A Comprehensive History of Australian Rowing

January 2023

January 2023 was a busy month for the site with numerous additions. The focus this month were pioneers of the sport in Queensland and Victoria. Nearly 100 new rowing profiles were added in the month including more members of the famous early boatbuilding family of James Edwards. James Edwards was an early Melbourne boatbuilder whose business grew to national prominence in the nineteenth century and continued through into the twentieth century with the next generation. Prominent amongst the seven sons are champion professional sculler and the leader of the Edwards brothers, Robert Edwards, and coach Syd Edwards. Of varying rowing success were the other brothers, Charles Edwards, Herbert Edwards, Fred Edwards, Arthur Edwards, and Frank Edwards. A 1930s newspaper article is republished in the profile of the Edwards Family. Rower and Ballarat historian Kate Elliott has kindly volunteered to update the Ballarat Head of the Lake with the first 20 years completed. 2022 results continue to be added to the site including the National Championships, and plenty of other updates provided by readers included.

December 2022

There has been much undertaken since previous reports, specifically many new rower profiles have been added. The work of Steve Roll is highlighted as he has toiled away providing rower details with fully documented references to assist those who follow the present authors. Whilst many more profiles are yet to be added, over 1400 have now been published. 

Also, more items have been added to the on-line museum and the associated website, Australian Rowing Museum has images added daily. All these projects are progressing well.

October 2022

Again there has been much activity this month adding images to the partner site to this Australian Rowing History website, namely the Australian Rowing Images website. Whilst still under construction, there are already about 30,000 images already loaded with many more being added weekly.

Back to this website, more items have been added to the online museum this month including the commencement of adding copies of Australian Rowing Championship programs. This is a big but important project. These historic artefacts tell an important story and need to be made available to the Australian rowing public.

September 2022

There has been much activity this month with the launch of the partner site to this rowing history website, namely the Australian Rowing Images website. Whilst still under construction, there are plenty of images already available on the site with many more being added weekly.

Australian Rowing Images specialises in making available both historical and current rowing images to the rowing community. The collection includes the Hebfotos images from the Late Guy Hebblewhite and Cynthia Judd, collections provided by other rowing enthusiasts, older images free of copyright, and more recently the images from our team of photographers. The images are sorted by event, then year, and then generally in chronological order. Enjoy.

Back to this website, more items have been added to the online museum this month including the Interstate Championships Trophies and many other commemorative medallions and pins.

August 2022

Despite an absence of announcements, many interesting additions have been made:

• Much effort has been put into rower profiles this month with many interesting stories added.
  • Firstly more Olympic rower profiles
  • Sadly more profiles of rowers who have passed away
• The establishment of the on-line museum with the following initial exhibitions
  • 1919 King's Cup winners medallion
  • 1969 King's Cup 50th commemoration medallion
  • Interstate Championships medallions
  • 1926 publication - The Australian Oarsmen 
  • Henley on Yarra Challenge Cups
  • Claymore Trophy

February 2022

This month we see the following interesting additions:

• A short history of the Balmain Working Men's Rowing Club (later Enterprise Rowing Club) by Beverley Malone, the Balmain Rowing Club archivist. This club thrived pre WWI winning the NSW Champion Eights in 1913. Sadly a devastating fire destroyed the Club in 1917 and it never recovered.
• Much effort has been put into rower profiles this month with many interesting stories added.
  • Firstly the profiles of the 1972 and 1976 rowing Olympians have been added which include the very sad stories of selected Olympians Brian Denny and Ian McWhirter, Brian dying before the Games and Ian shortly thereafter. 
  • More great school coaches have been added this month with Lindsay Southcott from SA, Ian Luxford from QLD and Michael Morgan from NSW, all also involved with our Olympic rowing. Thanks to Colin Smith for Lindsay Southcott's profile.
  • Included in the interesting historical profiles is the Cazaly family, brothers James, Peter and John. We thank Kate Elliott for bringing these to light. They were leading lights in early Victorian rowing. James was regarded as the best oarsman and sculler by many of that time, and was also the father of Roy Cazaly of AFL fame.
  • Finally, a Rockhampton oarsman William D'Arcy who is regarded by Prof Geoff Blainey as one of the most influential men in the Middle East since Mohammed. Find out why.

January 2022

The New Year brings the following new items to the history.

• Peter Bond provides us with the last of his histories with the story of The Endeavour Rowing Club (NSW). This Hunter Valley club grew from the supporters of the Hunter Valley Grammar School and drew its name from the school motto, "Success through Endeavour". Enjoy finding out about rowing in the central districts of NSW.
• The World Under 19 Championships, the World Under 23 Championships and the Trans Tasman Series regattas have all been brought up to date with what occurred in 2020 and 2021.
• The rower profiles continue to grow to nearly 1300 with all Olympians up to and including 1968 now included. Amongst the many added are two legendary school coaches, Michael Morgan (Newington - NSW) and Don Macmillan (Scotch - VIC).

December 2021

December 2021 brings the following new items to the site.

• A new chapter has been added, Peter Bond's history of the NSW Central Districts Rowing Association. Thank you Peter for making this work available to the site and thank you Hope Stewart for the design work. The Central Districts Clubs are numerous in number and are a key part of NSW rowing.
• Rowing profiles continue to be added at a good rate and thank you to Kate Elliott for her continued stream of Ballarat City rower profiles. An interesting story added for Thomas Gilchrist, who had a small but important part in the federation of Australia. He was also a foundation member of Mercantile Rowing Club.
• Also, more Victorian APS Head of the River results and pages are regularly being added.
• Considerable updates to the Brisbane Schoolgirls Rowing Association regatta have been added. 

November 2021

Already in November the following new items have been added.

• Conversion of the World Junior Championships chapter over to the new site. Thank you to Hope Stewart, our web designer.
• A new chapter has been added, Peter Bond's history of the NSW Combined High School Championships together with results. Thank you Peter for making this work available to the site and thank you Hope Stewart for the design work.
• Yet more rower profiles added to make now 1250 completed. Continued thank you to Kate Elliott who has continued to provide Ballarat City rower profiles. New profiles are always sought and can be sent to the publisher at any time for publication.
• More work will continue in November on other chapters.

October 2021

More work continues during October and includes:

• Conversion of the Commonwealth Games chapter over to the new site. 
• Addition of the following short histories of Victorian rowing clubs: Dimboola, Horsham, Lake Colac and Yea Rowing Clubs.
• Yet more rower profiles added to the 1200 already published. Another 10,000 remain in various stages of completion. New profiles are always sought and can be sent to the author at any stage for publication. Kate Elliott is continuing to provide more Ballarat City Rowing Club profiles.
• 1924, 1944, 1947 and 1964 Ballarat Head of the Lake results, names and images
• Much work is being undertaken on the APS Head of the River which will become apparent shortly.