Saturday 5 March 1870
A notice appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald that read: "Rowing Association. - A meeting interested in the advancement of amateur rowing and the formation of a Rowing Association, will be held on Monday next, at half-past 7p.m., at the Oxford Hotel, King Street. Henry Freeman, Hon. Sectretary pro tem."

Monday 6 March 1870
A meeting was held at the Oxford Hotel at which Q.L. Deloitte moved a motion "that it is desirable that steps should be taken for the formation of a club, having for its object the encouragement and improvement of amateur rowing in this colony."  The motion was duly seconded and carried and the Sydney Rowing Club was born.

Tuesday 8 March 1870
The Sydney Morning herald reported that "the Sydney Amateur Rowing Club may now be considered an established affair."

George Thornton, the first President of the Club and past mayor of Sydney, used his power to secure a site adjacent to the current Opera House site.  A tender for the construction of the first club house was accepted for the cost of 195 pounds.

27 August 1870
The Sydney Rowing Club was inaugurated with a grand ceremony and procession of boats on the harbour.  All boats in the procession carried the Club flag, which at this time was white with a dark blue cross.  All crews wore the Club uniform which was a white straw hat with a blue and white ribbon with white shirt and trousers.  The Club was officially opened by His Excellency, the Earl of Belmore.  The Club's first dinner was held that night at the "Caf de France" on the corner of King and George Streets.

17 September 1870
The club's First regatta was held on Sydney Harbour attaracting a large group of intrested spectators.  The regatta consisted of five races. The last event of the day afforded great amusement to spedctators as two skiffs were tied end-to-end with the first to tow the other to a point on either side being declared the winner.

August 1870
Club memebrship reaches 340.

3 May 1871
The first Annual General meeting of the Club was held.  The annual report attributed to the first year of the club "a large amount of success" and members were congratulated "upon the the great improvement in the style of rowing exhibited."  Club assets totalled 615 pounds.

Anniversary Day 1872

An intercolonial champion gig race was planned in Hobart Town for bona-fide amateurs. A "Sydney" crew made the journey along with a "Parramatta River" crew which included the first Prime minister of Australia, Edmund Barton.  Sydney won the race by 1/4 mile exhbiting a style that "had the Cambridge swing with the Oxford stroke. They approached perfection."

Deloitte and his colleagues conceived the idea to purchase the site of the Red House.  The land was considered "beautifully situated at a bold point of the river" only seven miles from Sydney.  There were already adequate facilites for members to remain whilst training and stop for the night if required.  There was also plenty to do if tired of rowing; including fishing and shooting in the adjacent bush.  A special general meeting was held in 1873 to consider "Branch Establishment on Parramatta River".

February 1874
A special general meeting resolved to purchase the Red House property "Red Cow Inn"  situated on Abbotsford Point, the current site of the Club.  The transaction was finalised at a cost of 460 pounds.

By the end of the 1873/74 season the Club owned 21 boats

11 July 1874
"The Branch", at Abbotsford, was officially opened by Q. L. Deloitte after a procession of boats, including thirty-six oarsmen in eight boats, executed precision movements at various points on their way from Circular Quay to Abbotsford.

January 1875
A meeting was held that decided from this point bona fide amateurs may no longer race for monetary prizes and that trophies would be the only acceptable form of prize.

27 June 1876
Edward "Ned" Trickett, Champion Professional Sculler of Australia travelled to England to challenge Joseph H. Sadlerfor the World Championship.  Trickett won and became the first Australian to win a World Championship in any sport. On his return to Sydney he was greeted by a hero's reception of 25,000 people.

October 1876
The Victorian Rowing Association, the first association of rowing clubs in the world, was formed with eighteen member clubs.

The rowing movement spread to the schools with Sydney Grammar establishing its own club. 

December 1878
A meeting of Sydney and Mercantile members elected three delegates each to form the New South Wales rowing association. F. H. Dangar, of Mercantile, was elected President but was replaced the following year by George Thornton who remained President for 22 years.

In the early 1880's A. B. "Banjo" Paterson became a member and drew inspiration from his interest in rowing to write such works as "On the Water".

By the end of the 1879/80 season the Club owned 38 boats and total assets of 2300 pounds.

October 1880
The new Rowing Association held its first ever regatta.  Sydney Rowing Club had a very successful day winning all but one race.

Construction of a Government road at East Circular Quay necessitated removal of a portion of the shed and alterations costing 195 pounds were needed to cope with the changes.

The NSW Rowing Association's second regatta was notable for hosting the first school race in Sydney where the boys from Royston College beat Sydney Grammar by 6 lengths for the "Mayor's Challenge Cup."

A new room was added to the branch and the property was revalued at 1250 pounds.

 Active membership was 180.

 A lawn tennis court was added at the Branch.

 The first annual dinner was held at the Branch with 50-60 people in attendance.  There was no guest of honour at this dinner, as was to become the custom, however Mrs Todd the housekeeper and her daughters put on an excellent dinner.

The intercolonial race of 1885 marked the first time in which Tasmania and Queensland participated.  The NSW crew was vistorious from Victoria, followed by Tasmania then Queensland.  The race also featured the Tasmanian boat boasting the first appearance of a 'fin' being on an eight.

