Leichhardt Rowing Club


Leichhardt Rowing Club formed in 1886 is one of the oldest rowing clubs in Sydney, Australia. It has occupied its current site on Port Jackson's, Iron Cove at Leichhardt since 1886. Leichhardt is an all-level competitive and recreational rowing club, with a long history of supporting women's rowing. The club has enjoyed a rebirth in the new millennium partly due to the success of its Masters, Corporate Challenge and learn-to-row programs.

History

S.G Davison, the Mayor of Leichhardt presided over a public meeting at the Leichhardt Council Chambers on 29 May 1886 which was called for the purpose of forming a rowing club. Permission was obtained from the Crown for the Leichhardt Park Trustees to permit the use of water frontage for baths and rowing club sheds through the efforts of Solomon Hyam MLA. After a boatshed was built, Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales formally opened the new club at a ceremony on 24 September 1887 before the largest group of people ever assembled on Leichhardt Park. The club was established free from the pressure of the amateur principle in place at Sydney and Mercantile. It was for both "manual labourers" and "brain toilers" and Parkes, who described rowing as "a healthy, beautiful and manly exercise", expressed his approval of the club's democratic principle regarding membership.
The club took delivery of its first boat – a single skiff – in late 1887. Life membership subscriptions paid by some of the foundation directors were used to fund a few further skiff purchases. Leichhardt was admitted to the New South Wales Rowing Association in March 1893. A severe storm fully destroyed the club and its fleet of boats in 1897 but rebuilding and replacement was fully complete by 1900. The club's initial racing colours were buff and blue but by 1902 club equipment was being painted in red and blue, the club's livery ever since.
Henry Hauenstein was the club's first selected Olympic competitor, rowing in the men's eight at Stockholm 1912. He had regularly appeared in the New South Wales state eight since 1907.
Over 100 club members left to see active service in World War I and a number fell. After the armistice Hauenstein and fellow club-member Tom McGill rowed in the victorious AIF crew at Royal Peace Regatta who won the cup for eight-oared boats presented by King George V. In time, the King's Cup, became the trophy presented to the winning men's eight at the annual Australian Rowing Championships.
At the commencement of World War II the club had 40 active members. By the war's end 90 club members had served in the forces. The Australian Military Forces occupied the park, foreshore and clubhouse from 1943 and the boats were rehoused at the neighbouring Haberfield Rowing Club.
Leichhardt Rowing Club began co-operating with nearby ladies rowing clubs from about 1910. Women began rowing for the club in the 1950s. In 1976 the club constitution was changed to admit women as constitutional members.
The 1950s was a golden era for the club. Leichhardt won the Sydney premiership four times, including a hat trick, was runner-up four other times and third in the other two years. Four club men were selected for Olympic representation at Helsinki 1952 and five for Melbourne 1956.

Club Presidents

Members

Notable past members include:
Olympic representative members include: