The photos showed the wide variety of sports teams which existed in ‘the good old days’, when the district boasted two Merredin football teams as well as Nukarni and Burracoppin.

The pictures showed Merredin even had a women’s cricket team at one stage, with some familiar local family names featuring in the team.

A photograph of the Merredin Olympic Swimming Pool’s opening day in 1955 showed hundreds of people crowding into the pool, while hundreds of spectators looked on.

Other pictures showcased the history of groups including the Nukarni and Merredin Hockey clubs, Merredin Swimming Club, Merredin Basketball Association, Merredin Netball Association and the Merredin Volunteer Fire Fighters Running Team.

Merredin Shire community development officer Donna Crook said viewing the photos was a great way to celebrate the Merredin district’s rich sporting heritage.

“Anyone who has played sport in the Merredin district or who has had friends or relatives who have played sport in the Merredin district should have been able to find a picture of themselves or someone they know in the display,” she said.