History of UTS Haberfield Rowing Club

The Clubhouse and Boats

The Boat House at Dobroyd Point, now occupied by the Haberfield Rowing Club was built by volunteer labour during 1925. The first start in the erection of the Clubhouse was made at 2.30pm on Saturday, 29th July, 1915, an overdraft of £500 having been first obtained from the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney. The Clubhouse, two storied, cost £1,334.3.6., and the money was raised by borrowing several hundred pounds from members and from the Commercial Bank. 

Soon after work began on the Club a first-class row on the design of the Boat House took place between the Ashfield Council and the Committee of the Haberfield Rowing Club. The Council declined the original plans and at their 7th September, 1925 meeting a letter was read from a firm of solicitors asking for the Council’s reason for declining to grant the Haberfield Rowing Club permission to erect a two storied boat house at Dobroyd Point.

The Council’s reply set out the following four reasons:-

1. That there was an objection to the height.
2. That the design was objectionable, the blank wall facing what would be the most beautiful riverside drive in the Metropolitan area.
3. The unsuitability of the material and the proposed iron instead of a tiled roof.
4. That the Point was not in the Municipality.

Alderman Hammond (Ex-Mayor of Ashfield) described the rowing club as parochial. If not parochial why was the name of Ashfield not used. He suggested that those ladies who were providing the fund to build this shed, and who appeared so anxious to have it built, should see the necessity for having it built of brick with a tiled roof. The riverside drive would be a thing of beauty in the not very distant future. Any club at Dobroyd Point should be an ornament in keeping with this beautiful drive. 

Alderman Stewart went on to protest against the manner in which “The Sydney Sun” had criticized his previous remarks. He said he had no intention of belittling the Club’s effort. He was out to help the club but he thought that the Club should not be antagonistic to the Ashfield Council. 

Fortunately for all, these matters were finally settled, and the present Clubhouse was then built. Since that date the greatest possible harmony has existed between the Ashfield Council and the Haberfield Rowing Club. The Council has from time to time helped the Club in every possible way. 

The Clubhouse now stands on the southern bank of the Iron Cove, within the limits of the Ashfield Municipality and faces both Dobroyd Point and the Iron Cove. It is thirty feet in width by sixty five feet in depth, and the first or ground floor is boat room, ten feet in height and of the entire length and width of the house. The shells are stowed on racks and the oars stored also on the ground floor. 

The boats are launched from a floating pontoon, attached to a slip of the same width as the clubhouse, which is hung upon hinges which allow it to rise and fall with the tide. To reach the staging are two large sliding doors of sufficient width to enable the easy handling of the largest boats.

By a staircase in the southeast corner, the upper floor is reached. This floor is subdivided into two rooms with verandas at each end; the largest or dressing room, is twenty-five feet wide by about 50 feet in depth, and is lighted and ventilated on four sides by glass windows. The room runs rows of well-ventilated lockers, containing the rowing outfits of the members. A Table Tennis Table, wireless and piano were provided for members.

On all sides of the second floor are hung a number of very interesting pictures including Haberfield winning the Grand Challenge Cup at the Australian Henley Regatta, November 1946, the 1939, 1946, 1947 and 1948 King’s Cup crews, including a photo of the 1948 Haberfield Crew winning the Australian Championship. Jack Scott, Herb Turner and Kevyn Webb, the three scullers who have won the Yarra Challenge Cup and Silver Sculls at Henly. Milton C. Kent, first Haberfield Oarsman to win a State title, numerous other crews. Pennants and Certificates are also to be seen. In addition, are two blades on each side of the Clubhouse, one contains the autographs of Empire Games oarsmen from England, New Zealand, Canada and Australia, who raced in the 1938 Sydney Celebration. The other is the King’s Cup blade of Owen Ruffels presented to the Club and contains the names of the winning crew and the finishing order of the other States. The 1939-45 Honour Roll of Haberfield oarsmen, a Benefactors Honour Roll, and the Memorial photo of the Late J.B. Sharp and a special memorial plaque for the Late Bernie Williams completes the decoration.

The Club is lighted throughout by electricity. The interior is finished in hard woods. No attempt has been made at elaborate decoration or ornamentation, the wants of the Club as a rowing organsation along being consulted.

The first boat owned by the Club was the racing eight “Hawthorne” purchased from the Sydney Church of England Grammar School on 10th November 1925. Within a short time there were secured the “Waratah” a regulation four built by George Towns in 1926 and the “Boomerang” also a regulation four built by Edwards of Melbourne and purchased from the Trustees of the Cabramatta Rowing Club. Two pair-oar and two Gladstone Skiff boats built by G. Towns were added to the Club fleet in 1926.

Mt George Towns built the Club’s first new Eight oar boat, the “Dobroyd”, the Club taking over the shell in September, 1927: while A. and H. Green, now world famous boatbuilders, sold their first boat the “Betty Wright”, a best and best four, to Haberfield. The best and best four was handed to the Club not only free of debt by Miss Betty Wright as a result of a Queen Competition, but with a very substantial balance, which was applied towards reducing the liability of the new eight. The “Betty Wright” is still a member of the Club fleet as a result of that young lady’s magnificent efforts.

In October, 1929, the “Miss Haberfield” built by A. and H. Green and the regulation four “F. O. Hedger” donated by the then President of the Club, Ald. F. O. Hedger, and former Mayor of Ashfield was added to the growing fleet. The following year, Green replaced two Gladstone skiffs which had received a terrific amount of use since the formation of the Club. 

