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Secondly, it differentiatied
beachgoers into performers and audience, the later providing the macro-ecomonic
model for the surfing industry.
As the number of
surf-bathers grew, so did the beach-side audience and at Bondi and Manly
they were provided for by deck-chair hire franchises from about 1907.
Surf bathing is essentially
limited to wading and occassionally immersing in the surf zone.
Generally the surf-bather
retains contact with the sea bottom, and failure to do so can be fatal.
Experienced surfriders
consider the activity as either an essential first step, juvenile, unskilled,
unadventurous, or a potential courting situation.
The complex meterological
dynamics evident in the surf-zone require a significant level of dedicated
experience for a successful performance.
In this arena, almost
without exception, surf-bathers were "tourists" and the surf-shooters,
"locals".
In the first years
of the century,an important and influential sub-group developed within
the elite of experienced surf-shooters.
The inexperienced
surf-bather that was the focus of the embryonic life-saving movement,
Experienced swimmers
have saved the lives of the inexperienced since before recorded history,
possibly in a broader context as part of the Law of the Sea.
With the large numbers
of bathers and the possibility of rapid and extreme changes in surf conditions
on Sydney's beaches, it was readily recognised that when bathers were in
difficulty it was expedient to have a system in place to effetively complete
a rescue.
Early methods featured
the use of buoys, lines and boats.
From the first, the
formation of the Sydney surf lifesaving clubs was a convoluted mix of virtue
and self interest.
Above all, club
membership offered the potential for that rarest of terrestial resources,
beach front property.
Since it regularly
fell to the most experienced surfriders on the beach to attempt a rescue,
the formation of a club saw life saving skills improved and responsibility
expanded.
Social cohesion.
Social congress
Financial or political
Competitive.
Finally, Vigilance
and Service.
After the turn of
the century, Alick Wickham (see above) was credited with shaping the first
surfboard in Australia.
Hand carved from
a piece of driftwood found on Curl Curl beach, its performance capabilities
were limited by the fact that it sank.
- Maxwell:Surf
(1949) page 235.
- Greg McDonagh
in Pollard: Surfrider
(1964)
page 55.
This indicates that Wickham was probably either acquainted with hand or belly boards and/or had heard reports of full size (that is standing) boards from travellers to Hawaii.
In the 1890's residents
Manly and Bondi formed the All Day Surfing Movement, resulting in some
relaxation with bathing hours extended to 7.30 am at Manly.
- Thoms: Surfmovies
(2000) page 14
Before 1902, bathing
on open beaches was prohibited between 7.30 am and 6 pm but strong representation
from a growing group of enthusiasts at Bondi, Randwick Council passed by-laws
to allow daylight bathing in November 1902.
Other beach side
suburbs, e.g. Manly, passed similar bylaws.
Curby: History
of Manly (2001) pages
Note that many accounts
credit the lifting of bathing restrictions to William Gocher, editor of
the Manly and North Sydney News.
For example C. Bede
Maxwell reports that Gocher took up the cause and in November 1903, and
after an often facial campaign - he was finally arrested for illegal bathing
on his fourth much publicized attempt, he was successful in removing
bathing hour restrictions by Manly Council.
- Maxwell:Surf
(1949) pages 5 and 6.
Current research
by Pauline Curby indicates that the Goucher role may be less than
previously thought.
See the relevant
extract see Source Documents
Pauline Curby:
The
Myth of William Gocher
The upsurge in popularity
of surf bathing resulted in many tragedies (16 at Manly in 10 years), and
authorities and regular surfers were aware that the general public would
need to be either regulated or monitored.
This would be the
impetus for the formation of the Surf Life Saving movement.
The increase in surf
bathing numbers also saw some enthusiasts retreat from popular beaches,
for example Manly locals would 'escape' to Freshwater, originally pioneered
by Freddie Williams.
When the
"suburbanites
found 'Freshie' too .. We used to abuse the living daylights out of those
we brought in (rescued).
Put
them off coming back to 'Freshie' pretty often. Suited us!"
The first surf life-saving
demonstration was given by the Sly Brothers (George, Charlie, Tod,
Eddie, Joe and relative Neil Norgreen) ) at Manly Beach on 26th December
1903.
- Galton: Gladiators
of the Surf (1984) page 13.
The demonstration
featured 'rescues' using their fishing boat and Freddie Williams and other
local swimmers as the ‘victims’.
The boat was originally
a clinker built doubled whaler, converted to a tuck stern for laying nets,
and based at Fairy Bower (Shelly Beach).
Onlookers 'witnessed.
.. skilful exhibitions of shooting the breakers in their surfboat'
- a contemporary
press report quoted in Maxwell:Surf
(1949) page 21.
 |
 |
|
Lecek & Bosker: The Beach (1999) page 122. (Bettman Archives) |
Harris: Manly SLSC (1961) page 7 |
Metherell,
Terry: Ashburner Street, Manly: 1877 to 1932/33.
(Revised, October
2006.)
http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/downloaddocument.aspx?DocumentID=1725.
The Sly family
had a long association with Manly, with family members living at various
times at Little Manly, in Addison Road, at Fairy Bower and elsewhere.
The Slys provided
the first life-boat service to Manly’s South Steyne beach and could lay
claim to being Manly’s first, unofficial ‘life-savers’.
In 1900, Slys lived in Addison Road, near Smedley’s Point (Charles); Darley Road (Charles); Vivian Street (Charles junior and George); Stuart Street (John); and Whistler Street (William).
Metherell,
Terry: Darley Road, Manly: 1877 to 2000, page 6.
