1933 1937
JC Fraser (stroke), BH Taylor (3), BM Palmer (2), RT Wright (bow), JW Cramb (cox)
Boatshed Opens at Toowong
Winners of the Head of the River
S Hawgood (stroke), GL Wilson (3), W Arrowsmith (2), W Georgeson (bow), R Harris (cox)
Winners of the Head of the River
1934
Sports Budget
1927
Regattas were conducted over ¾ mile on the Hamilton reach until 1919 and then between South Brisbane and North Quay until 1930. In 1931, all regattas and the O’Connor Cup, later named the Head of the River, were conducted on the Milton reach. In 1931 boys from Clayfield College were moved to a new campus at Toowong and for the first two years used shared facilities with the Toowong Rowing Club. This close relationship with Toowong extends to this day. The new BBC Boatshed, near the Regatta Hotel, was opened on 14 April
1934 which relieved the restrictions on space, equipment and membership. This was extended to accommodate eights when they were introduced into Queensland schoolboy rowing in 1955. Schools first started competing for the O’Connor Cup in 1922, with the first race broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 1945. The first official Head of the River, however, wasn’t held until 1946, with BBC securing victory and taking home the very first title. The Head of the River became known as a significant social event with
people lining both sides of the riverbank and cars following the crews down Coronation Drive as they battled it out for the prestigious title. By the mid-fifties the event was attracting more than 12,000 onlookers and keen spectators watched in anticipation for the smoke from the starter’s shotgun to signify the start of the race. During this period of time, when the Head of the River was raced on the Milton reach, BBC experienced more success than any other school and this was largely due to the guidance and passion of one man.
BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE REGATTA 2016 9