History of The Club
Balmain Rowing Club was formed on 7th
June 1882 at a meeting held at Dicks Hotel in Balmain. This
hotel is still operating as a popular watering hole for the
Balmain district today.
The meeting consisted of local citizens and the mayor and
councillors of the then Balmain Municipal Council.
The first committee was made up of the mayor and aldermen
of the council.
The priority of the committee was a suitable sight for the
club and the early minutes mention that a boat builder's
shed at the bottom of White Street "may be available". The
site was considered "the finest in the colony". Pritchard's
Boatshed was thus purchased and plans put in hand to build
the rowing shed on that site at a cost of £368.
The club is on the same site today.
Other clubs in existence at that time included; Sydney
Rowing Club, Mercantile (now Mosman Rowing Club), North
Shore and Glebe Rowing Club.
Balmain, like most other rowing clubs at the time, was
originally a "white collar" club and manual labourers and
tradesmen could not be members.
Enterprise Rowing Club was formed in 1896 to cater for
those in the district excluded from BRC. The Enterprise
Club was built next to the Balmain Club close in to
Whitehorse Point but was blown down in a gale in 1916 and
never rebuilt. Evidence of the building can still be seen
at low tide. Some members from the old Enterprise Club went
on to help form Drummoyne Rowing Club.
The famous black and gold colours of the district were
adopted by the Balmain club in its first year of existence.
Oral history suggests that the hooped racing Singlet (still
worn today) was taken from the Balmain Rugby Union team
while the origin of the colours lies not with the tiger but
rather with the bark and flowers of the Black Wattle trees
which grew in the district.
Many famous names have been associated with the club. Among
them are the Pearce family (father and son represented
Australia at the Olympics), the Sharp family (local
merchants and long serving club members, the JB Sharp
Winter Regatta Series bears the name in recognition of the
efforts by JB for the rowing community). George Neilson (a
member since 1934 and still playing an active role coaching
crews).
Women play an active role in the present
club but this was not always the case. A separate Balmain
Women's Rowing Club occupied a site at Elliott Street but
was destroyed by fire in the early 50's. The women then
occupied a small section of the current boat shed as a
separate entity. Over time, the women members joined other
clubs and Balmain Women's Rowing Club ceased to exist
.Today, women are full members of the club and contribute
strongly to the club's success both on and off the water.
Balmain has enjoyed success over the years with world,
Australian and state champions coming from the club.
Balmain Rowing Club is proud of its traditions and place in
the Balmain community.
We welcome comment and/or information about our history and
are happy to lend historical photographs to groups with a
legitimate interest.