Established in 1863, Richmond Rowing Club is the fourth oldest continuously operating rowing club in the world. Throughout its history Richmond has produced world-class athletes and won numerous state and national championships.
Richmond’s history through the decades
1863 – 1899
1863
17th June. Resolved at a meeting of gentlemen in Richmond “That a Club be formed to be denominated the Richmond Rowing Club.”
22nd July. A clause No. 12 added to the Constitution… “That no Club boat be allowed out on Sunday.”
4th August. First Annual General Meeting of the Club held.
21st November. It was moved the Club colours be Blue & Gold. Motion accepted and colours to be adopted from 1/7/1864.
1865
A Club Gig the “Richmond” was sold to Wahgunyah Rowing Club for £38.0.0 in order to repay loans made to the Club by members.
1871
1st November. Resolved that a branch of the Richmond Rowing Club be established in Melbourne and that accommodation be arranged with either Greenland or Salter.
1900 – 1909
1900
Club heavily in debt and the Club Shed and contents are seized by a creditor, a boat builder.
1903
Club activity is re-commenced and Club takes possession of the skittle alley at the Sir Henry Barkly Hotel, Punt Road, Richmond.
1908
Club moves to Greenlands Boat Shed, Princes Bridge – the present site of Melbourne Grammar Boat Shed.
1910 – 1919
1912
Richmond member R.T. Jenkin is a member of winning Australian Champion Eight (now Kings Cup) rowed in Perth.
1916
Club moves to the Edwards Boat Shed on the Club’s present site.
1919
Jim Barton wins Henley Silver Sculls and the Victorian Champion Sculls
1920 – 1929
1920
Jim Barton wins Henley Silver Sculls and the Victorian Champion Sculls
1923
Jim Barton wins Henley Silver Sculls and the Victorian Champion Sculls
1924
Jim Barton wins Henley Silver Sculls, the Victorian Champion Sculls and the Australian Champion Sculls.
1925
Jim Barton wins the Victorian ¼ mile Sprint Championship Sculls
1926
The Boat Shed destroyed by fire on October 26th. All records, trophies and pictures are lost.
1928
Richmond wins its first Junior Premiership.
The Club takes possession of its new Clubhouse built by the Melbourne City Council. The Club’s contribution to the cost of construction is £750.0.0.
1929
A fire destroys the top floor of the Boat Shed which is occupied by W H Jerram & Son, boat builders. RRC occupies the ground floor and escapes with minimal damage to equipment.
1930 – 1939
1930
Permission is sought to extend the Club rooms on the Princes Bridge side to enlarge the changing room accommodation. Melbourne City Council refused to approve the Application.
1931
Club wins its first State Champion Eight.
Jim Barton wins the Victorian 1 Mile Champion Sculls.
1932
Club wins its first State Champion Fours.
Three Richmond members in the winning Victorian Kings Cup crew – Mal Gardner, Lochie Thompson and Ben Thompson.
Jim Baird is declared the first winner of the Mal Scott Memorial.
1933
Winners of Victorian Senior Premiership.
Winners of Junior Eight Championship.
Winners of Henley Gran Challenge Cup.
1934
Winners of Victorian Junior Premiership.
1935
Winners of Victorian Junior Premiership.
Winners of Junior Eight Championship.
1936
Winners of Victorian Junior Premiership.
Winners of Victorian Senior Premiership.
Winners of Junior Four Championship.
Winners of Junior Eight Championship.
1939
Wally Lambert – Stroke of Victorian Kings Cup Eight.
1940 – 1949
1946
Wally Lambert – Stroke off winning Victorian Kings Cup Eight.
1947
Wally Lambert – Again Stroke off winning Victorian Kings Cup Eight.
1948
Wally Lambert is the first Richmond member to be selected in an Olympic squad to represent Australia at the London Olympic Games. Rows stroke in the Australian Four.
1949
The RRC Ladies Committee decides to amalgamate with the Men’s Social Committee until it receives greater support to allow it to function as an independent body.
