Author Archives: kdroryeskymeshcomau

Forty five names appear on the list of Ballarat City members who enlisted for World War One. There should be many more, as many members previous to 1914 had moved away from Ballarat and enlisted elsewhere or they were older men who were no longer active members of the club when they enlisted. One suchContinue reading “1917”

By the middle of 1916 all three rowing clubs had sent almost all their young men to the Front. Essentially there were only the veterans and young boys left. By October 1916 for example seventy one men had enlisted from Wendouree Rowing Club alone. Ballarat City Rowing Club was in the hands of a caretakerContinue reading “1916 The growing toll”

As I write the blog tonight, Victoria is entering 6 weeks of lockdown because of COVID 19. The boatshed will be shut for another six weeks. In 1915 the club was winding down too but for a very different reason. The young and not so young oarsmen were signing up to fight overseas. Everyone thoughtContinue reading “1915 Winds of War”

“Under ordinary circumstances, Lake Wendouree, with its surroundings, is generally conceded to be a place of rare attractiveness: but on Saturday, with View Point, boatshed balconies, and all other commanding positions occupied by seasonally attired gatherings, and the expanse of water flecked with craft of various descriptions, the spectacle was at once inspiring and interesting.Continue reading “1914 Calm before the Storm”

The 44th Annual Meeting was held at Newtons Hotel with the President Lieut.Colonel A.W.Bennett in the chair. He reported that the club had again done well in all spheres of operation. Particularly pleasing was the increase in the building fund to 330 pounds. The lady supporters of the club had contributed this year by runningContinue reading “1913”

In the photo you can clearly see View Point and a little island called Gill’s Island that was later removed during the 1916 drought. You can also see at the top of the photo the thin black line that is the remains of the embankment that ran from McArthur Street across to the Botanical Gardens.Continue reading “1912”

1910 was a pivotal year for the club. At last the club began to emerge from the ‘slump’ of the last five or six years. The first twenty years of the club had been enormously successful in all aspects of operation. The club had a membership roll of 120.We were very successful at regattas withContinue reading “1910 Resurgence”

The Annual report of 1909 stated that the club had struggled for existence during the past few seasons but that a healthy tone characterised this meeting, which was held at Newton’s Hotel with the president Mr Jas Tulloch in the chair. The report went on to say that the club had been fairly successful inContinue reading “1909”

Mr.E.Shew retired as President at 1908 Annual Meeting. Mr. Jas Tulloch was again elected  as President and Alf Dawson was Captain for the 1908-09 season. A Social evening was held following the Annual Meeting where Dr. Champion proposed a toast to former president Mr. E. Shew who was departing Ballarat. In it he stated thatContinue reading “1908”