The Club received notice from the Government to quit the site in Circular Quay.  A site was secured on the western side of Woolloomooloo Bay between Mrs Macquarie's Chair and the Domain Baths.  Where the headquarters of the Club reamined until 1947.

As the old city shed was demolished and the popularity of the Branch increased there were plans for the expansion of facilites at Abbotsford to cope with the demand.  Reclamation of some of the waterfrontage and purchase of further land also took place.

August 1889
The new shed was opened at Woolloomooloo.  The committee was confident that it was "one of the best boating pavillions to be found in any part of Australia, and quite equal in appearance to the best ot be found either on the Thames or on the Cam."  The shed contained a lofty and well lighted boat-house, part of which extended on piles over the water, while overhead was a clubroom together with lockers, baths, lavatories, dressing rooms, caretaker's room, workshop and extensive balconies on three sides.  The total cost of construction was almost 1600 pounds.

In the early days of rowing there were three classes of rower: professionals, manual labourers (who also rowed for money) and gentlemen amateurs. 

 The Club reported total assets of 6,207 pounds.

Throughout the 1890's "The Branch" at Abbotsford was plagued by it's own popularity.  The accommodation was deemed insufficient for members and improvements were made early in the decade.  These, however did not suffice and committees were formed in 1895 and 1898 to consider furhter building, however both committees decided that the time was not right to build.  In 1898 the Branch was connected to the Sydney water supply however, sewerage was yet to be connected and continued to pose a problem.

In 1893 Samuel Hordern, a Vice-President of the Club and head of Anthony Hordern and Sons, the famous department store in Sydney, donated a magnificent Clasper-built eight, and two sets of Ayling oars.

The 1980's were a time for great social interaction at the Club with moonlight concerts being held at the Branch featuring string bands and the grounds being illuminated with Chinese lanterns.  Smoke concerts were also held throughout the nineties, where trophies and special presentations were often awarded.

13 year old coxwain Sid Hellings fell from a horse and fractured his elbow so badly that his arm had to be amputated. He was back coxing a year later with had a special device rigged up to allow him to steer the boat.  Sid went on to represent the colony in the 1892, 93 and 94 intercolonial eights.                    

Miss Eadith Walker of Yaralla became a Vice-President of the Club in 1895.  Although women were not permitted to be members of the Club. Miss Walker was one of the wealthiest women of the era and a renowned philanthropist and the Club benefitted immensely from her support. This may have helped in the decision to elecet her as a Vice-President.

In 1895 James Reading Fairfax returned as a Vice-President, after previously holding the position from 1885-89.  Sir James was most well known for his position at the helm of John Fairfax and Sons, founded by his father, owner of the Sydney Morning Herald.

 The Australian Commonwealth came into being on 1 January 1901.  The first Prime Minister of Australia was Edmund Barton, a foundation member of the Sydney Rowing Club.

George Thornton, passed away in November aged 80.  Thornton had been President of the Club since its foundation as well as being President of the rowing Association for 22 years.  His great leadership, considerable political influence and gernerosity had helped greatly in the formation and development of the Club.

The obvious choice to replace Thornton as President of the Club was Q. L. Deloitte.  Having been the Club's first captain he had remained at all times a tower of strength in the Club, devoted during good times and bad.  Deloitte held the position from 1901 to 1928.  Deloitte also replaced Thornton as President of the NSW Rowing Association.

 In 1903 the question of allowing manual labourers to row as amateurs was raised again as in previous years, within the NSW Rowing Association.  The matter was discussed at the Sydney annual general meeting and members were convinced that the move would help NSW again become competitive in the inter-state races and that this change by no means meant that manual labourers should be allowed to enter Sydney Rowing Club itself.  A motion was then passed by the Rowing Association allowing manual labourers to row as amateurs.

 The Club's fleet consisted of 24 boats.

The Club held its first ever ball at Baumann's New Rooms, Pitt Street, Sydney and The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the event was "one of the most successful social functions of the season". The room itsleft was "artistically decorated with a profusion of flags, a charming effect being produced by a skillfull arrangement of oars, draped witht he Club's colours (light blue) arounds the walls".  

A group of Sydney rowers decided to undertake an epic challenge, to row 300 miles from Sydney to Richmond and back.  They started at the entrance to Broken Bay, reached the head of the Hawkesbury and promptly set off for the three day journey home. They barely made it back as a southerly storm blew up just as they rounded North Head.

 The Abbotsford arm of the electric tram service was openend in 1905.  Indeed, at this time most of Sydney was serived by trams and the system was the second largest in the Commonwealth behind only London.  It was estimated that on average, one tram journey was taken in Sydney every day, for every man, woman and child living in the city. The introduction of the trams to Abbotsford however, did not bring about he expected increase in patronage at the Branch.  The abotsford tram line was closed in 1954.

 By this time rowing amongst ladies was becoming more common and acceptable to the men.  In August 1906 the first ladies championship in double sculling was held on the Parramatta River and was won by Mrs Woodbridge and Heyde from a field of ten crews.  Soon after, Mrs Woodbridge was challenged by Miss Gertrude Lewis to a race for 25 pounds a side for the first ladies' sculling championship of Australia.  The race took place in February, 2007 with miss Lewis winning easily.