(February 2004.)
http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/downloaddocument.aspx?DocumentID=246.
 |
circa 1905-1910. Sporting
Life
|
At Bronte, local
surfers moved the fixed pole to the most populous section of the beach,
only to be condemned for vandalism by the press.
- Maxwell:Surf
(1949) page 24.
Walter V. H. Biddell
an enthusiastic supporter and organizer of surf life saving founded the
Bronte Life Saving Brigade in 1903.
- Galton: Gladiators
of the Surf (1984) page 12.
He also was responsible
for the invention of the Torpedo Buoy in 1902, the Surf King 1906
and a surf boat, the Albatross, circa 1907.
The Torpedo Buoy
was a kapok filled tube attached to a line, the rescuer swimming the appliance
to the victim. For a time this method was used as well as the cork filled
belt.
 |
Walter V. H Biddell's
Torpedo Buoy
circa 1902 - 6 Postcard format, the text reads... "AT ALARM"
Longhurst: Lifesaver (2000) page 9. Note :
|
|
Bronte Beach circa 1906 "A Perilous Rescue, The Start Out." 666. K & Co. Longhurst: Lifesaver
(2000)
|
 |
The formation of
the several Manly Swlmmlng Clubs, located at the baths on the harbourside,
had a long term impact.
The first club,
from 1893 to 1895, was initiated by Ralph Archibald Sennett, a highly skilled
swimmer, early lifesaver and an enthusiastic performer and promoter, who
manged the Manly Baths at this period.
Even when the club
formally folded in 1895, Sennett still managed to stage several carnivals
with a mixture of competitive events, lifesaving demonstrations, humorous
stunts and "fancy" swimming.
The Manly Penguins
Lifesaving Club, the Alma Marta Lifesaving Club and the Excellsior Swimming
Club
The similarly shortlived,
1899-1900, second club
On the world stage,
the club would be the home of Olympic Games swimmers such as Cecil Healy
(1912) and Andrew Boy Charlton (1924).
On the beachfront,
it was the centre from which the surf life saving clubs formed, with at
times members flowing from one to the other depending on personal convictions
and loyalties.
"The Manly Swimming
Club was formed as the outcome of a public meeting of residents, held in
Manly, 21st September, 1905, with the main object of producing a body of
athletes proficient in the art of natation and life-saving, whose knowledge
and ability would be of use on the Ocean Beach, where surf-bathing was
about that time leaping into popular favour, and attracting to Manly people
from near and far, many of whom had little or no knowledge of swimming.
and not much opportunity of gaining that knowledge in the surf."
- Marvellous
Manly in Australian Country Life (1911) page 23.
Circa 1905, Frank
and Charlie Bell attempt to ride "a narrow outhouse door" at Freshwater.
- Maxwell:Surf
(1949) page 235.
By this time bodysurfing
has become an established feature of beach life and is promoted on postcards
-
See example , above
: Shooting the
Breakers
The Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club was formed in February 1906, the first club house a tent in the dunes. It was followed by Bronte Surf Life Saving Brigade in May, and Manly Surf Club in September 1907.
The Bondi Club formed
a Lines and Tackle Committee under club captain, Lyster Ormsby and Major
John Bond (a Royal Australian Medical Corps officer and instructor) and
S. Fullwood (Honorary Secretary).
The committee immediately
recommended replacing the life buoy ring with a cork filled life-jacket
(sometimes known as the Ross Safety belt) and sought to improve the handling
of the lines.
Lyster Ormsby, with
Percy Flynn and Sig Fullwood, are credited as the inventors of the 'first'
life saving reel in 1906, initially a home made model from a cotton reel
and hair pins.
However it appears
some type of reel had already been in operation at Manly; W. H. Biddell
at Bronte used a crude reel attached to his Torpedo Buoy (see image above)
around this time, and a Mr. Stewart and a Mr. Phillip have claimed they
designed a reel for Tammarra pre 1906.
Mr. Olding, the
builder, has also claimed the credit for the design of the Bondi reel.
- Maxwell:Surf
(1949) pages 26-27.
John Bloomfield notes
the existence of primitive early reels consisting "of drums ... protruderances
on either side, designed to be held in the hands .. of the rescue team''
- Bloomfield:Know-How
in the Surf (1959) page 6.
A reel was constructed
by coach builders, Olding and Parker of Newcombe Street, Paddington; and
had its first trial at Bondi Beach on December 23, 1906.
The drill was formulated
by John Bond.
After some modification,
it was first used in the rescue of two boys on the 4th January 1907.
One of those rescued
was Charles Kingsford Smith, later to gain fame as an pioneer aviator.
The Bondi reel was
adopted by other clubs, but not all used the cork filled life-jacket.
Some clubs persisted
with the life buoy, while Biddell's Bronte Brigade first used the Torpedo
Buoy, and later a cork less life-jacket to assist swimming.
After the various
clubs associated in 1907, cork filled belts became standard for competition,
much to the chagrin of W. H... Biddell, and others who argued that
the buoyancy retarded the swimmer.
For the Australian
Surf Life Saving movement the reel was to become a centrepiece -
as an appliance, insignia and icon.
Discontinued from
modern rescue methods since the 1990's, the reel remains as the logo for
many Surf Life Saving Clubs and occupies centre stage in the March Past
(a competitive March by teams of life-savers carrying the reel).
The belt and reel
was responsible for many successful rescues, however its performance could
be unreliable. The length of extended rope was susceptible to weed or snagging,
and efficient operation required a well trained team, not always available
in emergency situations.
A number of lifesavers
lost their lives using the belt and reel, on one occassion durng competition.
