Max Dupain

Sydney Grammar School

1911 - 1992

Max Dupain was perhaps Australia’s most respected and influential black & white photographer of the 20th century. His images capture a nostalgic era of Australian society.

What many may not know is that Max Dupain was a rower and he enjoyed his rowing throughout his life despite not achieving any great notoriety in the sport. He is recorded as rowing in the second four for Sydney Grammar School in 1929 and bow in the first four in 1930.

Helen Ennis in her biography of Dupain on the National Gallery website (https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/max-dupain) records that "Dupain attended Sydney Grammar School from 1925 to 1930, 'five indistinguishable years (apart from the rowing!)' (1986)."

1959 Sydney Grammar School Eight by Max Dupain
Image from Flicker - https://www.flickr.com/photos/sydgram/7868353460/in/photostream/

Under this photograph on this Flicker page is the following quote:

“I rowed for Sydney Grammar in 1929 and 1930. We got nowhere, but it was one of the highlights of my school career. Oarsmanship cultivated self-discipline, teamwork and school patriotism. The crew is taking off from the pontoon at Gladesville, watched anxiously by the coach.” Max Dupain

Max Dupain on rowing camp with Sydney Grammar in 1929 - back row second from right
Image from The Sydeian No 270 page 32

Helen Ennis in her article on Dupain in the Weekend Australian November 09, 2024, Max Dupain: unafraid of death, but unprepared for ageing, she states that "in his early 70s he was still physically fit, frequently rowing his single scull at Sailors Bay just metres from the family’s Sydney home at The Scarp, Castlecrag, .. ."

So Dupain was a life long and devoted rower.

Researched by Sally Guerin
November 2024

Sources:

National Gallery of Australia website - https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/max-dupain/ extracted 10th November 2024
Flicker website - https://www.flickr.com/photos/sydgram/7868353460/in/photostream/ extractyed 10th November 2024
The Weekend Australian 9th November 2024 Max Dupain: unafraid of death, but unprepared for ageing by Helen Ennis extracted 10th November 2024. (Helen Ennis has written the book Max Dupain: A Portrait by Helen Ennis, published by HarperCollins Publishers 2024.)
The Sydneian No. 269 page 39, No 270 page 32, and No 272 page 47 https://www.sydgram.nsw.edu.au/about-grammar/publications/sydneian/

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:

Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
These contents of this history are copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. However given that the purpose of the history is to assist rowers and rowing clubs, written permission is not required for non-commercial usage by rowers and rowing clubs provided acknowledgement is made.

Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained in this work.