Club History 1910-2010

THE FIRST 100 YEARS

1910                Western Suburbs Rowing Club (WSRC) was founded by Mrs Alice Bentley and Mrs Chambers.                     
                        The club rowed from Baileys then Kemps Boatshed  at Abbotsford Point.  

1914 – 1918   The club ceases activity and members organise drives for servicemen.    
                        
1920              NSW wins the Australian Championship with an all WSRC crew. NSW also send crews in 1922/1923                       
                       /1925/1927.

1925              WSRC changes its name to Sydney Ladies Rowing Club (SLRC).   

1928              NSW wins the Australian Championship with a full SLRC crew.                   

                      The NSW Ladies Rowing Association is formed.

1929              A very public altercation at a regatta between two SLRC members gets front page news and gives rise                       
                       to Abbotsford Ladies Rowing Club.

                       Kemps Boatshed is taken over by Gus Green (Greens Boatshed).   

1929 -1935    NSW wins the Australian Championships with all Sydney Women’s Rowing Club (SWRC) crew.                       
        


1939 – 1945   The Club closes down during the Second World.

                       Greens Boatshed is sold and the Club moves to the old Balmain Girls Boathouse.     

                 

1949              Australian Women’s Rowing Council re-commences competition.   

  1951-1953      NSW wins the Australian Championships with a full SWRC crew.                      

                           

            
1953              The boathouse at Balmain burns down with the loss of all the Club’s boats.                       

                       Balmain Men’s Rowing Club provides a home for the Club and the loan of boats until 1959.                       

                       SLRC changes its name to Sydney Women’s Rowing Club (SWRC)            

          

1959              The new SWRC boatshed is opened by the Mayoress of Drummoyne Mrs Halliday in Battersea Park                       
                       Abbotsford.

1961              A concrete ramp is constructed by Drummoyne Council.                      

1961-1966     SWRC members form part of all the crews  representing NSW at the Australian Championships.     
                     
1967              NSW wins the Australian Championships with a full SWRC crew. 

1984             The club becomes incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act.                      

1991             SWRC wins the NSW Rowing Association Women’s Shield for the highest points score with only 15 active
                     rowers.

1992             SWRC votes to propose a merger with Sydney Rowing  Club.                     

1993              Sydney Rowing Club votes against the merger.

                       SWRC becomes SWRC Inc.

1994              SWRC competes at the World Masters Games in  Brisbane.                     

1996             SWRC is disaffiliated with the NSW Rowing Association (NSWRA).                      

                      The NSW Department of Sport and Recreation approves a grant of $15,000.00 to extend and                      
                      improve the boatshed at Abbotsford.

1997              SWRC is re-affiliated with the NSWRA.

                      SWRC joins with Methodist Ladies College (MLC) and becomes Sydney Women’s MLC Rowing Club. MLC                      
                      provided additional funding for the shed extension.

1998               Men officially join SWMLCRC as members and the  club begins competing at Masters Regattas.                       

1999                The boatshed extension is officially opened by Mrs Barbara Stone Principal MLC School.                         

2002/05/07/09    SWMLC Rowing Club competes at the World Masters Games in Melbourne/Edmonton/Zagreb                         
                          and Sydney respectively.

2010                SWMLC Rowing Club celebrates its Centenary with a special regatta and gala dinner.