The continued used
of this appliance for nearly 70 years is typical of a conservative approach
of the SLSA that persisted with the cork filled belt; ignored the Torpedo
Buoy (reintroduced from the USA in the 1950's and, successfully, in the
1990's), swim fins/flippers and the fibreglass Malibu board; and was slow
to replace surfboats with mechanical surfcraft.
 |
Illustrates the newly modified reel and cork filled vest. Compare this with the much cruder model in use with the Torpedo Buoy at Bronte, illustrated above. Margan &Finney: Surfing(1970) page 50. |
Town and Country
Journal July 15 1908: 'For Life Saving : Combined Method of
Resuscitation',
Images and
text related to the Bronte Junior Life Saving Brigade, using new developed
methods of resuscitation and the new torpedo buoys
Includes one image
of Biddell's surfboat, Albatross .
TORPEDO SURF BOAT
|
A four man surfboat with fore and aft buoyancy tanks. Left: Maxwell:Surf (1949) page 81 and below, a different shot with a line running out from the beach , and a dog in the shore break., Longhurst: Lifesaver (2000) page 54 |
 |
 |
a professional lifesaver employed by Manly Life Saving Society, gave lifesaving displays at Manly beach (c1907) (State Library of NSW)" Cardigan: Icon (2008) page 29. |
 |
Sporting
Life
|
The appointment of a paid professional failed to set a precedent in Australia (unlike America) and beach safety was essentially given over to the volunteer lifesaving movement for the next 60 years.
The various Sydney
clubs meet on 18th October 1907 to form The Surf Bathing Association of
New South Wales.
Representatives
from nine surf clubs/brigades were present (Manly, Bondi, Coogee,
Bronte, Bondi Surf and Social Club, Tamarama, Maroubra, Woollahra, United
Wanderers), and representatives from the Royal Life Saving Society
and the N.S.W.. Amateur Swimming Association.
- Galton: Gladiators(1984)
page 13.
The first Surf Carnival
was held on January 25th 1908 at Manly Beach.
Six clubs competed
and the first surfboat race, with various craft, was won by Little Coogee
(now Clovelly) in their whale boat.
These Carnivals
quickly become a popular method of revenue for the Live Saving Clubs, the
moneys from gate receipts used to purchase gear and improve facilities.
- Maxwell:Surf
(1949) pages 90 and 202-204.
Tamarama Carnival
attracted fifteen thousand spectators in February 1908.
Alexander
Hume Ford, founder of the Outrigger Canoe Club, Honolulu, visited Manly
in 1908 and reports
"I wanted
to try riding the waves on a surf-board, but it is forbidden"
- 'Australia
Through American eyes',
The Red Funnel, Dunedin, June
1 1908, page 468.
Quoted in - Thoms:
Surfmovies
(2000) page 22.
For selections from
Ford's article, see Source Documents:
1908 Alexander
Hume Ford : Beach Culture in Sydney,
Australia.
Circa 1908
'Fred Notting painted a brace of slabs and named them Honolulu Queen
and Fiji Flyer; gay they were to look at but they were not surfboards.'
- Maxwell:Surf
(1949) page 235.
Newcastle surf lifesaving historian, Chris Conrick writes:
Reports of
surfers using planks of wood on which to ride waves were not unknown at
this time, as evidenced in the following newspaper report in 1908.:-
"Board Riding
Noted on Town Beach -
Riders were
observed using 10 feet lumps of wood to ride the waves and in this there
appeared an element of danger."
[3] Coffs
Harbour Advocate 22-1-1908.
- Conrick: Northern
Lifesaver (1989) page 95.
Initially noted
by Dave Kelly contributing to realsurf.com.au forum, January 2008.
Without further information,
the Coffs Harbour report is unusual in not identifying the riders, as may
be expected if they were local residents.
If they were short-term
visitors to the area and were accompanied by their surfboards, then they
almost certainly arrived and departed in a coastal steamer.
They may be have
been Australian boardriders (possibly with a life saving club connection)
whose steamer had briefly berthed at Coffs on the way up or down the coast.
Far less likely,
but possible, they were international seamen travelling with their surfboards,
the obvious candidates, no doubt, of Hawaiian descent.
Unfotunately a search
of newspapers held by the State Library of NSW indicates the Coffs
Harbour Advocate was only published once a week and there is no
actual edition for 22 January 1908.
| In one of a series
of articles in The Referee preceding the 1939 Pacific Games in Honolulu,
Harry Hay wrote:
"What great strides this sport has made in Australia! A few years ago it was hardly known in this country. The Hawaiians introduced us to this exhilarating, thrilling pastime, and to these romantic tropical islanders is due our warmest thanks." - The Referee, 9 February 1939, page 15. In response, Manly
surfer, Tommy Walker wrote a letter to Hay that was published under the
heading
In a letter to Harry M. Hay, Australia's foremost swimmimg and surf coach.- Tommy Walker, one-time surfboard champion at Manly (N.S.W.), writes: "I saw an article
by you in 'The Referee' re surfboards, so enclose a photo of myself
and surfboard taken in 1909 at Manly (Image right).
|
 |
| Note that the claim
to be the first surfboard in Australia can only be attributed to the paper's
sub-editor, and not Tommy Walker.
This may, or may not, be the Hawaiian surfboard often claimed to be imported by Manly identity, C. D. Paterson, sometime between 1908 to 1912, see below. Walker's clain to
winning a surfboard shooting contest no doubt refers to the boardriding
performance of a Mr. Walker at the second Freshwater Life Saving
Carnival as reported by The Daily Telegraph, 27 January
1912, page 21.
