NEW SIGNAGE HIGHLIGHTS SURFING HERITAGE

Sutherland Shire Mayor, Carmelo Pesce today unveiled new signage at Elouera Beach as part of a suite of interpretive signs along Bate Bay explaining the National Surfing Reserve, the development of the surfboard and past champions in the recently installed Cronulla Surfing Walk of Fame on the Cronulla Esplanade.

Documenting the famous Cronulla beach culture, the latest addition to the sign suite at Elouera draws attention to the role of the Elouera Surf Lifesaving and Boardriders Clubs. Importantly the sign paints a picture of our past, depicted by a wonderful image of the Midway surf shack taken by Bob Weeks.

“The shack was built by a few school kids in June 1962 from discarded timber and corrugated iron. It was used for surfers to shelter from the elements and to stand their long malibu boards against,” Bob said.

The shack did not last long but remains etched in the minds of surfers from that generation.

“It was an era of no wetsuits, when a fire on the beach was the only way to warm up on a cold winter’s day and nothing but sand dunes extended to the north of Bate Bay,” recalls local surfer Dave Wilson.

Mayor Pesce said the community is rightly proud of its wonderful Bate Bay beaches and the rich history tied to the establishment of surfing as a sport in its own right, the founding of the surf lifesaving and boardriding clubs and the development of young locals with big dreams who took on the world’s surfing best.

“This area of Australia is truly unique which was recognised in 2008 when Cronulla was declared as a National Surfing Reserve, acknowledging the role our community has played in developing Australian beach culture.

“The Crown Reserve highlights a number of significant surfing sites within Bate Bay including Sand Shoes, Shark Island, Cronulla Point and Voodoo. Importantly it also acknowledges our community surf lifesaving/boardriders clubs and the fact that surf legend Duke Kahanamoku surfed our shores just over 100 years ago,” the Mayor said.

The unveiling of new signage at Elouera by Mayor Pesce coincided with the 35 year celebration of the Elouera Boardriders Club.

The image used to represent the Elouera Boardriding Club on the interpretive signage at Elouera was supplied by Chris Stroh.

For more details on the Cronulla National Surfing Reserve visit: http://www.surfingreserves.org/cronulla.php

Northies Pub 1908

From a postcard this is the 2nd Northies Pub after the first burnt down. Viewed from back taken in 1908.

 

 

Graham King

Pioneer of surfboard manufacturing Kingy has been around since the early 60s making boards and eventually moved on to blowing blanks and he’s still going strong down at his Kirrawee factory today.

Oregon Redwood Surfboard

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• This solid Oregon redwood, square tailed surfboard features a round nose and an 18 mm hole located at the centre of the tail designed to accommodate a leg rope. A metal strip has been screwed onto the board near the nose to prevent splitting, and the bottom of the board has an unusual ‘v’ plateau. The deck has a series of punch or drill holes, which were added for grip, and two crescent-like grooves acting as hand-grips on either side of the rope hole. The surfboard’s original green insignia has been painted over with the letters ‘EN’, the original owner’s initials. Ernie Newberry was a member of Wander Beach Surf Life Saving Club, and used to drag the heavy board from his home in Cronulla to Wanda Beach.
• Though Australia was first introduced to surfing in the late 19th century by traders and travellers who had passed through Hawaii, the surfing demonstration of Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku at Freshwater Beach in 1914 was a significant moment in Australia’s surfing history. Solid hardwood planks were common on Australian beaches between World War I and World War II, and pre-dated the Australian surfing boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Designs were often similar to the Duke’s 1914 board, which was shaped from sugar pine purchased from Hudson’s Timber Mill in Sydney, and incorporated many of the standard Hawaiian design characteristics. Wooden boards were covered in layers of varnish, oil or shellac to prevent the board from becoming waterlogged. They were finless until the early 1950s, and often featured a brass or copper band or sheet fitted to the nose to prevent the wood from splitting. Redwood was recognised as being tough and durable, though much lighter boards in balsa and plywood were also popular.Info courtesy Trove.

The Northies Alley Masters

John Veage and Hendo have been running The Alley Masters now for 27 years. This year was won by Jared Hickel in 2014 it was Elouera’s Glen Pringle who won the prestigous trophy. Below a list of all past winners.

 

Jackson Surfboards Factory Sold

On a sad note, Cronulla’s longest surfing landmark, Jackson Surfboard Factory at Taren Point has been sold. While the property has gone the Surfboard business is still up for sale. Jacko’s current owners will be winding down business until November. We wish Jim , Dave and the rest of the Jacko crew all the best for the future.

Cronulla Cinema 1950s

Dave De Figueiredo

One of the Midway crew in the 70s, Figga was back in town recently showing his skills at Wanda Beach photo Stroh

Goochys Nightclub

Well known drinking spot in the 80’s and 90’s across the road from Cronulla RSL

Old and New

Two decades collide in a photo. at South Cronulla.