St Kilda Life Saving Club
History
Operating for over 100 years, St Kilda Life Saving Club has many milestones
1914 - Club Formation
After several years of lobbying by residents and members of the Victorian branch of the Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS), a lifesaving club was established in West St Kilda opposite Cowderoy Street. This club was the “West St Kilda Swimming and Lifesaving Club” (WSTK) The club formed out of the St Kilda Open Sea Bathers League for those who wish to swim and also learn lifesaving techniques. Another club was also formed where the current building stands and called themselves “South St Kilda Swimming and Lifesaving Club” (SSTK) On the 19th March 1914 both the WSTK and SSTK clubs affiliated with RLSS.
March 19, 1914 - The Official Opening
Affiliating with the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), the St Kilda Life Saving Club was accepted to become a life saving club held at 227 Collins Street, Melbourne.
1915
A Real and Line Team was formed by both clubs and they contested the first ever Challenge Shield for the Victorian Surf Rescue Championships on 27th March 1915. The winning team was South St Kilda followed by West St Kilda and Elwood.
1917
Esplanade Club is formed out of the South St Kilda club and conducted activities what is now on the southern side of Brookes Jetty. St Kilda has three clubs to service and patrol the beaches.
1919
South St Kilda receives its first official club house. It wasn’t like what we have today, the building was known as a “Lifesaving Kiosk” where all the necessary equipment was stored.
1925 - A New Name
St Kilda Club, by now has dropped the “south” from their name has acquired a building on the current site, purchased for the sum of £350 and officially opens on 27th January 1925.
1926, 1927 & 1928
St Kilda are back-to-back winners of the Surf rescue Championships.
1928 - Pioneers Causing Controversy
In 1928 St Kilda Life Saving Club caused huge controversy within the ranks of the RLSS by applying for permission to be the first RLSS Club to compete in ‘Surf Life Saving’. The team was refused permission to compete at Manly in the Surf Life Saving Championships – but they went anyway!
The papers in Sydney of the day praised the St Kilda boys for their outstanding efforts in the surf and commented on the “resplendent attire of the team, with sky blue blazers, hot ties and faultless brushbacks”.
The RLSS however, was did not take the rebellion lightly, with the club remaining out of favour with the society for some time after the Manly tour.
1929 - First Interstate Competition
St Kilda sparks controversy after sending members to compete at Manly Beach and attain Surf Bronze qualifications. The Victorian RLSS committee outraged that a Victorian club would consider doing this voted to impose sanctions on the St Kilda club and it’s members. One such vote was to disqualify St Kilda from competing in the next season’s championships. Fortunately none of the sanctions were voted for.
1929 - Promoting Our Success
Several members of the team that won the 1929 Championships pose for a “bathing costume advertisement” for the Melford Knitting Company.
1929 - Ladies Holding Their Own
Whilst it was many decades later that women were finally accepted into the Surf Life Saving fraternity, the RLSS was open to women from very early on. The St Kilda West Life Saving Club team were the winners of the 1929 Ladies Surf Rescue Championship in a swim and wade event. The trophy related to this event is to this day an award for the Open Women’s belt race known as the Hazel Pierce Trophy. St Kilda West did not carry the same colours as St Kilda Life Saving Club dark and light blue, their cap colours were red, black and white.
1930 - A Change of Colour
Club caps and uniforms have long been a source of identity for clubs. St Kilda was no different and decided that a change was necessary Copy of the original application to RLSS for change of uniform. The club cap being light blue and navy blue eighths and the club emblem also being redesigned but still keeping South St Kilda history. It was in 2012 that the club moved forward with it’s identity and reverted to the old cap design.
1936, 1937 & 1938
Esplanade Lifesaving Club wins the Victorian Surf Championships back-to-back for three years.
1938
St Kilda Women’s A Team winners of the Victorian Surf Rescue Championships (Female)
1940’s – Service During War Time
St Kilda Life Saving Club stayed open during the war despite many young men and women leaving for war.
1945 - Advent of War
In January of 1945 the St Kilda Lifesaving clubhouse was taken over by the Australian Army Postal Unit. The St Kilda members had to find other ways to patrol and store equipment much to the protest of the Victorian RLSS committee. By September, the Army had found suitable premises and the club was re-opened.
1950’s – Growing Prosperity
During this decade St Kilda Life Saving Club grew substantially, with carnivals attended by huge turn outs of club members and many successes achieved as a result, many of which are still hanging in the St Kilda Life Saving Club house today. Dances were held at the Clubhouse once a month, with the fireplace (one of the last indicators of the original clubhouse) the centre point accompanied by a 3 piece jazz band that would set up next to it.
