Perth Zoo hosted the 1909 Australasian Championships. The tournament was played on outdoor grass courts at the zoo in Perth, Western Australia, making it one of the most unusual venues in the Australian Open’s long history.
The championship was still a travelling Australasian event in this period. Before settling permanently in Melbourne, it moved among cities in Australia and New Zealand, including Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Christchurch. Suitable tennis facilities were not yet concentrated in one national venue.
The 1909 tournament ran from 16 to 25 October. Rodney Heath won the men’s singles title, while Australia’s travelling championship continued to function as a major regional competition rather than the globally established Australian Open of today.
Perth Zoo is often confused with Kings Park or the WACA Ground because all are prominent Perth landmarks associated with public recreation and sport. The zoo courts are nevertheless the precise answer: this was not merely a nearby Perth event, but a championship staged inside the zoo grounds.