Surf Beach Lifesaving Club
In 1895, it was prohibited to swim at Surf Beach between the hours of 6am and 8pm. The community was up in arms when John Holbrook dared to swim at Surf Beach during the day, so he was summoned and fined for his actions. Ten years later, the Council finally lifted the curfew, in 1905.
In 1908, Kendall's Beach was a popular mixed-bathing spot, so the Kiama Surf Bather's Club was formed with an attached regulation that neck-to-knee costumes were worn - they were made of wool.
The club relocated to Surf Beach in 1910, and in 1911 the Surf Bather's Committee decided to build two sheds. In 1912 there were 45 men and 11 ladies as members of the club. They had squads in training and ran a program of sports. By the end of 1912, membership had risen dramatically to 80 men and 17 ladies. The club then seemed to become very quiet during and after WWI, until it was officially reformed in October 1929.
The clubhouse and Shark Tower were officially opened in 1929. One of the members' patrol duties during the following years was a 30-minute rostered shift up the Shark Tower. This was a very important duty as the town rubbish tip was situated at the northern end of the showground over the edge into the ocean. It was a common sight to see local farmers backing their carts up to a timber barrier and hauling dead stock over the edge. The area became a breeding ground for vermin on the rocks and sharks were in abundance. The tipping of rubbish was discontinued in 1960 because the practice started to become dangerous to the surfers when tree stumps and large bits of steel and tin washed up on the beach.
However, another less altruistic motive for some of the male members to do their rostered Shark Tower duty was the opportunity it afforded to spy on the nearby ladies dressing shed (there was no roof on the dressing shed at this time). Two boys were caught red-handed one day when they fell out of the Shark Tower while peeping into the girls' dressing shed.
Extensions to the Surf Lifesaving Clubhouse commenced in the mid-1960s and were completed around 1968. The actual cost of construction was about a quarter of the estimated cost of the build due to all the volunteers that assisted and donations and support from local businesses. The club at this time was estimated to only have about 50 members. The clubhouse was a two-storey building with amenities, meeting rooms, games rooms, gym and offices. There was a boat shed and a room for the Ladies' Auxiliary with a kitchen and amenities on the ground floor. In 1986, new club extensions, featuring a new toilet block and storage facilities, were completed.
Surf Carnival, c.1950s, Surf Beach, Kiama
Surf Carnival, c.1950s, Surf Beach, Kiama.
Surf Beach Club House, Kiama, c.1940/50s.
Surf Carnival, c.1950s, Surf Beach, Kiama.