Image right:
|
 |
|
Yamba Beach circa 1912. Image courtesy of Ray Moran, Manly Life Saving Club Australian Surfing Museum. |
 |
Australian National
Maritime Museum
GPO Box 5131
Sydney NSW
2001 Australia
Phone: +61 2 9298
3731
Facsimile:
+61 2 9298 3730
gsimpson@anmm.gov.au
Title
The 'Poltalloch' anchored in an unidentified harbour
Description
The four masted steel barque 'Potalloch',2254 tons, anchored in an unidentified
harbour.
Description
One of the ships owned by the Potter Brothers, London.
Description
This image is from the A.D. Edwardes Collection of about 8,000 photographs,
mostly of sailing ships from around the world, taken between about 1865
and 1920. Mounted in 91 albums, the photographs are arranged by country
of ownership, with some special volumes such as 'Shipping at Port Adelaide'
and 'South Australian outports'. Additional information, giving the history
of the ships where known, has been provided by maritime historian, Ron
Parsons.
Subject
Poltalloch (Ship)
Subject
Ships, Iron and steel
Image number
PRG 1373/5/88
Format
Photograph;, 15.9 cm x 20.8 cm
Managed by
Item held by the State Library of South Australia
Collection or series
Is part of the A.D. Edwardes Collection
Date or place
1900
Rights
Reproduction rights: State Library of South Australia
New Zealand Maritime
Index Vessel ID: 588881923
A four-masted steel barque built in 1893 by Workman, Clark & Co., Belfast. Dimensions: 86,66×12,80×7,41 meters [284'4"×42'0"×24'4"] and 2254 GRT and 2139 NRT. Rigged with royal sails above double top and topgallant sails.
1893 February
Launched at the shipyard of Workman, Clark & Co., Belfast, for Potter
Bros., London. Captain J. Connel.
1901
Stranded at the entrance to Willada, Shoalwater Harbor, WA.
1909
Sold to Eschen & Minor, Victoria, BC.
1916 January 2
Wrecked at St Patrick's Causeway, near Harlech, Wales, during towage from
Queenstown to Leith. http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Ships/Fourmast_ships/Catalogue.html
| Image right:
The Poltalloch off the Columbia River, circa 1913. Reference: ??? Gibbs, Jim
Pacific Square-Riggers, Pictorial History of the Great Windships of
Yesteryear
|
 |
During the 1920's Russell Henry 'Busty' Walker used a canoe to act as a judge at the buoys at Manly Surf Carnivals, one of the precedents to the adoption of the Harry Mclaren's surfski by Sydney surfers in the early 1930s. -Maxwell: Surf (1949) page 237.
At the end of the1930s
the surf ski made its first excursion outside Australian waters.
Reciprocating the
gift of the board left with them by Duke Kahanamoku in 1915:
“The
Walker Brothers sent a surf ski to Duke Kahanamoku at Honolulu and members
of the Australian Pacific Games Team which visited Honolulu in 1939 say
Duke was often seen paddling around on his ‘ski from Australia’.”
Curlewis, Adrian:
Notes
on surfboard riding prepared by S.L.S.A., circa 1948 pages 3-4.
In 1908, a purpose
built surf boat was provided by Manly Council for Manly Surf Club.
Based on the previously
used whaler design, double ended clinker built with oars Nos. 2 and 3 rowing
side-by-side on the centre thwart.
The designer is
unknown.
- Harris: Manly
SLSC (1961) page 44.
|
Crew : Stan Jones (sweep), Bill Kellman, Alf Bye, Alan Wright and Alec W. Watson. This photograph Newcastle
exhibition, March 5, 1910.
|
 |
| Amoungst the
many experimental life saving techniques and craft explored by the Bronte
Surf Life Saving Club, circa 1908 an elaborate system of signal flags was
trialed.
Beach scene below, signal man in detail, left. Longhurst: Lifesaver (2000) page 54  |
 |
|
Maxwell:Surf (1949)page 17. Centre is the current 1909 reel, At the front a pre -1906 hand held model. |
 |
West's Pictures (a
production and exhibition company) release the first newsreel of a surf
demonstration, Surf Sports at Manly in 1909.
Pathe Animated
Gazette
featured a demonstration in Parramatta River, Sydney, by Coogee Surf Life
Saving Club members, circa 1910.
- Thoms: Surfmovies
(2000) page 14.
It is impossible
to over estimate the impact of such media exposure in this era; the footage
would have been shown extensively around the country and possibly screened
several times at each venue.
In Western Australia
a club was formed at Cottesloe Beach, circa 1909.
On the East coast,
established clubs travelled for demonstrations to metropolitan beaches
and as far as Tweed Heads (East Coast Bondi Club).
- Galton: Gladiators
of the Surf (1984) page 13.
Alby Thoms reports
that C.D. Paterson of Manly brought the first known solid wood Hawaiian
Alaia to Australia in 1909 on returning from a world tour.
First unsuccessfully
tested at North Steyne, the board was eventually retired to the family
home at the Spit to be used as a ironing board.
- Thoms: Surfmovies
(2000) page 20.
Chris Conrick implies the board was obtained by Paterson as a gift:
According to
Surf Life Saving Assoc. records, the first Hawaiian surfboard to find its
way to Australia was by way of a gift to Mr C.D. Paterson, the president
of the association in 1909.
-Conrick: Northern
Lifesaver (1989) page 95.
Initially noted
by Dave Kelly contributing to realsurf.com.au forum, January 2008.
Despite considerable efforts by Ray Moran and Ray Peterson at the Australian Surf Museum and Manly L.S.C., the reported Life Saving Association records detailing the arrival of Paterson's board are yet to be located.