The first race for lightweights was held at the SRC regatta in October, 1908.  Rowers under 10 stone were permitted to participate and the Sydney four won handsomely from a field of five. The first lightweight rce for points was at the Leichardt Regatta in November the same year.

QL Deloitte was presented with a magnificent silver trophy in recognition of his service to rowing.The QL Deloitte trophy was presented by the "friends of Q.L. Deloitte" to mark the jubilee of his first win in a rowing race.  The handsome trophy was presented to the NSW Rowing Association and became the perpetual award for the NSW Championship eights.

The Club's fleet consisted of 26 boats; three eights, two regulation fours and five other fours, four pairs, three gladstones, six skiffs, a best double scull, a best pair-oar and an outrigger.

The popularity of the Branch meant that more boats were being stored there.  In April 1910, a new boatshed capable of housing a fair sized fleet was officially openend.  The shed was 68' by 16' and cost 113 pounds.  A new staging and pontoon, capable of boating an eight was donated by a keen member at this time.

The decade had been difficult for the Lcub financially.  Several blocks of land had been sold at Abbotsford to reduce the mortgage however it still stood at 1400 pounds.  Total assets were 4484 pounds with total liabilities of 2580 pounds.  The Branch property was valued at 2545 pounds, the Wooloomooloo clubhouse at 1000 pounds and the boats and oars at 651 pounds.

The Great War had a dramatic impact on the Club during this decade with active membership falling as low as 42 in 1919.  By 1920, aided by the admittance of manual labourers to the Club, membership had recovered to 94.

In May, 1910 the first amatur ladies rowing club, Western Suburbe Ladies' Rowing Club was formed.  By 1917 there were six ladies' amateur rowing clubs in Sydney and vigorous competition between them.

The interstate conference decided to make inquiries about sending a crew to Sockholm for the 1912 Olympics.  The following day NSW won the interstate eights and the NSWRA promptly met and resolved to send an eight and a sculler to the Games.

In 1912 a Sydney Rowing Club crew competed in an international competition for the first time.  The crew won the Grand Challenge Eights at the Henely Royal Regatta, witnessed by the King and Queen of England.

Ladies' interstate racing commenced in 1912 with a Queensladn crew defeating Albert Park in Melbourne.

The effects of the war really started to impact rowing in NSW in August, 1914 when enlistments commenced.  Thirteen mebers of Sydney Rowing Club had enlisted by September and the Club cancelled its regatta of that year.  Queensland was due to hold the interstate races in 1915 however the Rowing Associations of all states were unanimous in their opinion that interstate racing should be postponed until after the war. The NSWRA decided not to stage its premiership between 1915 and 1918.

The Club's fleet consisted of 28 boats; three racing eights, two practice eights, three racing fours, two practice fours, nine gladstone skiffs, five pair oars, three double sculls and a four pair skiff.

By the end of the first World War 91 Sydney Rowing Club members had served Australia and 21 had paid the supreme sacrifice for their country.

At the end of the War the "Henley Peace Regatta" was held.  The Australian eight won the "King's Cup", a hansome trophy presented by His Majesty King George V.  After much debate the King finally decreed that the cup be used as the permanent trophy for the Interstate eight-oared race of Australia.

Electric light was installed at the Branch in Abbotsford.

Sydney Rowing Club's 50th jubilee regatta was the highlight of the 1919/20 season with the Rowing Association honoring the event by allocating the chamion Eights and chamion sculls to the regatta.  The regatta was a fabulous occasion, "the galmour, sentimental and historical associations surrounding the celebration and the delightful weather brought about a very large attendance."  Competitively, however the Club had yet to recover from the war and racing results were poor.

In May, 1920, NSW competed in its first ladies interstate race without success.  At the regatta a meeting was held where the Australian Women's Rowing Council was formed, showing considerably more organisation than the men

After winning the Kings Cup in 1919 the AIF Sports Control Board had taken possession of the Cup and passed it onto the Australian War Memorial Council, who did not wish to part with it.  At the interstate race in 1920, the conference of Rowing Associations agreed to request the Australian War Memorial Council to make the King's Cup available as the perpetual trophy for the interstate eights.  When this request, and a further request later in the year were refused the Victorian Rowing Association took further action.  In October 1920 a petition to the King was prepared and signed by Captain Disher stroke of the original eight requesting that His Majesty make known his wished for the disposal of the trophy.  A reply in May 1921, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Winston Churchill, stated that "His Majesty commands me to inform you that it is his wish that the Cup should be used as a permanent trophy and be competed for annually in the Interstate Eight-Oared Race of Australia."

In March, 1922 a fire destroyed the boatshed in Wooloomooloo and a substantial portion of the fleet and many valuable records and memorabilia were lost.  The Club was protected by insurance and a new shed was openened on the same site in November the same year. 

In 1924 The Australian Amateur Rowing Council was formed .  The AARC was to meet once a year at the time and place of the Kings Cup and at such other times as was necessary.  The purpose of the Council was essentially to determine the rules and policies that governt he King's Cup and other interstate races.

Club membership is 191.

