Rowing in Australia

The first recorded boat race in Australia was held on Sydney Harbour in 1805 in four oared gigs from English ships and the first regatta was rowed by the whale boaters of Tasmania at Hobart in 1827, and the second at Sydney in the same year. Rowing in Australia was controlled by State Associations whom also organised interstate rowing competitions. In 1925 what is now known as Rowing Australia (The Australian rowing Federation) was founded to govern all interstate and international rowing. Today Rowing Australia and its affiliates represent in excess of 15,000 active members ranging from young rowers at school through to those at universities and in the wider community right through to veterans rowing. Rowing Australia member associations operate in seven states with over 185 schools and 156 clubs offering rowing programs