History of Rowing in the ACT

Celebrating 60 years

8. Canberra Rowing Club

Canberra Rowing Club was established at Lawley House, Barton on 1 May 1964, by a group of experienced rowers who were central to the inception of the ACT Rowing Association and the union of boat race officials.

CRC first operated in the East Basin Pavilion (now the Boathouse Restaurant) before relocating to the Nissen Hut at Kingston (the Igloo) along with Burns Rowing Club, school rowing clubs and Canberra Women’s Rowing Club.

CRC enjoyed 12 April 1975 early success winning major championships in 1964-65. In 1972 we resolved to build a boatshed on Yarralumla Bay and on moved from the Igloo to Yarralumla Bay. In 1979 the Club celebrated its 15th anniversary and boatshed opening. In 1979 the Club won the first of many State championships - the NSW Youth IV Championship.

CRC worked hard to foster rowing in Canberra schools. In 1977 students from Canberra Girls Grammar School joined as junior members after training out of the CGS Rowing Shed previously. The school established a separate club in 1996 after nearly 20 years at CRC. In 1980 Marist College students joined as junior members, before establishing themselves as a separate club in 2010.

President David Butt led boathouse extensions that were opened in 1988, coinciding with the launch of our current racing colours of blue and yellow.

Competitive success in the 1980s included CRC athletes winning the 1985 NSW Junior Premiership – quite an achievement for a non-metropolitan club. Alison Chinn and Mark Kwiatkowski in particular not only contributed as coaches and competitors but instigated the Winter Time Trials and ran the event for 19 years.

Setting of the rowing unit of the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in 1982 drew rowers to Canberra who joined the club and lifted the standard of local competition. Bruce Hick joined in 1985 upon moving to Canberra from Rockhampton. During his stellar career he inspired many CRC crews and ACT rowing’s greatest moment - winning the 1997 King’s Cup.

In August 1988, CRC hosted the first rowing talent identification program in Australia overseen by coaches Paul Thompson and Peter Lanigan. The program identified one Olympic gold medallist (Megan Still), two world champions (Megan Still and Elizabeth Moller), a world junior championship silver medallist (Jason McFadyen) and many national champions. Canberra rowers within the ACT Academy of Sport have competed with great distinction, keeping our name prominent at the nationals and beyond.

Most recently, Cara Grzeskowiak’s efforts have enthralled Club members. These include setting the Women’s Winter Time Trial course record, victories in the 2023 Henley Women’s Regatta and, very recently, in the Canadian Henley Regatta in St Catherines. Cara’s ambition and thorough preparation in competition set a strong example for all Club competitors.

Although the Club has recorded many fine achievements over the 60 years of our operation, the focus is now squarely on the future as we face the challenge of replacing our boatshed with a modern training and community facility.

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Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:

Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
These contents of this history are copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. However given that the purpose of the history is to assist rowers and rowing clubs, written permission is not required for non-commercial usage by rowers and rowing clubs provided acknowledgement is made.

Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained in this work.