In the winter of 1926 a new point-score competition was established for amateur scullers with silversmiths, Walker and Hall donating a perpetual trophy for the competition.  Bert Goulding won the first race, Kessel the second, and the third race saw the emergence of 20 -year-old Bob Pearce, son of Harry Pearce.  He went on to win the last four races of the competition and then a row-off with Pye to break their points deadlock. Pearce's efforts were widely regarded and many observed that he was a sculler to watch for the future.

By 1927 a recently organised winter point-score competition had been organised with rowers being graded into A and B divisions, the A division competing for a newly established Q. L. Deloitte Cup.  Bert Goulding was the first winner of this Deloitte Cup.

Social events were of great importance in the 1920's with the Club's Annual Ball being a highlight each year.  In 1928 the ball was held at David Jones' Ballroom, with the Governor in attendance and a guest list of over 550 people.  It was a fantastic event and contributed 117 pounds to the Club's revenues.

Bob Pearce is awarded the Club's first ever Honorary Life Membership.

Club membership reaches 305; 52 Life members, 163 active members and 90 associates.

The NSW Women's Rowing Association was formed.

Quarton Levitt Deloitte passed away on7 April, 1929.  Deloitte was the man who moved a motion "that it is desirable that steps should be taken for the formation of a club, having for its object the encouragement and improvement of amateur rowing in this colony." thus breathing life into the Sydney Rowing Club.  He was the first Captain of the Club, served as Vice-President from 1878 to 1902 when he became President of the Club and the NSWRA, both posts he held till his death.  He was the staunchest supporter of all rowing clubs and rowing activities and was widely lauded as the "father of amateur rowing".  A large crowd including the Prime Minister attended his funeral.

A meeting was held on 21 June, 1929 to consider the appointment of a new President, to be only the third in the Clubs 59 year history.  The choice was C.A. "Clarrie" Smith, a top oarsmen of the 1890's who had served the Club as committeeman, treasurer, vice-captain, captain and vice-president.

Nineteen boats were lost in the fire and the Club set about rebuilding the fleet over the coming years including the arrival or the Chard, Q.L. Deloitte and Q. L. Deloitte II.  By 1930 the crew was back to 22 boats; four racing eights, a practice eight, two best and best fours, five regulation fours, three pair oars and seven gladstone skiffs.

By the end of the decade the Club's assets were 6,171 pounds; Clubhouse and land at Abbotsford 3500 pounds, Clubhouse at Wooloomooloo 1290 pounds and the fleet 714 pounds.

With the effects of the depression being felt it was decided that the next two King's Cup races would be held in 1932 and 1934, thereafter reverting to an annual event. 

The fleet consisted of 22 boats.

Social events were again integral to Club life in the 1930'swith the Annual Ball continuing successfully (462 at the 1930 Ball).  Smaller dances were also held regularly, a little too regularly for the regular boarders a the Branc who wished the dances to be limited to one every three weeks.  The Ladies' Sub-Committee was very active thanks to the efforts of Mrs C.A.Smith and Miss Maude Honey (later Mrs Jack Goulding).  In 1934 the Younger Set Committee was also formed, known by the older members as the "undesirables", they were also very effective at organising social events and fundraising.  The two Committees amalgamanted in 1938 to form one social committee.

A meeting was convened, of a "small but enthusiastic gathering of rowing men" who decide to inaugurate the Union of Old Oarsmen.  The Union's aims were to foster a spirit of good fellowship among all men who had rowed or sculled and to maintain an active interest in the sport.  Social funcitons and fundraisers were held and two delegates were elected to the NSWRA.

In 1932 the "Bridge Opening Celebrations Regatta" was held to mark the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  Five races were held at the regatta and a special dance was held at the Branch in Abbotsford to commemorate the occasion.

Bob Pearce again represented Australia at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.  He claimed another Gold medal amid the general agreement that he was the greatest sculler the world had ever seen.

In 1933 the NSW Police Rowing Club was formed and a shed erected on Blackwattle Bay.  They soon achieved success by winning the 1935/36 premiership and their eight being selected to represent Australia at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Competition amongst the womens' clubs in Sydney remained strong in the 1930's with Sydney Women's Rowing Club enjoying most of the success.  In 1933 a the Sydney Ladies' regatta, the first ladies' eight race in NSW was held, with the Sydney crew winning easily.

Professional competition for the World Championship continued to be strong early in the 1930's until the reigning champion Ted Phelps, of America, accepted a challenge from Bob Pearce, who had just turned professional.  The race was held before almost 70,000 people and pearce won by such a margin that it was doubted if any high-stakes challenges would be found for Pearce.  Pearce defended his title several times in the decade with the 1938 race against Paddon, of Australia, resulting in pearce rowing out to about 8 lengths lead and the just "padling" home.

 Membership was 173. 

25 August 1934
A fire destroyed a large portion of the Clubhouse and premises including the lounge, dining and billiard rooms.  A lot of trophies and important memorabilia was lost in the fire. Substantial repairs had to be undertaken. The financial position of the Club was very poor and drastic solutions werebeing considered including selling the Branch, selling Wooloomooloo, or selling some land at the Branch or the Branch liquor license. A Special Finance Committee decided that econimies should be effected at the Branch and a membership drive inaugurated.

Draught beer first became available at Abbostford with Reschs being the beer of choice.