Note that several
other commentators date this board as 1912, see below.
This board is said
to be currently held by the Australian Surf Museum,
Manly.
"At a Special
General Meeting on the 17th November, 1911 it was decided to purchase a
surf life boat, the cost of which was to be limited to fifty pounds.
Also a shelter
shed for the boat to be constructed, and a set of parallel bars. A lookout
was to be acquired, to cost no more than two pounds."
- S&G Champion:Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 131.
Shortly afterwards
Warringah Shire Council received a complaint concerning the use of surfboards
at Freshwater.
The matter
was referred to the police, with a request that action be taken, as the
use of boards in the breakers was considered dangerous, and should be prohibited.
93. Daily
Telegraph 3 November 1910.
- S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 131.
Preparations
had been made for the 1910-11 surfing season on Sydney's northern beaches.
...
A warning
was given to bathers against the use of surfboards at Freshwater.
108. Daily
Telegraph 3 November 1910.
- S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 133.
The fourth
carnival of the Manly Surf Club was held on Saturday afternoon, 1 April
1911.
...
Mr. Fred Notting
gave a clever exhibition of surf-shooting in 'The Big Risk' canoe.
154. Daily
Telegraph 3 April 1911, Manly Surf Carnival programme 1911.
- S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 144.
The North Steyne
Club forwared for confirmation to the Surf Bathing Association a programme
for the club's annual carnival.
Fifteen life
saving clubs would be represented, and an exhibition of surf-shooting given
by Mr. L. Bouffett, of Norfolk Island.
48. Sydney
Morning Herald 1 December 1911.
- S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 159.
Mr L. Bouffett was
probably a decendant of John Buffett who arrived on Pitcairn Island
in December, 1823 on the British whaler, Cyrus.
The Pitcairn islanders,
largely decenced from Bounty mutineers and Tahitian women, were
renowned surfriders.
See Ramsay:Pitcairn
Island (1821).
In 1911, Percy
Hunter, Director N.S.W. Govenment Tourist Bureau (Challis House, Sydney),
1911
Although the article
is essentially a tourist promotion for Australian ski resorts, in comparing
the sport with surfboard riding, Hunter provides significant information
on Australian surfing.
Notably "we
now have a board or two at Manly beach" (page 12).
It is highly probable
that these boards were those ridden by Tommy Walker and his relatives at
Manly, circa 1909.
The current Director
N.S.W. Govenment Tourist Bureau and an enthusiastic skier, he indicates
a knowledge surfboard riding acquired when visiting Hawaiia as a tourist
sometime before 1911.
Clearly he was not
the only Australian visitor to be exposed to the thrills of Hawaiian surfboard
riding.
Riding is in the
standing position for both sports:
"as the surfrider
balances on a single board or runner, while coming down the side of Kosciusko
we balance on a pair of runners or skis"(page 11).
In a comparision with snow skis, the article implies the surfboard dimensions are substantial, " 7 feet 6 inches to 9 feet in length" and "five times ... 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches wide" (approximately 20 inches, page 11)
The report is one of the few independent sources not directly from the surf life saving movement.
Hunter, Percy:
July
Skiing in Australia
Mid Pacific Magazine,
January 1911, pages 11-15.
This article kindly
provided by Craig Baird (Surfworld, Torquay) in August 2009, who
noted it "came to me via Dr. Garry Osmond (University of Queensland)
after
I had forwarded a Surfers Journal Article about Alexander Hume Ford (that)
mentioned Percy Hunter's articles."
Shooting the
breakers was a favourite pastime with many surf bathers, but it had its
dangerous side.
On the various
beaches youths might be seen swimming out with surfboards about a foot
in length, and plunging headlong among the swimmers, to the danger of children
and women.
The Manly
Council's officers were strict in regard to the use of surfboards, and
generally offenders were cautioned and requested to move to a safe distance
from the bathers.
Many people
thought that surfboards should be forbidden on the main beaches.
Without boards,
a careless surf shooter could inflict a severe bump upon a bather, while
the risk was increased if the shooter ripped through the water with a piece
of wood in front of him.
54. Daily
Telegraph 19 January 1912.
- S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 160.
The Telegraph report
of the Freshwater club’s second annual carnival on the 26th January 1912
stated:
"A clever exhibition
of surf board shooting was given by Mr. Walker, of the Manly Seagulls Surf
Club.
With his Hawaiian
surf board he drew much applause for his clever feats, coming in on the
breaker standing balanced on his feet or his head."
- The Telegraph,
27th January 1912, page 21.
"A momentous day
in the life of the Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club and
most rertainly in the Illawarra Branch and the S.L.S.A. itself, occurred
on Saturday, 17th February, 1912.
This was the
occasion of the official launching of the club's first surf boat, the first
in the Illawarra Branch and one of the few then in existence in the whole
of the Surf Life Saving movement.
Local Council
Officers, two representatives from the Illawarra Branch, two each from
the Coogee and Manly surf clubs attended the launching.
The boat was
christened the "Grace Darling", (described later in this history). The
crew of the boat was Messrs. C. Hillier (Captain), W. Johnstone, D. Duncombe,
J. C. Smith and J. Stewart.
...
In 1912, a team
of Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Club members competed in a display at
Manly, each member being obliged to pay his own expenses of rail and ferry
fares, plus carnival entry fees."
 |
Thorn:
|
Ordinance
No. 52 under the Local Government Act, on public baths and bathing, was
gazetted on 27 march 1912.
Regulations
which had been in operation in respect of public baths, were extended to
cover beaches and river bathing, and dressing facilities.
