Chief Scout of the World, ..." There is a great arena which looks as though Nature had intended it for the job, a flat, circular plain surrounded by sloping hills. On these, grandstands have been erected for thousands of spectators, and loud-speakers have been set up so that all can hear what is going on and can listen to the speeches of the great men who come each day to review the boys and give them a word or two of cheer"...
The Jamboree was attended by local Scouts who made up what was known as Mornington County. Those attending came from 1st Frankston - 22, 2nd Frankston - 26, 3rd Frankston - 20, 1st Mornington - 11, 1st Somerville
- 11, 1st Tyabb - 9, 1st Dromana - 8, 1st Flinders - 6, 1st Hastings - 8, 2nd Hastings - 5 & 1st Cowes - 1.
The second of the two Grandstands was relocated to Samuel Sherlock Reserve in Cranbourne Road behind the Frankston TAFE. It too was burned down.
With the destruction of the famous Jamboree Grandstand the only remaining landmark of the 1935 Jamboree is Jambore Park which is in a secluded location at the end of The Heights, off The Spur (102C6) in South Frankston.
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