The Olympic flame was transported to Australia for the 1956 Games in a miner's lamp on board an aeroplane.

But before it reached the Melbourne opening ceremony it was embroiled in controversy thanks to several students protesting against the Nazi invention of the relay.

Barry Larkin presented Sydney mayor Pat Hills with a hoax torch made out of a wooden chair leg which was painted silver and had a plum pudding can on top that housed a pair of flaming underpants; he slipped away before the ruse was uncovered.

Future Olympian Ron Clarke lit the Olympic flame with the real torch several days later.