1950
St Kilda was once again March Past Champions.
1960’s – Decline And Fire
During the following decade the clubs former prosperity began to dwindle, further hampered by the 1967 fire which all but destroyed the clubhouse. At this time, the Esplanade Life Saving Club offered a merger – this was refused with the reason cited that St Kilda Life Saving Club had much better crockery. During this time, the Frost and Cox families were crucial to the clubs survival.
1961
West St Kilda lifesaving Club closes permanently. The club house remains vacant until it is utilised by the RLSS as their Victorian headquarters.
1967
After successful funding, the second floor was officially opened at the St Kilda Lifesaving Club providing more room for functions and training.
1969
The Esplanade Lifesaving club closes while the St Kilda Mariner development goes ahead. Unfortunately, this club never re-opened.
1970’s – Meandering Along
A less than eventful period for St Kilda Life Saving Club the club continued to provide lifesaving services despite another fire causing damage to the clubhouse. At this time the club was slightly expanded in the rebuild.
1970
View of the St Kilda lower esplanade area. St Kilda Lifesaving Club new two-storey facility featured along the foreshore top left.
1974 - Clubhouse Destroyed by Fire
A fire broke out within St Kilda clubhouse 22nd December 1974. The fire started in the kitchen area but quickly spread through to the top floor. The club lost a substantial amount of memorabilia and equipment. Local lifesaving clubs came together and donated equipment and patrols while repairs were undertaken.
1980s
The 1980s was a bleak time for lifesaving in the St Kilda area. The immediate area saw an increase in crime and drugs. Despite this, a small core group of lifesaving members continued with patrols and kept the club afloat. It was difficult to attract members with the social issues happening. On 27th February 1980, St Kilda Lifesaving club was kindly donated it’s first Inshore Rescue Boat from the funds raised by the St Kilda Rotary Club. This was the first of many items of equipment donated.
1986 – Falling On Hard Times
With volunteer participation at a low, the club dropped in membership and even closed its doors for a day. The Doncaster swimming club had joined the club and internal issues brought the club to the verge of collapse. At that time a group of remaining members and some South Melbourne, Elwood, Williamstown members came to assist. The club grew with further members joining and approximately 12 members from South Melbourne to assist including Don and Carol Kay, Daryl & Ian Maybourne, and John Matthews.
Early 1990’s – Revival Through IRBs
A new batch of young members joined the club and took the mantel from the South Melbourne members (with their blessing) who had saved the club. These new members were strong competitors winning numerous National medals in Royal Lifesaving Competition in both the mens and womens divisions. This supported recruitment and the club membership grew with a diverse range of members.
1995
The St Kilda Lifesaving club saw a resurgence of members and enthusiasm. This was solely due to the club’s involvement with Inshore Rescue Boat racing. The members practised and trained eventually earning a substantial haul of medals and accolades of several years.
1997
St Kilda Club was awarded the Patrol Efficiency Award.
1997
Winner of the Beaurepaire Shield for Efficiency and Service (1997). The shield be named in honour of the champion swimmer of the 1920s, Frank Beaurepaire.
1998 – Beginning To Think About The Future
The City of Port Phillip conducted a review of Life Saving Club assets within the municipality.
2001 – The Decline Of IRB Competition
Whilst St Kilda Life Saving Club was at the peak of its IRB strength, Life Saving Australia made the national decision to suspend IRB competition, a decision supported shortly after by Royal Life Saving. This decision caused St Kilda Life Saving Club a loss of many members who were involved in the IRB area.
2001 – Dual Affiliation
St Kilda Life Saving Club lead the way as one of the few clubs to dual affiliate with both Surf Life Saving and the Royal Life Saving Society prior to their amalgamation and the formation of Life Saving Victoria.
2001
On the back of the successful IRB racing, Surf Boat emerged as the new sport for St Kilda members. The first crew was established in 2001 and training sessions were both on the Yarra River, and along the Victorian surf coast. This was also the year that IRB racing was suspended indefinitely, and where Victorian RLSS and Surf Lifesaving Victoria combined into “Lifesaving Victoria”.
2002 – Embracing A New Frontier – Surf Boats
A few hardy members from the IRB area turned their skills towards a new sporting challenge in the area of surfboats. St Kilda Life Saving Club were one of the first clubs on the bay to take on the surfboat challenge competing in their first surfboat race during this year.
2002 – Lobbying Begins
In the winter of 2002 Matthew Culka became president of St Kilda Life Saving Club and commenced a campaign for a new clubhouse by lobbying the City of Port Phillip.