By the mid 1930's, Club activities were firmly focussed on the Branch with most of the bots transferred there also.  The lack of focus on the Wooloomooloo allowed the shed to fall into poor condition and around this time Pearce, the caretaker was dismissed from his post.  Sale of Wooloomooloo was being seriously considered by the end of the decade.

In 1935, one of the great professional scullers, Bill Beach, passed away.  An apeal was opened up and in 1938 a granite monument was openend in Cabarita Park, site of many of his triumphs, in his homour.

A motion was carrid at the Annual General meeting that "An Order of Merit Award shall be made each year to tha tmember who shall hae rendered the most outstanding services to the Club during his membership, his name to be inscribed on an Honour roll erected for that purpose.  One member only shall be elected each year by the Committee, and shall be recommended to the General Meeting. The award shall take the form of a pale blue blazer, with gold Club monogram pocket, and gold buttons, the cost of which shall be defrayed from donations by Club members." Frank Leister was the first recipient of the award.

A severe storm tore off half the roof of the Boatshed. 

A proposal was tabled to erect a new building at the Branch at a cost of 1500 pounds however, a special general meeting decided not to proceed.  Consideration was also given to the installation of a fruit machine, however the proposal was rejected due to legal uncertainty.

The 1938 British Empire Games was held in Sydney with the rowing competition to be held on the Nepean River.  Australia selected an eight, four and sculler.  After the failure of the Australian crew at the 1936 Olympics it was decide to change the policy of selecting entire Club crews to represent Australia and instead the selector chose from all available athletes in Australia.  The change was immediately successful with excellent combinations being formed and Australia recording two wins and a second place at the Games.

The fleet consisted of only 15 boats; a racing eight, two practice eights, a racing four, five regulation fours, a clinker four, three pair oars and two gladstone skiffs.

Membership was 242.

 The Branch is finally connected to the sewer.

Assets are valued at 4874 pounds; Clubhouse at Abbotsford 2956 pounds, Clubhouse Wooloomooloo 906 pounds, fleet 640 punds, Boatshed and pontoon at Abbotsford 125 pounds.

3 September 1939
England declared war on Germany. Almost 200 current and past Sydney Rowing Club members enlisted.

Bill Bradley held the position of Treasurer from 1941-42 to 1946/47, he has also held the post of Branch Manager throughout the decade and was largely responsible for maintaining the Club's operations through the war years.  His efforts were recognised when the Bradley Room, a meeting and function room, was named in his honour.

Arthur Chadwick (and  his wife Plassy) was installed as caretaker and soon becasme entrenched in the life of the Club.

Membership stood at 221 however, 94 of these were serving in the war, including 42 of the 64 active members.

By the end of the war the boat fleet numbered only thirteen; one racing eight, one practice eight, one best and best four, five regulation fours, two pair-oars, and three gladstone skiffs. 

In 1947, encouraged by Club Captain George Parlby, the members agreed to abandon the Wooloomooloo site.  The boatshed was dismantled, transported to Abbotsford and erected in the site it still occupies to this day.

The focus of the 1947/48 season was the London Olympics of 1948.  The Vistorian Coach Ray Todd was appointed sole selctor and the Australian Amateur Rowing Council deemed to send a four and a sculler to the Olympics.  Tod selected a complete Victorian crew for the Olympics as well as Merv Wood as the sculler.

In February 1948 the first meeting of the Sydney Old Boy's Union was heldwith about 60 old oarsmen gathering to "recapture the spirit of the Club, and get into their togs again and show the youngsters how it should be done."  A race between the 1934 championship eight and a composite lightweight eight was a feature of the day.

Merv Wood competed at four Olympics winning one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.  He was also bestowed the honour of being the only athlete to carry the Australian flag at two Olympic games.

A new peak in membership was reached with 365 members.

A new regatta, the Metropolitan Regatta, was held in December 1948 and was reportedly the "best regatta that had been seen in this state."  Thirty three events were held, entrants came from New Zealand, Victoria, Queensland and of course NSW.  Seventeen surf clubs took part in surf boat and surf ski events, speedboat races were held and the Royal Aero Club of NSW staged an aerial display.

The last professional sculling race in Sydney was held in Hen and Chicken Bay, finishing at the Sydney Rowing Club flagstaff.

A new award, the W. J. Goulding memorial Trophy, for the most improved oarsman was first awarded to Frank Burleigh and Frank Malone.

The King's Cup regatta of 1949 was another successful regatta for NSW with the eight and sculler (Wood) winning their respective races.  Wood's win represented the sixteenth straight win for NSW in the interstate sculls.  The eight was a keenly contested race as the AARC had deemed that the winning crew would go on to represent Australia at the Empire Games in Auckland the following year. 

The Empire Games in Auckland, NZ proved extremely successful with Australia winning the eight, single scull, the double scull and the pair and placed second in the four.

Improved trading in 1947 brought about changes in the Club's operation. A visitors book was introduced  with members only allowed 3 visitors per month. Ladies were barred from the Club except on social occasions.  Liquor could only be consumed in the clubhouse, and in September 1948 the first poker machine was purchased.

