A LOT has happened in 50 years — the fall of the Berlin Wall, Star Wars, and a businessman-turned-reality TV star becoming US President.

One constant has been the Australian Open, which has started celebrations ahead of its 50th incarnation in January.

A golden jubilee is worth celebrating, so here’s our decade-by-decade look at Australia’s biggest and best tennis tournament.

The first Australian Open, in 1969, wasn’t even in Melbourne.

It was held at Milton, in Brisbane, instead.

And Bris Vegas turned up the heat, with an epic semi-final between Rod Laver and Tony Roche going to 22-20 in the second set — no tie-breaks back then — before Laver claimed victory in five.

But that’s not all.

Both players attempted to counter the 40C heat by putting wet cabbage leaves under their white floppy hats.

Just for a second, imagine dat schtank after a few hours slogging on court.

Anyone for dim sims?

1970S
Aussies dominated the decade that became iconic in Australian tennis, with a total of eight locals tasting singles glory at Kooyong.

Ken “Muscles” Rosewall was the first, and in real Shaun Burgoyne territory became the oldest Australian Open champ at 38 in 1972.

But it was a part-time window cleaner who caused the biggest of boilovers a few years later, with Mark Edmondson defeating a top-ranked Muscles and his deputy, John Newcombe, on his way to his first and only grand slam title.

It is not known whether bathing in and drinking Windex at each change of ends had any impact on his performance.

1980S
Every good run has to come to an end and, for Martina Navratilova, the hunt for 75 wins on the trot quickly drew to a close at Kooyong as the decks were shuffled in preparation for the tournament’s move.

We all know there are few worse jobs than moving house, but the shift from Kooyong to the now-iconic Melbourne Park precinct was simply monumental.

Attendances almost doubled in the first year, and players and spectators alike were left stunned by the $94 million beast that was then known as Flinders Park.

Pat Cash’s Wimbledon mullet, ‘80s trackie dacks and brick-sized mobile phones remained the same when the shift was made in 1988, but the tournament switched from grass to hard courts, and led the way as the first slam with a closing roof.

As Cash said after losing to Swede Mats Wilander in the 1988 final, it went from ugly duckling to beautiful swan.

1990S
Ah, the ‘90s.

As the game made its transition out of fluro active wear — keeping the sweat bands, though, naturally — it was met with the fiery anger of none other than John McEnroe.

Mac let loose in 1990, becoming the first player to be disqualified from a grand slam in almost 30 years in epic scenes.

A few years later, the new Australian Open precinct’s proximity to the Yarra River was put to the test by American winner Jim Courier — understood to be still receiving treatment for whatever incurable diseases were absorbed via osmosis — who took that famous running dive off the banks.

Better you than us, Jim.

Rod Laver Arena became the scene of a mini flood disaster in 1995 when a power outage caused the drainage system to fail, prompting doubles partners Natasha Zvereva and Gigi Fernandez to break into a little barefoot rain dance.

The Williams sisters stepped on to the scene with a bang and those beads, which cost Venus a point when they went astray on Rod Laver Arena in 1999.

“I didn’t think it was a very fair call,” she said at the time.

“I have not in the past been notorious for the beads falling out of my hair … I’ve never had such treatment before from any other umpire.”

2000S
If you were looking for sleep, the 2000s weren’t the time to get it.

From marathons, protesters and the emergence of Nick Kyrgios, this era has just about had it all.

Aussie Lleyton Hewitt tipped in a session reminiscent of the old Eve nightclub days, turning in at 4.33am in his third-round five-setter against Marcos Baghdatis in 2008.

Baghdatis’s penchant for Stalactites is well known, so it’s not entirely out of the question that he joined those leaving nightclubs at that point for a dawn souva.

We’ve all cried over spilt lamb and garlic sauce, but six-time Melbourne Park champion Roger Federer couldn’t keep the waterworks in check during his runners-up speech after falling to Rafael Nadal in a five-set final in 2009.

The love was real that day, my friends.

The Williams sisters’ dominance on the tour was mirrored in Melbourne, with Serena winning seven titles since 2000, including one over her sister in a stellar three-set battle in 2003. Nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry.

Imagine having the best seats at the 2019 Australian Open, previously used by the likes of Will Smith and Will Farrell.

For four lucky people, it could be a reality come January.

It’s just one of 12 once-in-a-lifetime prize packs on offer as part of Front Row Melbourne, an immersive year-long competition series giving you the chance to live like an A-lister.

Run by Visit Victoria, the national competition is now under way, offering exclusive, premium experiences to 12 of Melbourne’s most highly anticipated events taking place over the next year.

Entries are now open for the first three prize packs, including the VIP experience at the Australian Open Tennis Championships, which will see the winner and their guests awarded two on-court seats and two super row seats at the Women’s Final, access to the post-match press conference, a dining experience at renowned restaurant GAZI and a behind-the-scenes tour of Melbourne Park.

Exclusive prize packages for the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival are also open, in addition to a thrill-seeking experience at the 2019 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, straight from the pit lane.

With more prize packs to come, including tickets to the highly coveted stage production Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Broadway hit musical Come from Away and Kennedy Oaks Day, prize winners will be rubbing shoulders with Australia’s elite all year long.

All prizes include return flights for winners and their friends from any location in Australia – ensuring not a second of the action will be missed.