There
are perhaps few more iconic symbols of popular Australian culture and history
than a surf boat slicing through the waves.
Sly
Brothers apparently introduced the first boat for surf rescue at Manly Beach in
1895, a small fishing row boat. This was followed by a double ended ship life
boat. In 1906, Bronte surf club member Walter Biddell designed “Surf King”, a
catamaran style vessel made of timber, tin and canvas with kapok-stuffed tubes;
and then “Albatross”, a double-ender with buoyancy tanks. A major innovation in
surf boat design came in 1911 when Fred Notting of the Manly club developed a
vessel based on Norwegian design that became known as the “banana boat”.
There
is some debate as to whether Bronte or Bondi were home to the first surf life
saving club, but nonetheless, the sport rapidly spread from Sydney beaches to
the south coast. Kiama, the first club outside Sydney, was founded in 1908 and
just three years later, Tathra’s was established.
The Southern Star newspaper had reported on
16 August, 1911 that “Surf-bathing has started at Tathra. Another effort should
be made to form a surf club and secure proper dressing quarters and a life
line.” Residents were quick to respond, and on 13 December that year, about twenty
people attended a meeting in the Bega picture theatre “…for the purpose of
forming a surf club…” Called the Tathra Surf Club, the colours were blue with
white edgings and a shield on the left breast bearing the letters “T. S. C.”
Although
details as to when the club got their first boat are sketchy, the secretary was
instructed at their 1920 annual meeting “…to write to the Navigation Department
re a surf boat…”
 |
| David Payne, Curator of Historic Vessels at the Australian National Maritime Museum, pictured inspecting the surf boat to develop a Conservation Management Plan and also for inclusion on the Australian Register of Historic Vessels. |
This
early surf boat of timber design and originally featuring a waterproofed canvas
skin is on display at the Tathra Wharf Museum.
© Angela George. All rights reserved.
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