For the 1952 Helsinki Olympics the AARC nominated Wood as the sculler and and eight to represent Australia.  The success of the Sydney and NSW eight meant that the majority of that crew to represent Australia was made up of the entire NSW eight, five of whom were Sydney men; Tinning, Palmer, Middleton, Chapman and Cayzer.  Wood transferred to Sydney and the Sydney Double Scull team of Rodgers adn Riley also gained olypmic selection.  The Olympic crews were to row at Henley as part of their Olympic lead-up and all crews rowed in the light blue of Sydney Rowing Club.  The eight placed second at Henley, despite breaking the existing record, Wood won the Diamond sculls and the double also reached the final.  At the Olympics the eight struggled with injury early on but went on to win their way through to the final where they rowed magnificantly to take home hte bronze medal.  Wood, suffering a wrist injury and stomach upset struggled valiantly and still managed a silver medal.

Major extensions to the Club's ballroom are completed.

In 1952 a committee member was found taking a small amount of money from a cash register. He admitted his actions and in a split decision the committee allowed him to remain a member prompting the Treasurer, assistant treasurer, social secretary and another committee member.  This prompted a group of members to get together a petition to hold a special general meeting to expressthe first ever "no confidence" motion against the committee.  All committee members promptly resigned and at the general meeting a new committee was elected consisting of all previous office-bearers and four of the six committee members.

Bar revenue was 10,200 pounds.

Caretaker, Arthur Chadwick was appointed as a full-time employee of the Club.

In March, 1954 Lt.-Commander Bob Pearce of the Royal Canadian navy visited the Club and the occasion was marked by a dinner.  The event was extremely successful and prompted the inauguration of an annual dinner, complete with guest speaker each time.

Bill Bradley retired his post as Branch Manager and was replaced by the Club's first full-time "administrator" in Alan Snedded.

The Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956 provided the opportunity for Australian rowing officials to stage a fantastic regatta, featuring 72 crews from 25 countries, and allowed Australia to be represented in all seven events.  The eight put in a tremendous effort to take the bronze medal, Merv Wood, in his third Olympics, and Riley took the bronze in the double scull and Stuart Mackenzie took silver in the single scull.  Wood carried the flag for Australia at the opening ceremony of both the Helsinki and Melbourne Olympics,  becoming the only Australian ever to carry the flag in two opening ceremonies.

New showers and toilets were completed in the boathouse.

At the 1957 meeting of the Sydney Old Boy's Union the entire 1937 Champion lightweight eight reunited and took to the water again creating quite a spectacle.

Installation of a rowing tank commenced, requiring blasting out of the rock face.  A retaining wall was built adjacent to the tank allowing reclamation of more lawn for the Clubhouse.  A firm of architects was retained at this time to draw up a mater plan for the future development of the Club.

Professoinal sculling ceased altogether during the decade.  In 1953 Evans Fischer defeated Evans Paddon for the World Championship and went on to defend the title twice against Paddon.  With rowing interest clearly focussed on the amateurs Fisher retired in 1958 as the undefeated World Professional Champion.

Significant rock excavation from the rear of the property alolowed for more carparking and also provided spoil to aid in the reclamation of more land at the foreshore.  The pontoon and the staging at the boatshed were overhauled.  Improvements were made to the caretakers cottage and an office was provided for use by the Club's officers.

George Parlby served as captian of the Club from 1945/46 to 1959/60 with only one year's break, thus establishing a new record of consistency in the position and bringing great stability to the Club.

The net suplus on operations was 6575 pounds.  The Club's assets totalled 39,332 pounds, the fleet was valued at 5150 pounds, the clubhouse and land was valued at 16,725 pounds, the boathouse and pontoon at 3370, the rowing tank at 1315 and "furniture and machines" at almost 6000 pounds.  the Club held healthy cash reserves of 5675 pounds.

The fleet consisted of 22 boats; three racing eights, two best and best fours, six regulation fours, a double scull, three pair/doubles, a five scull, three pairs, three gladstone skiffs and a plywood speedboat.

Membership reached 768 after a marked increase in the number of associates and "social associates", a new class of membership established in 1953.

Patrons at the Club were finally exposed to greater choice of draught beer as Tooheys also became available on tap.

The verandah of the boatshed was extended and enclosed whilst an observation room was built above this for the use of commentators and officials during regattas.

Membership categories were reclassified with the two categories of associate membership being simplified  to Social and Associate membership for those who had no affiliation with rowing and those who had been an active member of a rowing club for two years.

The first Australian National Regatta was held at Lake Wendouree from 21 to 23 April 1962.  SRC athletes experienced limited success, representing NSW in three crews with a best finish of second in the lightweight eights and the coxless fours.

The First World Rowing Championships was held in Lucerne, Switzerland in September 1962 with Australian crews representing in the eights, coxless four and sculls.  The eight and four both qualified for the final and each finished fifth.  The regatta was dominated b the East Germans who won five of the seven classes of racing.

A new buidling was erected on the waterfront at the northern boundary of the property, with a flat concrete top as useable space the shed was to house the Club's speedboats.

The position of Secretary / Manager was created as a full-time role to take on the day-to-day operations of the Club.

The Tokyo Olympics of 1964 featured six Australian crews, one being the Sydney coxed four.  The results however, were dissapointing with Australia unable to make a top grade final.  The coaches, management and rowers were adamant that Australia would require much greater international competition in order to attain world-class standard.