2003 – First State Titles In Surf Boats
St Kilda Life Saving Club attend the State Titles in surfboats for the first time with a mens crew in Reserve Grade. Unfortunately, their 20 year old donated boat from Seaspray suffered damage in the warm up and they were unable to compete in the championships.
2004 – Working With Council
The 1998 Lifesaving Clubs Review report becomes the basis for discussion regarding the direction for future lifesaving clubs and the need for future facilities in the City of Port Phillip.
2004 - First Crew at The Aussies
St Kilda enters it’s first crews into the Australian Lifesaving Championships, otherwise known within the competition field as “The Aussies”. This was also the year that saw the club’s first pennant for some years with the Open Women’s Surf Boat team competing at St Kilda beach on 26th January 2004.
2005 – First Open State Gold
St Kilda wins Gold in the Open Male Champion Lifesaver Event (Matthew Culka) as well as its first masters medals in the 30+ male tube race, male surf race and the ironman.
2006 – Australian Surf Rowers Champions
St Kilda builds on its earlier success in the surf boat area by winning the national title at the Australian Surf Rowers League Open in the 160 Years Male surfboat race swept by Stuart Cassin.
2006 – A Focus On Active Patrolling Members
Review found the facility had a purpose, but did not meet the functional requirements for lifesaving services. At this time, St Kilda Life Saving Club chose not to offer nippers programs due to the constraints related to the facility. This was a bold decision to go against the broader thinking at the time that the way to rebuild a club was through nippers. Instead, St Kilda focused on a mature active patrolling membership recruiting through competition which has resulting in much success at a masters level.
2008 – Further Building Concerns
Asbestos review was conducted highlighting that the club was largely constructed from materials containing asbestos. Despite the facility concerns the club continued to grow during this period with the hope that a new facility might be in its future.
2008
St Kilda competes at the Stockton Beach at the Australian Surf Rowers League and wins a gold medal in the Mens 160 division.
2009
Despite the soaring temperatures during this season, the club members launched a campaign for a lifesaving club re-development. The last upgrade was 1967.
2010 – Future Feasibility Options
Coffey Feasibility studies were conducted that informed a concept design for the clubhouse that allowed the club to apply for State Government Funding through LSV.
2010 – Embracing Tradition
At some point in St Kilda’s past, the St Kilda Life Saving Club competition cap had evolved from an 8 (or 6) panel cap to a 4 panel design. It is not known when this change occurred, or why, but was likely due to reduced complexity of manufacture. In 2010, based on the oldest known record of the club cap registration (which was somewhat confused between drawing and text causing some discussion on the number of panels), St Kilda Life Saving Club reverted to the 8 panel design as per the registered drawing, a design that is unique to St Kilda and not used by any other club in the country.
2010 – First Open Women’s Win By A Bay Club
St Kilda Life Saving Club Open Women’s crew win the Victorian Surf Boat Rowers League Open, the first open state level event won by a surfboat club from the bay.
2011 – Council Commitment And Financial Stability
Council committed to match state government funding if it was provided to rebuilt the clubhouse. In addition, in this year St Kilda Life Saving Club achieved its aim to be financially stable and re-establish a strong active patrolling membership.
2011 – Professional Debut
St Kilda Open Women’s crew are the first St Kilda members to compete in professional competition in the Ocean Thunder Surf Boat Series.
2012 – Building Audits
LSV audit of lifesaving club buildings recognised large amounts of investment required to ensure the building would remain safe for use from OH&S perspective.
2013 – Nationals And World Masters
St Kilda Life Saving Club place 2nd overall in points at the World Lifesaving Championships in the Masters surfboat area and were the only Victorian club to win Masters Australian and World Titles Gold. In addition, the Open Women progressed further than any other Victorian surfboat crew at the National Titles.
2014 - St Kilda LSC Celebrates 100 Years
St Kilda lifesaving club celebrates 100 years of being affiliated with Lifesaving Victoria (previously Royal Lifesaving Society) The event was held at the West Beach Pavilion, the location of which was used for dressing sheds for bathers and was next door to the original site of the West St Kilda Lifesaving Club.
2015 – Our New Home Being Built
The dream to re-develop the St Kilda Life Saving Club had only commenced, with plans, drafts and works underway for the new home to come!
2016 - A New Clubhouse
A Port Phillip Council, Lifesaving Victoria and the Stokehouse Restaurant agreement meant that there will be a redevelopment of the lifesaving club building after 50 years. This saw a new club house built in conjunction with the Stokehouse Restaurant next door (after a devastating fire in 2014).
A new Lifesaving Club house was handed over to the members on 11th February 2016.