Not even Melbourne's unpredictable weather was expected to interfere with the opening ceremony of the 16th Olympic Games, reported The Canberra Times on this day in 1956.
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Melbourne Cricket Ground was to host over 100,000 people in a spectacular and colourful ceremony the following day, marking the beginning of the most important international event ever held in Australia.
All of Melbourne had shown up that night, ready for the celebrations the next day. The city was rife with traffic jams, with cars from all over Victoria packing the streets.
Melbourne saw its rowdiest evening in years as citizens buzzing with carnival spirit partied through the night.
While the Olympic torch had been carried through Victoria that day, painters, cleaners, technicians and others were putting the final touches on the stadium, marking the end of many years of work.
The stadium gates would open five hours before the ceremony started, where more than 400 sailors were to show 70,000 spectators to their seats.
The march past of the athletes was led by Greece, recognising the origin of the Olympic Games.
Australia, being the host country, was the final nation to enter the stadium.