Fred Meares stepped down as president at the end of 1963/64 and was replaced by George Parlby.  Parlby had served the Club extremely well as an athlete, committee member, Captain and in all phases of Club life.

Major renovations were undertaken in the Clubhouse at an expense of 14,000 pounds.  The bar was relocated and modernised as well as the lounge area being recarpeted and new furniture and fittings being purchased.

A third bay was added to the boatshed with a  sundeck on top.  The carpark was fitted with proper drainage, was sealed and had proper illumination installed.

1967 Marked the most extensive tour that Australian rowers had ever undertaken.  In the quest to gain international experience the crews would compete at the Royal Canadian Henley, the North American and US national title and the European Championships in France.  The Australian eight placed second at the Canadian Henley and the four won their event.  A the North American Chamionships a fortnight later the eight again placed second although against much stronger competition.  In the United States nationals the four placed second in the final.  The Australians' performance at the European championships reflected their long and exhausting tour with the best result being the eight placing sixth in the final.

Six Club athletes and a coach were selected in the eight for the 1968 Mexico Olympics.  the crew undertook a rigorous training regieme and were hailed the fittest athletes in the entire Australian team.  They performed brilliantly and claimed a silver medal less than a second behind the winner.   

Bar sales approched $90,000 a year and the bar surplus was $8,650.  Poker machines provided the greatest part of net earnings, $45,400 in 1968/69 ($53,750 the previous year).  The overall net surplus was under $5,000 due to expenses of maintaining the rowing program and building clubhouse and grounds.

The total number of members reached 1077 by March 1969 largely due to the increase in Social members. The Club's assets were valued at $168,800; Clubhouse and land at $77,300, boathouse and pontoon at $8,100, boatfleet at $26,400 and furniture and machines at $22,600.

Dring the 1960's the annual dinner was held every year with great success.  The annual ball was reintroduced in 1962 and continued throughout the 1960's.  A formal Dinner Dance was hald at the Club in 1960 and proved so successful that it beacme an annual event.  The New Year's Eve part and Children's Christmas party continued to be extremely well attended events.

 In Sydney Rowing Club's Centenary Year oarsmen claimed the state title in the eights, coxed fours, junior fours, lightweight eight, junior eight and lightweight coxless pair.  SRC also took out the NSWRA premiership - a fitting end to their centenary season.

The Centenary Dinner was held on 6 March with over 150 members in attendance.  The night was a rgeat success with Sir Edgar Tanner, Secretary Treasurer of the Australian Olympic Federation as the Guest of Honour.

The Sydney Rowing Club Centenary Regatta was a grand affair with crews from five states, New Zealand and the Phillipines competing.  Highlights included the presenting of "Her Majesty The Queen's Plate" for women's fours by the Governor-General, a unique relay race, the "Bi-Centenial Eights" and the unveiling of a memorial to George Towns at the finishing line.

he Frank Hidden Award of Merit for 1970 was won by John Coates.  John rowed with Homebush High and went on to become a very active member of the Club as well as the Australian Olympic Committee.

By the end of the 1969/70 season the fleet consisted of 29 boats; four eights, eight best & best fours, five regulation fours, four pair oars, one five scull, one double scull, one single scull, two tub pairs and three gladstone skiffs along with eighty blades and three speedboats.

Stage 1 of major extensions and enhancements were made to the Clubhouse during the year including the addition of a permanent dining room and the ever popular billiards room creating "a Clubhouse which leaves little to be desired."

Seven members were named in the State eight to compete for the King's Cup; R. Curtain, R. Paver, G. Pearce, M. Morgan and B. Curtain with A. Grover as cox and A. Callaway as coach.  The crew trained extremely well and easily accounted for the competition to claim the King's Cup for NSW and gain selection for the Munich Olympic Games in 1972.  Later in the year at the National Championships in Queensland the coxless pair of Mackney and Horsley were victorious and gained Olympic selection.  Chris stevens rowed in a composite four who won the national title and also gained Olympic selection. Out of 21 members of the rowing squad for the Munich Olympics, 10 were Sydney Rowing Club members. Unfortunately the AUstralian rowers were beset by many obstacles during their preparation and were unable to gain a place in any finals.

In 1973 the Club embarked on the biggest overseas tour in Club history competing in reagattas in England and Switzerland.  Notable rowing performances were not the order of the tourand  lack of documentary evidence indicates that it was likely to have been a very successful social tour!

Q. L. Deloitte trophy had been missing for almost a quarter of a century when Miss Enid Deloitte, a niece of the great Q.L. Deloitte, located the trophy at an antique dealer and purchased it.  It was re-presented to NSWRA and is permanetly housed at the Sydney Rowing Club.

1975/76 was an excellent year for Sydney oarsmen, the Club won the Youth, First, Second, Fourth and Premiership pennants and placd second in the Third grade pennant.  The Club gained thirty (30) interstate and international representations.  SRC crews received a top three placing in 21 out of 24 State Championship races as well as 20 out of 26 National Championship races. 

