History of Rowing Victoria Inc

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The 1929 Wall Street Crash spun the world into the Great Depression. Australia was not immune from the impacts, and as an export orientated economy, it suffered in many ways more than most. Exports dried up, particularly wool and wheat, leading to many farmers being out of work. Industry ground to a halt leading to mass unemployment. The direct impacts of the downturn trickled down to every part of the economy. Unemployment hit 30% in the major cities like Melbourne. Gardens became a source of food both for family consumption and sale. Those who had produce or saleable items, sold them. Those who did not have such items, went door to door seeking work for food.  Your author recalls his grandparents explaining this period. My grandfather maintained modest paying employment albeit largely away from home. My grandmother did not have spare cash to give, but she had a large garden. In return for gardening and odd jobs, she fed a large number of people. 

The recovery was slow as it took a number of years for trade to be re-established, manufacturing to recommence and government projects to build up. The events of 1939 did not assist Victoria both with the commencement of WWII and the devastating and widespread Black Friday bushfires.

So as expected, rowing in Victoria was not insulated from the impacts of the Depression. Memberships dropped with members unable to afford the luxury of sport. Also, the 1931 Men's Interstate Championships cancelled as the State Associations could not justify the expense of sending crews to the Championships. The recovery of sport was long and difficult and further interrupted by WWII.

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1929-30

Given the challenging political and economic state of Australia and the wider world this year, rowing in Victoria remained strong and the outlook of its members positive. Some might say the state of global affairs, no matter how bleak, could take away from the Victorian joy of being crowned champions of the King’s Cup for the first time since 1912, on the Murray River at Mannum.

Victorious 1930 Victorian King's Cup eight at Mannum SA

The incredible manner in which victory was achieved made the occasion all the more special. Victoria led from the start, closely followed by Queensland and West Australia. At the half-mile mark they were comfortably enjoying a length from Queensland, and victory looked all but assured. The brave New South Wales crew had a different outcome in mind, and commenced a brilliant sustained run to reduce the Victorian advantage to but half a canvas 400 yards from the finish. The calibre of the Victorian crew was evident however in their expertly timed counterattack, and they pulled away over the final few strokes to claim glory with three feet to spare. This was the states first victory since the historic King’s Cup was became the trophy for the race.

The Victorian Rowing Association hosted a fantastic dinner to the winning crew at the Melbourne Town Hall in June, at which a representative gathering of 130 oarsmen attended. The crew was presented with the oars used in the race, inscribed with names of the crew and the Victorian shield. A copy of the 1930 Commemorative Dinner souvenircan be found through this link.

Regatta entries during the year produced record figures for number of competitors. Ballarat Regatta in March, created a record for an Australian Regatta with a tremendous 510 competitors, the Maiden Eights providing the magnificent spectacle of sixteen eights racing abreast.

Other highlights of the year included the construction of the Oarsmen’s Memorial Judge Box on the Upper Yarra course, which will serve as an additional memorial to oarsmen who lost their lives in the Great War.

Opening of the Oarsmen’s Memorial Judge Box on 15th November 1930

1931 

The 1931 season featured many positive aspects for Victorian Rowing, on account of a record number of competitors in regattas, highlighting the growing popularity of the sport in the state.

As there was no Interstate contest during the season, efforts were made to get the winning Victorian Champion Eight-Oared crew to compete in the New South Wales Championship Eights the following week. However, owing to inclement weather necessitating a week’s postponement of the Victorian Championship, this ambition was not realized.

Taking inspiration from the grand Head of the River Race rowed on the Thames in London, the Yarra Pennant race took fruition this season. The race, which was non-classifying, was rowed on the Yarra in September. Twenty one crews entered, and a Pennant was given for the fastest time of the day and an Honor Flag for the fastest time in each division of boats. Started at intervals of 30 seconds, the crews raced against the clock from Church Street Bridge to Princes Bridge, a distance of approximately two and a half miles. Melbourne Rowing Club won the event with the fastest time of 12 minutes and 12 seconds.

It was slightly unfortunate that a severe storm interfered with the race as a spectacle, but it was generally accepted that the innovative race was a distinct success.

1932

The community of Victorian Rowers could confidently boast the title of the premier rowing state in Australia this year, on account of their second successive victory in two years in the King’s Cup Regatta, a feat not accomplished by Victoria since 1905. Adding to the splendour of the achievement was the location at which the race was carried out, the Lower Yarra. 10,000 spectators lined the banks to watch Victoria battle it out with the New South Wales crew, from which they pulled away at the half way mark in the race following a magnificent effort. The Victorian crew won by a margin of three lengths, and the King’s Cup was presented to the Victorian stroke Alec W McLeish by Sir George Fairbairn on the balcony of the Melbourne Rowing Club. 

