Scroll To Top
australian rowers profiles and history

Edward Williams

Ballarat Rowing Club (VIC)

Thomas Colles wrote an essay on rowing in Victoria in 1860s which was included in John Lang's book The Victorian Oarsman and which included the following insights into Williams.

A noted Ballarat oarsman. Whenever his city was represented in big races, Ned Williams was to the fore for many years. He went on with rowing till comparatively late in life, but whenever he appeared at the starting post his opponents could count on ding dong work before the race was over.

He is credited as being a founder of rowing in Ballarat and a founder of the Ballarat Regatta. In the introduction to the Ballarat Regatta section in John Lang's The Victorian Oarsman, the following description appears:

The first regatta was held on 3rd February, 1802, on Lake Burrumbeet through the work chiefly of Messrs. R. McLaren, W. Clarke, and Edward Williams. This last-named gentleman has been described as the father of rowing in the Ballarat district. He was a native of Bristol, England, and commenced rowing in 1851. Throughout his connection with rowing in Victoria till the Corio Bay Regatta in 1873, Mr. Williams was a successful oarsman. 

Edward Williams in 1897

Known rowing record

1862 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Pair, bow - First

1863 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Pair, bow - First

1863 - Ballarat Regatta, Double Scull, stroke - First

1863 - Ballarat Regatta, Single Scull - First

1864 - Melbourne Regatta, Challenge Pairs, bow - first

1864 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Pair, stroke- First

1864 - Ballarat Regatta, Single Scull - First

1865 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First

1865 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Pair, bow - First

1865 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First

1865 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Pair, bow - First

1866 - Melbourne Regatta, Challenge Pairs, bow - first

1866 - Melbourne Regatta, Junior Gig for youths under 18 Years, three seat - First

1866 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First

1866 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First

1866 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Pair, bow - First

1867 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First

1867 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, two seat - First

1867 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First

1869 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First

1869 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Pair, stroke - First

1869 - Ballarat Regatta, Single Scull - First

1870 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First

1872 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First

1872 - Ballarat Regatta, Single Scull - First

1873 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First

1873 - Ballarat Regatta, Single Scull - First

1873 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Gig, stroke - First

1873 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Gig, stroke - First

One of Ned's Melbourne Regatta trophies
From the Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club collection

Andrew Guerin
January 2023

Website by Hope Stewart—Website Design & Management