On 20th January 1967, the five girls who won the Sun Herald's Meet the Yardbirds competition, met their idols. The winners (all girls) were Bev Jefferson, of Wetherill St., North Lidcombe, Wendy Malcolm, of Searl Rd., Cronulla, Janine Dunn, of Lyons St., Dover Heights, Ursula Joost, of Vale St., Cammeray & Beverley Dunbar, of Beaconsfield Ave., Concord. They all gathered at the Sharaton Hotel on Friday afternoon and were taken to the room where the Yardbirds were staying. A mad scramble for autographs and pictures followed while the girls chatted to the popsters. Mod gear was the main topic of conversation with the Yardbirds. Their dress styles were way out. Most of them had pants with the legs flared at the ankle, sailor suit style. One of them wore a medal, another a psychodelic disc. The styles were, the Yardbirds assured the girls, all the rage in London. But, the Yardbirds insisted, they were sensible, comfortable styles, and they probably would catch on here. The other main topic was the weather. The Yardbirds loved the climate here and said they were glad to escape the English winter. The girls were also given tickets for the next nights performance.
Also on the 20th, an interview with three members of the band - Keith, Jimmy and Jim (Chris was absent) was published in Psychedelic Honi Soit, the University of Sydney Student Representative Council magazine, dated The Ides of March, 1967. This obviously took place before the band had a chance to rehearse at the Sydney Stadium, perhaps on the afternoon of Friday 20 January or the following day.
On Saturday, 21 January 1967, the first shows were held at Sydney Stadium at 6pm and 8.45pm. The Big Show tour group of Roy Orbison, The Walker Brothers and the Yardbirds were supported in Sydney by Johnny Young, Jeff St. John and the Id and local Sydney band Phil Jones and the Unknown Blues. The Sydney Stadium was a large, octagonal tin shed at Rushcutters Bay which could accommodate up to 12,000 people. It had a central stage - a former boxing ring - with people seated all around. The Walker Brothers and Yardbirds both had problems with the sound system but still went over well. The big shock was Roy Orbison, the last act, who was seen as out of fashion at this stage in his career, but was note perfect. He sang Leah, In Dreams, all his hits with professional conviction. And easily won the crowd, upstaging everyone. The others couldn't control the sound on this vast revolving stage.
On the 22nd, Jimmy Page went to check out Phil Jones and the Unknown Blues at the Beethoven club, Sydney. Beethoven's was located on Taylor Square, Oxford Street, Sydney, in the middle of the city's Bohemian district.
On the 23rd the second shows were held at Sydney Stadium.