Ballarat Rowing Club trophy
Maker
George Unite
Date1877
Object number00036437
NameTrophy
MediumSterling silver, gilt
DimensionsOverall: 169 x 59 x 59 mm, 0.1 kg
ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA Christey was awarded this trophy in 1879 as part of the Barwon Rowing Club's crew which won the inaugural Maiden Eight Oared Rowing Race in Ballarat. Christey rowed on number 3 oar. The stirling silver wine goblet has a gilt interior and hand engraved decoration on the exterior. The front of the trophy features a decorative band of engraved leaves and text.HistoryRowing was a popular sport in late 19th and early 20th century Australia. To retain its image as a gentleman's sport, amateurism was strictly maintained and the Victorian Rowing Association banned both those who raced for prize money and those who rowed boats for a living.
Local rowing clubs and regatta's proliferated in the Australian colonies, especially in Victoria. Ballarat, with its influx of people and wealth due to the gold rush, had three rowing clubs by 1884. These were the Ballarat Rowing Club founded in 1862, the Ballarat City Rowing Club founded in 1870, and Wendouree Rowing Club founded in 1884. Consequently Ballarat became famous for its competitive rowing regattas that were held on either Lake Wendouree or Lake Learmonth.
One of the races held at the regattas was the maiden eights. They were an eight oared rowing shell race open to all amateur rowers who had not previously won (hence the name 'maiden'). Eight oared shells were rare in Australia in the 1870s as they had to be imported from England. The first eight-oared race in Australia was held in 1875, and in 1879 Ballarat hosted its first maiden eights race. The inaugural race was won by the Barwon Rowing Club with A Christie on number three oar, and this trophy was presented to him upon winning the race.
The Barwon Rowing Club, based in Geelong, was founded in 1870. A Christey successfully rowed for this club in the late 1870s to the early 1880s as a number three oar and as a stroke. He was on the winning Barwon Rowing Club teams in the following events: 1878 Barwon Regatta Maiden Fours (stroke); 1879 Ballarat Maiden Eights (three); 1879 Barwon Regatta Junior Eights; 1880 Barwon Regatta Junior Fours (three); 1883 Ballarat Senior Eights (stroke); 1883 Barwon Regatta Senior Eights (stroke).SignificanceThe trophy is significant in telling the story of rowing in regional Victoria in the 19th century. It reflects both the influx of wealth into Victoria during the gold rush and the social mores of the time where amateur rowing was regarded as a gentleman's sport.