In addition,
a new regulation provided for an inspector to order bathers to refrain
from surf shooting, whether with or without a surfboard, where the practice
was likely to endanger or inconvenience other bathers.
86. NSW Government
Gazette 27 March 1912, Sydney Morning Herald 29 March 1912.
- S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 167.
A successful
surf carnival was held at North Steyne, Manly on Saturday afternoon, 28
December 1912.
The display
was witnessed by 15,000 spectators.
...
One of the
prinipal attractions was the presence of a team of native swimmers from
the Ellice Islands.
They entertained
the crowd with their quaint songs and war dances, combined with clever
exhibitions of surf and boat displays in the breakers.
139. Sydney
Morning Herald 30 December 1913, Daily Telegraph 30 December 1913.
- S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 177.
Manly Council's
bathing inspector wrote to the aldermen, asking them to consider having
a portion of the beach set apart for shooting the breakers with boards.
Many boards
were being used by bathers on the fringe of the crowd.
Some who were
unaware of the restrictions used a board in the thickest part of the bathing
crowd.
If the suggestion
were carried out, it would relieve the congestion in the southern corner
of the beach.
Dr Neale was
opposed to the use of boards in the surf.
They were,
in his opinion, very dangerous.
He had been
struck in the back while bathing, and it was the reverse of pleasant.
He had seen
no fewer than ten surfboards among the thick of the bathers.
He moved that
the bathing inspector be instructed to enforce the regulation dealing with
using boards while shooting the breakers.
Alderman Paterson
seconded the motion, which was carried, Alderman Heaton having expressed
his opinion that a portion of the beach should be set apart for the sport
of shooting the breakers with boards.
Alderman Quirk
said that he had witnessed a clever exhibition by a young man who "shot"
the breakers with a board.
For fully
100 yards he came in standing on the board, and was loudly applauded by
a thousand people for his feat.
147. Evening
News 22 January 1913, Sydney Morning Herald 24 January 1913.
- S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 179.
Harald (or
Harold) Baker contributed a series on surfing to the Evening News...
26. Evening
News 28 November 1913.
- The first (?)
article was an overview of several northern clubs, page 189.
45. Evening
News 16 January 1914.
- Manly, page 193
48. Evening
News 22 January 1914.
- surfing costumes,
pages 193-194.
50. Evening
News 29 January 1914.
- rescue techiques,
pages 194-195.
51. Evening
News 5 February 1914.
- Manly's mobile
surf tower, page 195-196.
- S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) pages 189, 193, 193-194, 194-195, 195-196.
The Dee Why
Life Saving and Surf Club held its first annual carnival on Saturday, 14
February 1914 at Dee Why Beach.
The programme
was a first class one, and reflected great credit on those responsible
for its compilation.
There was
an attendance of about 3000.
Nine clubs
were represented in the grand parade and march past, which was a very creditable
display.
...
The ladies'
surf race was an item which aroused much interest.
Two competitors,
however, were all that came forward when entries closed, and the race resolved
itself into a "swim over" for one lady.
Miss Letham
(Freshwater) and Miss Abrahams (BrookvaIe) were the contestants, who had
to swim from a boat, which was anchored about 30 yards from shore, and
finish at a line on the beach.
Miss Letham
got the best of the start, and came right away from her opponent, putting
up a very good swim and winning easily.
Miss Abrahams,
it was reported, had to be assisted to shore by a life saver.
She afterwards
denied that she had required the services of a life saver, stating that,
having obtained a bad start, she was leisurely swimming ashore, and was
rather annoyed at the attentions paid her by the life savers.
58. Sydney
Morning Herald 16 February 1914, Manly Daily cuttings February 1914 in
the Dee Why LS&S Club minute book.
- S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 197.
The Warringah
Shire Council Chambers on Monday night, 9 March 1914, were crowded with
surfing enthusiasts, who gathered in response to President Quirk's invitation
to each surf club in the shire to appoint representatives to meet council
and discuss various matters, particularly regarding taking proper precautions
to ensure the safety of bathers, furnishing each beach with a surfboat,
a surf reel, lifebuoys, and the appointment of beach inspectors.
...
The Freshwater
representative said his beach was one of the most popular around Sydney,
and it was necessary that someone clothed with authority should have charge.
Among the
nuisances his club had to cope with was the intoxication of some bathers,
the use of surfboards, and larrikinism.
The Collaroy
representative also said boards should be done away with.
67. Warringah
Shire Council minutes 23 February 1914, 9 March 1914;
Evening News
10 March 1914; Sydney Morning Herald 17 March 1914.
- S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) pages 199-200.
The North Steyne
Club journeyed to Newcastle, circa 1911, for a demonstration of surfing
and lifesaving techniques.
The squad included
Edward 'Appy' Eyre, Freddie Williams, beltman Rohan McKelvey and the Sly
Brothers with their boat.
The locals were
impressed with "the double banking of Charlie Bell and Ralph Durer
on a small board measuring 1 1/2 foot by 1 1/2 foot "
- W. H..
Commins, first treasurer of North Steyne Club and the Surf Bathers' Association.
Quoted in Maxwell:Surf
(1949) page 37.
Another report from
Newcastle is quoted from Joe Palmers' Fifty Years of Vigilance
and Service, probably an official history of the Newcastle Surf Life
Saving Club, circa 1958, partially funded by the SLSA.
The book does not
appear available in any of the relevant library collections.
Joe Palmer claims that the first club member to use a surfboard on Newcastle Beach was Cecil Lamb, one of the staff of the Gentlemen's Club in Newcomen Street, in the 1911-1912 season:-
"His board
resembled a laundry ironing board, but Cecil perservered in his attempts
to ride it on the waves - with moderate success.
