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Melbourne Regatta Grand Challenge Cup Race Won by LRC W Cowper
Melbourne Regatta Grand Challenge Cup Race Won by LRC W Cowper

Melbourne Regatta Grand Challenge Cup Race Won by LRC W Cowper

Maker (British, 1819 - 1889)
Date09 November 1864
Object number00042371
NameTrophy
MediumSilver
Dimensions195 x 95 mm (3.73 in)
ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts
Credit LineANMM Collection
HistoryThe first organised rowing regatta was staged in Tasmania on Hobart's Derwent River on January 5, 1827. Annual regattas celebrating the founding of Sydney began in 1837, and in 1863 the first intercolonial races were held on the Parramatta River. In 1864 a crew selected from members of three Victorian clubs beat crews from the Sydney Rowing Club, Hobart, Geelong and Ballarat on a four mile course on Melbourne's lower Yarra. The first official race for eights took place on March 6, 1878 on the lower Yarra. The Australian Henley Regatta was established in 1904 and one of the objects of the association was to provide Challenge Cups for competition on lines similar to the Royal Henly-on-Thames Regatta in the UK. The Elswick Challenge was awarded to junior fours while the Grand Challenge was awarded to senior eights. The Sandridge Sailing Club was one of the earliest sailing clubs in Victoria. The first regatta was held in Sandridge in 1853. Sandridge eventually became Port Melbourne. The DOLPHIN was a centreboarder racing on Port Phillip Bay in the 1870s and is featured in R.P. Neale's ' Jolly Dogs are We: the history of yachting in Victoria 1838 - 1894', Landscape Publications, Mont Albert, Vic, 1984