1950 – 1959
1950
Wally Lambert (Richmond) and Jack Webster (South Melbourne) win the coxswainless pairs at the New Zealand Empire (Commonwealth) Games. Their coach was Lochie Thompson, another Richmond member.
1951
Club wins Henley Founders Challenge Cup for Junior Eights.
1953/1954
Don Dudgeon wins Victorian Sculling Championship and the 2000 metres Sculling Championship.
1954/1955
Don Dudgeon wins Victorian Sculling Championship
1955/1956
Don Dudgeon wins Victorian Sculling Championship
1956/1957
Don Dudgeon wins Victorian Sculling Championship, 2000 metre Sculling Championship and the Henley Silver Sculls.
1957/1958
Don Dudgeon wins Victorian Sculling Championship
1959
Winners of Victorian Junior Premiership.
1960 – 1969
1961
Club wins Victorian Sprint Pairs Championship at Bendigo
- Bow – Lindsay Patullo
- Stroke – Eric Britton
- Cox – Garry Johnson
- Coach – Mal Gardner
1967
Chris Roberts wins the Victorian Lightweight Sculling Championship.
1970 – 1979
1970
23rd March – Clubhouse destroyed by fire.
1973
23rd June – the present Clubhouse was officially opened and consecrated as the Richmond Rowing Club Peace Memorial Clubhouse.
1974
The first sliding boat racks for a Melbourne based rowing club are designed and manufactured by Don Dudgeon and installed by Don and a dedicated team of helpers.
1975
Winners of Victorian Junior Premiership.
1977
17th October – First women admitted as members – Helen Hendley & Gwenda Lindgren followed on 9th November by Barbara Sawyer.
1978
The passing of Win Podmore.
1980 – 1989
1980
The final repayment is made on the $15,000.00 borrowed by the Club to raise additional funds to meet the $62,000.00 needed for the re-construction of the Club House after the fire of 1970.
1984
Club is incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act.
Coxswain member – Sue Lee – becomes Richmond’s second ever Olympian after selection for the Los Angeles Olympics and wins a bronze medal as cox of the Women’s Lightweight Four.
1985
Methodist Ladies College becomes a tenant in the Clubhouse.
Successes for Don Dudgeon:
- FISA World Veteran Championships
- 1st in “E” Double Scull
- 2nd in “E” Single Scull
- Inaugural World Masters Games
- 3rd in “E” Double Scull
- 1st in “E” Quad Scull
Club loses five boats in a car and trailer fire returning from the Christmas Regattas.
1986-1987
Caroline Burge wins Victorian Senior “B” Champion Scull and the Australian Lightweight Senior “B” Champion Scull.
The passing of Ron March Senior.
1989
Simon Crunden is declared the winner of the Mal Scott Memorial in his first year as a rower.
1990 – 1999
1990
Discussions are commenced with Methodist Ladies College regarding possible expansion and improvement of the Club House.
1991
Don Dudgeon retires from Office after 40 years’ service.
1997
Men’s Novice 8 – first at Head of the Yarra.
2000 – 2009
RRC awarded Rowing Australia’s Club of the Year
First Official RRC Regatta held in 80 years.
2002
Passing of Bill Parkinson.
2003
Two State Titles won at Victorian State Championships.
2004
Melbourne City Council gives in principle support to Boat House Extension and re-development.
Five State Titles won at Victorian State Championships.
2010 –
2010
One State Title won at New South Wales State Championships.
Three State Titles won at Victorian Masters Championships.
Three National Titles won at National Masters Championships.
2012
The passing of Don Dudgeon.
2014
Richmond Rowing Club opened the redeveloped boathouse on Sunday 5 October 2014. Peter Antonie OAM, a prominent member of the Australian and Victorian rowing community cut the ribbon. We would like to thank those volunteers who worked tirelessly on the project for a number of years, those members that supported the project in any way, Methodist Ladies’ College for their support, FMSA architects and Lloyd Group builders for their commitment to creating a building of extremely high quality.
Women’s history at RRC from the 150th anniversary.
List of historical RRC committees.