Geo Towns, World's Champion Sculler on Nepean

Publisher A Judges

Date1907

Object number00045569

NamePostcard

MediumPhotographic print on paper

DimensionsOverall: 89 x 137 mm

ClassificationsPosters and postcards

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThese postcards reflect the popularity of rowing and sculling in rural and metropolitan Australia in the late ninteenth and early twentieth centuries. Postcards were produced for the Australian market by local as well as foreign publishers using a variety of production processes based on photography or drawn illustrations. The format was determined by postal regulations which limited the size of the card and what text could be included on the picture or address side. Most postcards were published in sets and then cut into individual cards. The printing of postcards falls into two main photo-mechanical categories, the first using ink and printing presses and the second using photographic processes on sensitised emulsion on the card. The most common printing techiques include letterpress, lithography, gravure and photography.HistoryRowing was a popular sport in colonial Australia from the early nineteenth century. Informal contests were held between crews of whaling ships and shore stations on Sydney Harbour while the first regatta was held on the Derwent River, Hobart in 1827. Crew rowing at colonial regattas included races for amateurs, 'all comers', young rowers and novelty events. These regattas has a carnival atmospehere and drew large crowds of spectators. Amateur rowing was fostered by colonial and imperial rivalries and was formalised in the 1860s through the formation of clubs. Distinctions between professional and amateur rowers were essentially social. Professionals were paid to train or were former watermaen who developed their skills at work. Amateurs argued that manual labourers had an unfair competative advantage because their work meant they were physically fit. The Henley-on-Yarra was founded in 1904 as a showpiece for amateur Victorian rowing and was intended to be a glamorous occassion in the tradition of Henley-on-Thames. Houseboats, marquees, fireworks and illuminations created a carnival atmpsphere and guests were encouraged to wear formal attire. Winning rowers received trophies made as facsimilies of the English originals for races names after their English counterparts. Henley-on-Yarra remained the premier event on the rowing calendar until the competition declined during World War II Rowing began as a leisurely pursuit for women in the nineteenth century but competitions and clubs were established by the beginning of the twentieth century. The first exhibition of women's sculling took place on Albert Park Lake in May of 1901 as part of gala celebrations for a royal visit to Melbourne by the Duke and Duchess of York. Albert Park Lake was also home to the Albert Park Model Yacht Club which was formed in 1903. From the 1830s sculling contests became a feature of organised rowing regattas and as spontantious match races. By the 1850s professional sculling championships were introduced to formalise wager boat racing although informal contest were still arranged. Large crows were attracted to major sculling contests because of international sucesses od Australian professional scullers between 1876 and 1907, when seven Australians held the world title for twenty-two of those thirty-one years. Australian professional sculling declined as a mass spectacle in the early 1900s while horse-racing and cricket became the major spectator sports.