SOME months ago there was an article in History Lives about a group of keen rowers from the Bendigo Rowing Club who decided to ride bikes to Sydney and compete in a regatta to celebrate the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932.
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This great feat was commemorated 50 years later in a celebration at Bendigo’s famous Shamrock Hotel.
The cycling tour to Sydney in February 1932 was the idea of Arthur Cambridge, sculling champion of Victoria. One of the online photos with this article features one of the restored actual bikes ridden in that famous tour and now part of the fine display in the club’s museum at Lake Weeroona.
One of the rowers at the Shamrock Hotel event was Dennis Nihill, who compiled a commemorative booklet on the club in 1992. The following are some excerpts from that booklet. The Bendigo Rowing Club was established in 1872. The president of the club from 1984 to 1993, Harold Griffiths, reported in the booklet that a Mr John Godfrey arrived in Sandhurst in 1871 and had a vision to conduct rowing in the City. Godfrey came from Hobart and was a gold assayer for the Bank of Australasia, which was situated opposite the Shamrock Hotel on the corner of Williamson Street and Pall Mall.
The Upper Grassy Flat Reservoir was about a quarter of a mile course and on its banks, the Bendigo and Sandhurst Rowing Clubs erected their first sheds. The opening demonstration of both clubs and a race between the leading boats of the two clubs was held on July 9, 1973. This race was twice around the Reservoir and was won by the Sandhurst Club. Many people came to the event and music was provided by the Hallas City Band and the Stratfieldshire Shire Band.
Some three years later, in 1876, 45 acres of land was granted to the council for "building or formation of a lake for boating and recreational activities". This was fortunate as the reservoir had been drained due to a defect in the bank to make it useless for rowing. After three years' work and a cost of 10,000 pounds, Lake Weeroona (Aboriginal for "We Rest") was opened and both rowing clubs built their sheds in 1880.
Since 1872, thousands of young men and now women have gained much benefit and enjoyment from the sport of rowing.
Two stalwarts of the club, Dennis Nihill, compiler of the booklet, and researcher Jeff Sellens were colleagues at the former Golden Square High School, which would have celebrated 50 years since its official opening on April 23, 1965.
Notices
The May meeting of the Bendigo Historical Society will be on Friday, May 1, at Bendigo TAFE Theatrette at 2pm. Speaker will be Trevor Budge on "Bendigo’s Transport Plan". All welcome; entry by gold coin donation.
Specimen Cottage tours (178-80 Hargreaves Street) on Vahland commemoration on Tuesday at 2pm.
Cemetery tours relating to Vahland commemoration on Thursdays at 2pm. Meet at White Hills Cemetery gates in Holdsworth Road.
Shamrock Hotel tours every Sunday at 2pm. Cost $10 includes cake and coffee. Bookings at Shamrock on 5443 0333.