A parade of boats was held over the last half of the Henley course through Princes Bridge in the week leading up to the race, and was headed by the six Interstate crews and four Interstate scullers. It was undoubtedly a spectacle to behold on the Yarra.

Worth appreciating was the manner in which Boathouse Drive was utilized in order to accommodate for interstate crews. In leading up to the race, the rowing clubs of Richmond, Melbourne, Mercantile, Banks and Yarra Yarra graciously offered their facilities to accommodate the training demands of visiting crews.

1932 King's Cup Picnic at Ferny Creek at the property of Marcus Burke

The boathouses during the 1932 King's Cup

This season saw the introduction of the Victorian Open Lightweight Eight Championship, and was considered a resounding success on account of the nine entries received and high quality rowing witnessed. It was also decided to alter the distance of the One Mile Sculling Championship to 2000 metres, with the goal of conforming to the distance of the Olympic sculling race. Albert Park Rowing Club celebrated the winning of the Senior Premiership for the second year in succession, and Footscray City claimed the Junior Premiership.

The Preston Club requested at the 15th March 1932 meeting of the Ladies Association, and received permission to represent Victoria at the Women's Interstate Championships in Brisbane.² It appears that the support of that Association was limited to approval. The crew finished fourth.

1933

The Victorian Rowing Association in 1933 had to swallow the bitter pill of losing the title of premier rowing State of the Commonwealth, which they held proudly for two successive years, by virtue of losing the King’s Cup in a valiant battle against New South Wales. On the Brisbane River, New South Wales rowed the remarkably fast time of 14 minutes 30 seconds, putting into context the high standard of oarsmen at the event.

Domestically there was plenty of quality rowing and racing contests to be enjoyed. Thirteen crews competed in the Yarra Pennant Race that was held over a course of two miles in September and provided hearty competition for spectators to feast their eyes upon. The Victorian Rowing Association Regatta was particularly special this year. 

Messrs. W & A Gilbey Ltd presented a striking cup for the Senior Eights race. In addition, they offered to present replicas of the cup to each members of the winning crew. Richmond Rowing Club had the privilege of success in this first race for the “Gilbey Cup”, and received the trophy from Mr Collins at the official presentation.

Other highlights of the season include the erection of Ballarat City Rowing Club’s new clubhouse, and the construction of Power House Rowing Club at Albert Park Lake. Wendouree Rowing Club celebrated its Jubilee Year with a magnificent dinner, at which there was a large attendance of old members.

Preston Ladies again won the Victorian Champion Women's Four and also won the newly introduced Champion Pairs. The four was again selected to represent the State at the Interstate Championships where they won by 1/3 length after a tight race with the favoured NSW crew. The experience from their disappointment in 1932 obviously paid off. 

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

General

Until this year, the Victorian Ladies Rowing Association insisted that the winning Victorian Championship Four won the right to represent Victoria at the Interstate Championships. This was changed on the annual meeting of the VLRA and thenceforth, composite crews will could be selected to represent Victoria.^x  

VLRA office bearers for the ensuing year included:— President, Mrs. Rose Pyke; honorary secretary. Miss M. Drewett; honorary as sistant secretary. Miss M. Mason: honorary treasurer, Miss M. Jolly; correspondent, Miss Peters: delegates Y.W.C.A., Miss D. Healey and Mrs. T. Avent; Albert Park, Miss B. Dockrey and Mrs. Mitchell; Warrnambool, Mrs. D. Laird; Essendon, Misses M. Wilson, J. Doolan.^y

1939

Championship racing

The women's championships were conducted by the Victorian Ladies Rowing Association on the lower section of the Henley course on the Upper Yarra as usual. Also as usual, the championship fours were used as the selection event for the Interstate crew.

The Albert Park Ladies Rowing Club were the most successful club taking three of the four events on the program. This led Albert Park to also take the club premiership for the season. The championship pairs was won by Essendon easily from Albert Park.

The winning Albert Park Ladies crew comprised bow: J. Smith (bow) L. Fahey, Jess Manton, D. Pettiona (stroke), D Hassell (cox). A composite Victorian crew was selected to represent the State at the Interstate Championships and comprise bow: Jess Manton (Albert Park), 2: Nell Walsh (Essendon), 3: Merle Bennell (not known), Str: D Pettiona (Albert Park), Cox: R Pyke, Emerg: J Fahey, Cch: Mr E O'Brien. This crew went onto to win the Interstate Championship.

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Footnotes

1. Victorian Rowing Association annual reports
2. VICTORIAN LADIES' ROWING ASSOCIATION. (1932, March 16). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205093933
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x The Age, Wednesday 15th June, 1938, page 6. 

y WOMEN'S ROWING. (1938, June 15). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206958859

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