📍Albury NSW 2640, Australia
1942 – 1960“Margaret Smith was born in Albury, a country town on the Murray River on the border between New South Wales and Victoria, in July 1942, the youngest of four children of Lawrence Smith, a foreman at a local dairy, and Maud. The family lived in a modest home across the road from the Albury and Border Tennis Club, and there was little money for extras. She began at about eight, hitting a ball against a wall with an old fence paling, until a friend of her mother gave her an old racket. With the neighbourhood boys she would sneak into the tennis club over the road to play on its grass courts until they were chased away. As the only girl, she was made to stand at the net, and she developed quick reflexes and a fine volley. The club's coach and groundskeeper, Wal Rutter, noticed her talent, gave her membership and lessons, and encouraged her toughness and sportsmanship. She was tall and strong for her age, and played left-handed at first before switching to her right. At fifteen she left Albury for Melbourne to be coached by the former world number one Frank Sedgman, who put her through gruelling fitness training, running on sand dunes and lifting weights. In 1960, at seventeen, she won the first of her record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, and in 1970 she won all four majors in one calendar year. Melbourne Park's Margaret Court Arena is named after her. She later became a Christian minister in Perth.”
🗺️ Approximate location today
📍 Street view today