For the 1976 Montreal Olympics Islay Lee, Robert Paver, Ian clubb, Stuart Carter (cox), and Michael Morgan (coach) were selected in the eight and Ted Hale was selected to compete in the dingle scull.  John Coates was appointed manager of the Australian Team.  Hale performed admirably in his heat but failed to make the major final, running second in the minor final.  The Australian eight had an easy win in their heat however a strong wind had pushed them onto the lane marker bouys and the tangle caused an injury to one of the crew.  The crew member was replaced and they went on to place fifth in the final.  Coach Morgan believed they had a strong chance for a medal especially as the New Zealand crew who they beat so easily in the heat took the brionze medal.

Sydney Rowing Club continued its dominance of rowing in NSW and Australia winning the State Championship Eights, Sculls, Coxed Fours, Coxless Fours, Coxed Pairs, Coxless Pairs and Second Grade Eights.  The NSW eight, comprised all but one Sydney oarsman and went on to win the King's Cup and Ted Hale won his second consecutive President's Cup. Following their success S. Handley, I. Paver, T. Brown, G. Clubb, I. Clubb, I. Lee and S. Mackenzie (coach) were selected to represent Australia at the World Championships in Amsterdam.

Michael Morgan became the first professional coach (and Assistant Secretary Manager).  The Club then recorded the greatest performance by any rowing club in the history of Australia claiming nine Australian titles at the National Championships.

At the 1978 National Championships Sydney Rowing Club recorded what is believed to be the "greatest performance by any Rowing Club in the history of Australian rowing.  SRC crews won the Australian Championship Eight, Single Scull, Coxed Four, Coxless Four, Coxed Pair, Coxless Pair, Quadruple Scull, Junior Eight and Junior Single Scull.

At the NSW Championships the following year the Club boated two eights and in an amazing, historic result the two crews dead heated for the NSW Championship and the Q. L. Deloitte trophy.   

By 1979 various improvements had taken place in the Clubhouse including the addition of air conditioning, the expansion and enhancement of the kitchen, several aesthetic improvements such as new carpeting and painting and a major extension completed in mid 1979.  The trading reults reflect these changes with the 1979 annual report showing beverage revenue of $291,459 and poker machine takings of $261,475.  Total assets were reported at $888,238 being primarily land and buildings $796,026.

The boat fleet consisted of 28 boats; four eights, eleven fours, two single sculls, two double sculls, one quad scull, three gladstones and five pairs. 

Two Sydney Rowing Club members, Islay Lee and Stephen Handley were selected to represent Australia in the eight at the Moscow Olympics.  The Australian eight preformed brilliantly in lead-up races prior to and during the Olympics coming withing 0.6 seconds of the eventual winners and beating the eventual silver medallists.  However, on the day of the final the Australian had to be content with fifth place.

The 1980 season marked the end of one of the most impressive eras in Sydney Rowing Club history with the Club being undefeated in the NSW Champion eights, the Australian Champion Coxed Four and the Australian Champion Single Scull for five consecutive years each since 1976.

Sydney Rowing Club won the NSW Champion eights to record a record ninth straight win in this Championship.

Jim Stride was selected to represent Australia in the Coxless Pair at the Los Angeles Olympics and John Coates was appointed Assistant General Manager of the Australian Olympic Team.  The Coxless Pair was unsuccessful however other results at the games were impressive with the men's eight and women's coxed four earning a bronze medal and the men's quad scull taking the silver.

Dale Caterson was cox of the Australian eight that won gold at the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships.

Major renovations took place including demolishing and rebuilding the main bar and enclosing the "Regatta Lounge".

Eric Perry and Gordon Clubb both joined the Club in 1934.  From 1964 they have sculled together every Sunday morning.They calculated that by 1989 they had covered the distance of Sydney to London - and were on the return trip …

On December 14, 1993 the Sydney Rowing Club decided that it would finally allow women to become members.

Robert Walker and Richard Wearne claimed a bronze medal in the 1994 World Chamionships. In 1995 they won the National title and a silver medal at the World Championships.

The Club again undertook major renovations building a new members lounge and the Bill Bradley Lounge.

The Dedes name returned to the catering operations. Con Dedes took up the position of contract caterer held by his parents Stavros and Helen from 1974 to 1982.

One of the longest serving employees, Yvonne Ellis, retired after 29 years with the Club.  Yvonne was promoted to Secretary Manager in 1992 and her years of dedicated service saw the Club through recession and major redevelopments.

Work was carried out on the pontoon and boathouse, with repairs to foundations, new electrical wiring and the addition of women's facilities to the once all male environment. This has extended the life of the boathouse for a few more years. However, the growth of the sport places pressure on the club to provide additional, updated facilities for active members, whose ranks now include a significant complement of female members, masters rowers and active, non-competitive recreational rowers. A master plan has been developed to cater for future development, to provide even better amenities for members.

The redevelopment of 2007 saw the completion of the first stage of the master plan with almost the operating floor of the Club being refurbished. A new kitchen was added to the Watergrill (formerly Regatta room), and a terrace adjacent to the Watergrill, a new Gaming Lounge, with terrace, was created in place of the Bradley Room which created more space for the lounge area to capitalise on the river views. New marketing initiatives were undertaken which complemented the redevelopment works and focussed on the history and heritage of "Sydney’s Original Rowing Club."

Many of the newer and younger members may not realise, when they are competing in, or viewing regattas from the club grounds, that t