1907 - present

For more than 100 years, North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club (NBSLC) has built up a comprehensive historical archive of photographs of its members, local identities and the physical and cultural changes at Bondi.

The club is one of a small group that helped shape surf lifesaving culture and procedures that led to the formation of Surf Life Saving Australia.

NBSLC was founded in 1907 when a group of men, including Wally Weekes, the first club captain, established the Bondi Surf and Social Lifesaving Club. Its first premises was a tent on Weekes’ land at North Bondi.

The tent is rumoured to have been supplied by another North Bondi resident: hangman Robert Rice Howard, aka Nosey Bob. It was replaced with a simple one-room shed in 1911, then a timber clubhouse and lookout tower in 1920.

By 1926, North Bondi Surf Club had grown substantially and boasted 159 active members, the largest surf club membership at the time. A fire destroyed the clubhouse in 1932 and a mostly brick premises was constructed the next year.

World War II’s outbreak saw many club men leave to fight overseas. Those who remained, galvanised into action, taking over lifesaving and other duties. Women played a significant role in the club during this time.

By the 1960s and '70s the club had gained significant size and reputation. In 1966, Prince Charles visited the club, as did prime minister John Gorton two years later. By 2009 the club had outgrown its premises and a large building was opened in 2013.

Images courtesy North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club and Alan Peacock.