Mervyn Chippindall
and Jack Riordan followed; the latter was more persistent and successful."
[4] 'Fifty
Years of Vigilance and Service' - Joe Palmer.
-Conrick: Northern
Lifesaver (1989) page 95.
Initially noted
by Dave Kelly contributing to realsurf.com.au forum, January 2008.
C.B. Maxwell:Surf
(1949), page 235, and Reg Harris: Manly
SLSC (1961), page 53, report that .C.D. Paterson of Manly brought
the first known solid wood Hawaiian Alaia to Australia in 1912 on returning
from a world tour.
First unsuccessfully
tested at North Steyne, the board was eventually retired to the family
home at the Spit to be used as a ironing board.
Note that Chris
Cornick (1989) dates the arrival of this board as 1908 and Alby Thoms (2000)
indicates 1909 (page 20), see above.
The earlier the
board did arrive in Australia then references to other surfers who made
copies of the board are more plausible.
New York Times
December 6, 1912,
Friday, Page 13, 968 words
ORIGIN OF
CRAWL STROKE.; Australian Swimmers Gave First Idea and Americans Improved
on It.
This month
marks the ninth anniversary of the origin of the "American crawl," the
swimming stroke that has placed American athletes at the top of the world
in sprint swimming.
In 1912, the Daily
Telegraph reported on the second Freshwater Life Saving Carnival
held on the 26 January.
A detailed account
of the days events included the following comments:
"A clever exhibition
of surf board shooting was given by Mr. Walker, of the Manly Seagulls Surf
Club. With his Hawaiian surf board he drew much applause for his clever
feats, coming in on the breaker standing balanced on his feet or his head."
- The
Daily Telegraph
27 January 1912, page 21.
Note that a Mr. "Walker " is included in the lists of early boardriders by both Maxwell and Harris, below.
The oldest was Manly
Surf Club, formed on 16 July 1907, closely followed by North Steyne Life
Saving Club in September that year.
, Manly Life Saving
Club and The Manly Seagull Surf and Life Saving Club
changed their name
to the South Steyne Life Saving Clu
b in 1913 and briefly
affiliated with the Surf Bathing Association of NSW before amalgamating
with the Manly club in 1914.
- Harris: Manly
SLSC (1961) pages 10 to 11.
Following the arrival
of C.D. Paterson’s board a small group attempt surfriding on replica boards.
...
A.
the Walker Brothers, Steve McKelvey, Jack Reynolds, Fred Notting and Basil
Kirke
- Maxwell:Surf
(1949) page 235.
B. Jack
Reynolds, Norman Roberts, Geoff. Wyld, Tom Walker, Claude West (aged 13)
and Miss Esma Amor
- Harris: Manly
SLSC (1961) pages 53-54
.
Made from Californian
redwood by Les Hinds, a local builder from North Steyne, they were 8 ft
long, 20" wide, 11/2" thick and weighed 35 pounds.
Riding the boards
was limited to launching onto broken waves from a standing position and
riding white water straight in, either prone or kneeling.
Standing rides on
the board for up to 50 yards/metres were considered outstanding.
- Maxwell:Surf
(1949) page 235.
- Harris: Manly
SLSC (1961) pages 53-54
 |
Harvey: History Queensland Surfing (1983) page 8. |
In the Illawarra,
circa 1913, Thirroul Surf life Saving Club appealed to the Bulli council
to regulate “boards shooting waves in the surf”.
- Middleton &
Figtree: Illawarra
SLSCs (1963) page Ten.
Fred Notting designed
the first boat strictly for surf rescue, commissioned by Manly Surf Life
Saving Club in 1913.
After studying rough
water craft from around the world, Notting based his design on the Norwegian
work boat - a 24 foot double -ender of white huon pine with exaggerated
rocker.
Built by Holmes
of Lavender Bay for 36 pounds (sans gear and oars) it was christened M.L.S.C.,
but was more commonly known as the 'Banana' boat due to the accentuated
rocker.
- Maxwell:Surf
(1949) pages 91 -92
- Harris: Manly
SLSC (1961) pages 44-45.
 |
Manly Surf Life Saving Club's Second boat. Designed by Fred Notting. Photographed at the Deewhy's first carnival, 1913 - 1914. Crew : (from left to right) : Bill Piggott, Sid. McAulciffe, Fred Notting (pipe), Geoff Wyld and R. Quinn Harris: Manly SLSC (1961) page 44 |
Manly Surf
Carnival
The Greatest
Surf Event of the Year
All Champions
Competing
Saturday January
24
Procession from
Pier, 2.30 pm
Admission 6d.
Chairs 6d. extra to Balconies 1/-"
On Sunday 22nd February
1914, the day after Deewhy's first carnival, seven swimmers were washed
out to sea in a strong northerly rip.
All were rescued
using the newly introduced belt and reel but two boys, O. Overton and H.
Starkey, were swept towards Long Reef.
Manly club member,
Jack Talyor took a fishing skiff from the beach and accompanied by H. Duckworth
from Maroubra (to bale), managed to rescue the boys.
The success of the
rescues resulted in bravery awards for the lifesavers from Warringah
Shire, and an unheard of donation of 1250 pounds, distributed amongst
the Shire's five Surf Life Saving Clubs.
These funds were
used to improve buildings and equipment, most significantly a sufboat for
each club.
Based on Fred Notting's
design, although a few feet shorter, the boats were built by Holmes of
Lavender Bay at a total cost of 135 pounds.
