Sir George Fairbairn
Melbourne Rowing Club (VIC) and then Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)
Sir George Fairbairn was a founder and inaugural President of Australian Henley, a regatta which brought great fame and support to the sport. He was also a distinguished President of the Association and the winning stroke of the very first Intercolonial Eight Oared Championship.
Fairbairn (1855-1943) was a pastoralist, politician, company director and oarsman, was born on 23 March 1855 at Newtown, Geelong, Victoria. He did not row at school as Geelong Grammar School had not yet created a boat club. He took up rowing at Jesus College Cambridge University but only at College level. He stroked the Melbourne eight against a Geelong eight prior to the Intercolonial contest in 1878. Sir George Fairbairn was a senator and also the Victorian Agent General in London. He was a founder of Henley on the Yarra and President of that organization from it’s beginning until his death. He was President of the Victorian Rowing Association from 1921 to 1924 and a Vice President until his death.
Known rowing record
1877 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Eight, stroke - First
1877 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Four, stroke - First
1877 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Eight, stroke - First
1877 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Four, stroke - First
1878 – First Intercolonial Eight Championship stroke – First
1880 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Eight, stroke - First
1882 - Melbourne Regatta, Non-labourer Senior Eight, stroke - First
1882 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Eight, stroke - First
1904-43 – President and a founder of the Melbourne Amateur Regatta Association
1907-43 - Vice-President Mercantile Rowing Club
1921-24 – President Victorian Rowing Association
1929-43 – Vice-President Victorian Rowing Association
Andrew Guerin 2011 (updated Dec 2021 and January 2023)