A strong Younger Set Committee in December, 1930, presented the Club with its fifth regulation four, the “Younger Set” at the same time a Clinker built tub-four was purchased second hand from Gus Green, who had also built the new four. Bernie Williams, famous coach of Haberfield and St. Joseph’s College and N.S.W.R.A. selector in October, 1932, had the new racing eight “Bernie Williams” built by Green named after him.

Three years passed before a new boat was purchased by the Club. This boat, a regulation four completed in October, 1935, was called the “F. J. Herlihy”, a well known name in Rugby Union circles and a former Club Secretary and President. Two months later, the famous “Milton C. Kent” practice eight was added to the fleet. No boat had given better service to any Club. The specifications of materials to be supplied and the labour to be done in connection with the building and the building of this practice eight for the 1935 Club Committee make very interesting reading.

All timber to be of best quality, well seasoned, free from gum veins and shakes and as practically as possible, free from knots. Skin to be of first quality seasoned red cedar. Portions under canvas ends to be painted. Seats to be first quality seasoned light silver ash and to have holes in seat similar to scullers seat. Bridging to be First quality seasoned ash. Keel to be first quality seasoned spruce.   Stretchers to be first quality seasoned light silver ash, angle to be set as per “Betty Wright” aluminum heel rests – each heel separate. Herringbone to be first quality seasoned spruce of full length attached to Gunwale with small brace clips. Riggers to be heavy tubular steel 5/8” outside gauge same type as used on the London boat with fifth arm running from top of swivel pin. Brass plates to be fitted under all riggers. Riggers to be set at 5 ½ inches. Swivels and gates to be as used in the London boat. Roller slides to be fitted, timber to be ash and ebonite tracks. Bow and stern to be reinforced with lathing and covered with best quality linen. Mould to be as per Police boat for a 12 stone crew, all work to be set one inch lower right throughout the boat. Varnish to be three coats of Varnspar.

So well did Green carry out these instructions, and so thoughtful the work of the 1935 Committee that the “Milton C. Kent” is still in service, and like the gentleman whose name it bears is still doing wonderful service for the Club.

In 1936, the "Ted Firth”, regulation four by Green, and 1938 a new pair and the fabulous racing Eight “J.A. Parkes” were added to the Club fleet. The J.A. Parkes won over 100 races for Haberfield, and although no longer part of the Club fleet, its racing days are not yet finished, as in 1948 it was sold to Corio Bay Club, Geelong, Victoria. In 1949, Geelong College used the boat in the Victorian “Head of the River” boat race. 

World War II then intervened and only new boats added to the fleet were two Gladstone skiffs, one purchased second hand from Norman Hobson in 1941, and the second donated by Clarrie Kiel in 1944. As a result of efforts by Misses Pat Wilding, Shirley Wallace and Gwendoline Sims, the first new post-war racing eight the “Pat Wilding” was added to the fleet in January, 1947, at the same time a best and best four “Miss Dobroyd II” was purchased second-hand from the Pittwater Rowing Club.

The Haberfield Old Boys’ Union was the next organization to donate a racing craft to the Club when in July, 1947, the regulation four “J. W. Scott” was completed by Gus Green. With the winning of the N.S.W. Olympic Test Fours Regatta and the right to represent this State at the National Olympic trials, the Ashfield Council came forward with the magnificent donation of a new Best and Best Four, the “Miss Ashfield” again built by Gus Green in December, 1947.

In November, 1948, the “Pat Wilding II” a new racing eight built by Green to replace the original boat sold in Tasmania after the King’s Cup race was purchased. About two weeks later, the “Miss Dobroyd III” a racing Double Scull, the Club’s first boat of this kind joined the fleet. This completes our present fleet. 

A chapter on boats would be incomplete without reference to the many fine property masters the Club has been fortunate to have had. In our first twenty-five years, they have been a valuable adjunct to the Club because of their adeptness in making the necessary repairs.

In addition to the dozens of racing single sculls which have been kept in the Club since its foundation, Haberfield had brought or acquired about thirty boats. Its present equipment of new single sculls, pairs, fours and eights are as fine a fleet of boats as any in the country. It is a sobering thought if we stop to realise that the cost, at present day prices of the boats listed below is £5,500 or an average of £220 spent on boats in each of the twenty-five years of the Club’s history. 

Eight Oar

Hawthorne1925

Dobroyd 1927

Miss Haberfield 1929

Bernie Williams 1932

Milton C. Kent 1935

J. A. Parkes 1938

Pat Wilding 1947

Pat Wilding II 1948

Dr J. A. Parkes 1950

Best and Best Fours

Betty Wright 1927

Dobroyd II 1947 

Miss Ashfield 1947

Regulation Fours

Waratah 1926

Boomerang 1926

F. O. Hedger 1929

Younger Set 1930

Clinker Tub 1930

F. J. Herlihy 1935

Ted Firth 1936

J. W. Scott 1947

Kingston 1949

Pair Oar

No. 1 1926

No. 2 1926

No. 3 1938

Gladstone Skiffs

No. 1 1926

No. 2 1926

No. 3 1930

No. 4 1930

No. 5 1942

No. 6 1944

Double Scull

Dobroyd III