The new boats were
delivered to Freshwater, Deewhy, Collaroy, Narrabeen and Newport clubs
in the first months of 1915.
- Maxwell:Surf
(1949) pages 94 -99.
"As Freshwater
Surf Club already had a club house, built at the end of 1910, they asked
for additions to be made to it.
Warringah
Council resolved to appoint William Owen and Abe Mallinson as beach inspectors
at Freshwater.
At the same
time it was resolved that the beach inspectors be written to and asked
to prohibit the use of surfboards on Freshwater Beach.
79. Warringah
Shire Council Minutes 20 April 1914.
- S&G Champion:
Drowning,
Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 204.
 |
|
Participants in an extreme rescue at Deewhy, 22 February 1914. |
Charlie Faukner read
of Duke Kahanamoku's surfriding and used his experience (and board?) as
an aqua planner on the Tweed River to ride at Greenmount in 1914.
- Harvey: History
Queensland Surfing (1983) page 8.
This claim appears
tenuous, but possible.
Aquaplaning had
originated by being towed behind yachts circa 1900 and high speed motor
boats were in use on Sydney Harbour as early as 1908.
- Inglis: Sport
in Australia (1912) page 285.
Also note that Isobel
Letham also may have had aquaplanning experience previous to her introduction
to surfboards.
At Deewhy, before
1914, 'Long Harry' Taylor
"made a board resembling an old-fashioned
church door, but his efforts in the surf were so futile they became ridiculous."
- Thomas:Deewhy
SLSC (1962) page 30.
In an unaccredited
account of Duke Kakhanamoku's visit to Cronulla in 1915, the commentator
notes...
"While there
were already surfboard exponents on our own and other metropolitan beaches,
Duke Kahanamoku first focused public attention on surfboard riding in NSW."
See Duke
visits Cronulla, 1915
A photograph
taken at Freshwater in 1914 shows several handboards carried by juvenile
surfers.
The use of small
boards was common in Hawaii and the USA in 1900's, particularly as beginner
or juvenile craft in preparation for larger boards, but is less documented
in the literature than full size boards.
It is possible that
some Hawaiian knowledge and/or boards did reach Australia in this period,
as in the case of Grace Wooton-Smith in 1915.
The 14 years since
the turn of the century saw a rapid growth in surf bathing and surfriding.
The Surf Life Saving
movement had been firmly established and there were the beginnings of an
Australian beach culture.
Various craft
(surfboats, the Sea King, prone and standing boards) had been used in Australian
waves and there was a knowledge of Hawaiian surfriding.
The arrival in Australia
of Olympic swimmer and famed Hawaiian surfer, Duke Kahanamoku, was eagerly
anticipated.
| home | catalogue | history | references | appendix |
"(16th April 1788) we walked across the neck, where some canoes were landing which they did with ease altho' a very great surf was running"
"As we were going
in to the first cove on the east side called Spring Cove, we were joined
by three canoes with one man in each.
They hauled their
canoes up and met us on the beach leaving their spears in the canoes.
We were soon
joined by a dozen of these and found three amongst them with trinkets &c.
hanging about them that had been given to them a week before by the governor
on his first visit to this place.
Our people and
these mixed together and were quite sociable, dancing and otherwise amusing
them. One of our people combed their hair with which they were much pleased;
several women appeared at a distance, but we could not prevail on the men
to bring them near us.
We had here an
opportunity of examining their canoes and weapons: the canoe is made of
the bark taken off a large tree of the length they want to make the canoe,
which is gathered up at each end and secured by a lashing of strong vine
which runs amongst the underbrush.
One was secured
by a small line.
They fix spreaders
in the inside; the paddles are about two feet long, in shape like a pudding
stirrer; these they use one in each hand and go along very fast sitting
with their legs under them and their bodies erect and although they do
not use outriggers I have seen them paddle through a large surf without
over-setting or taking in more water than if rowing in smooth water.
From their construction
they are apt to leak when any weight is in them; the man nearest that point
of the canoe, where the water lies, heaves it out behind him with a piece
of wood in the hollow of his hand, still keeping his body erect as when
rowing.
They are by far
the worst canoes I ever saw or heard of.
I have seen some
so small as eight feet long and others twice that length.
In these canoes
they will stand up to strike fish, at which they seem expert."
While there is evidence
that indigenous inhabitants on the northern coast of Australia were known
to swim in the surf,
the following account is unfortunately confusing and particularly unclear in what "their eccentric and amusing evolutions" actually were.
"More than this,
when they have learned (how to swim), necessity appears to be the
only thing that induces them to enter the water alone, though with white
men a blackfellow becomes as willing as a water-spaniel, and nothing seems
to give him more pleasure than a "bogie" , i.e. swim (pronounced bo'ge
???)
on the sea-coast.
Encouraged by
white men, and accompanied by them, hand in hand, leaping and shouting,
a party of
aborigines will
run to meet the breakers.
Extended in a
line, they will stand to meet the incoming of the small seas, and
will perform the most
amusing feats,
as the force of the breakers drives them back to the shore.
On the approach
of a large wave the white man will usually dive and work their hands into
the sand,
so to obtain
a firm hold as the sea bursts over them; while the blacks on the contrary,
will rise on the
crest, and continue
to go through their eccentric and amusing evolutions as usual."
- Steedman, Charles:
Manual
of Swimming (1867) page 265.
Whatever the relationship
with the surf the coastal aborigines, these skills and knowledge were not
transfered to the new inhabitants from Europe.
Certainly by the
turn of the century, aborigines now living in the Sydney region were signicantly
disconnected with much of their original culture.
| home | catalogue | history | references | appendix |