News Archive

2019 has been an exciting year for the UWA Boat Club as it celebrates 100 years of its rich history and achievement.

Centenary celebrations began with the 100 Years Afloat event on the water in April, with a gala dinner following in July, both attended by hundreds of past and present members.

The UWA Boat Club was founded shortly after the University began, with UWA students competing in Intervarsity championships from 1919.

In 1929, the UWA Boat Shed was constructed on Matilda Bay through a series of debentures purchased by Perth citizens who wanted to support rowing at UWA.

The top floor of the Boat Shed was constructed during WWII by the US Navy to service Catalina aircraft that patrolled WA's coastline.

The club has helped produce medallists in the Empire/Commonwealth Games, various world championships and boasts seven Olympians to date.

Over the years, the club continued to grow and merged with the UWA Women's Rowing Club in 1980.

The UWA Watersports Complex was constructed in 2006 and serves as additional storage for the Boat Club's growing fleet and membership base.

In recent years, the Club has developed a strong masters rowing program, Shenton College Rowing Program, and the club's membership stands at 260 in 2019; all in an effort to bring rowing to ever more university students and truly deliver an amazing university student experience.

To cap off the centenary year, UWA Boat Club won Champion Club at the 2019 UWA Sports Awards, recognising the commitment to participation, performance, and inclusion.

Now celebrating 100 years, UWA Boat Club continues to develop and is looking for contributions to buy boats and be the best rowing club in WA.

If you’re interested in supporting the Club, please visit uwarowing.org.au/donate

Media references

Louis Humberstone

UWA Sport Marketing, Communication and Events Coordinator

[email protected]

6488 4309