Interstate Eight Oar Rowing and Sculling Championships of Australia
Date6 May 1911
Object number00032016
NameProgram
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall (Closed): 190 × 255 mm
Overall (Open): 190 × 510 mm
Overall (Open): 190 × 510 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis souvenir program was produced for the Interstate Eight Oar Rowing & Sculling Amateur Championships of Australia, held on Saturday 6th May 1911 on the Parramatta River, Sydney. The front cover features waratah and art nouveau flourishes framing vignettes of rowing on the Parramatta River. On the back cover is an illustration of eight women, titled 'The Winning 8', by Martin Staniford, and dated 4/11.
The program includes a record of previous races, a program of events, photographs of J R Towns of New South Wales (Amateur Champion sculler of Australia 1909-1910), Cecil McVilly of Tasmanian (Amateur Champion sculler of Australia 1910-1911), and H E Stevens (Amateur Champion sculler of Victoria). It also included a plan of the rowing course on Paramatta River, photographs of the eight's crews from New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland.HistoryRowing and sculling was popular with spectators and competitors alike in Australia during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its popularity declined when Australians no longer dominated the sport internationally. Amateur scullers and rowers competed for trophies and prize money as part of organised regattas or match races. In the mid 19th century large wagers were placed on races. High stakes led to the formalisation of boat wagers by the creation of professional sculling championships in Australia. Professional scullers not only competed for money but also sponsorship which would enable them to concentrate on their training and competition rather than relying on regular employment for financial security. This set them apart from the amateur scullers who had their own championships.
Australian professional scullers achieved unprecedented international success holding the world title for 22 years between 1876 and 1907. This ensured the sport's popularity in Australia.SignificanceThis program is representative of rowing and sculling competitions in Australia during the early 20th century.
