From humble beginnings in a Box Hill clay pit to becoming one of Victoria’s leading swimming clubs, Surrey Park Swimming has spent over 120 years nurturing generations of swimmers.
This historical timeline celebrates the Club’s milestones — from its early days at “The Dive” and Australia's first Olympic-standard pool, through decades of growth, community programs, and elite success, to its modern facilities and enduring family spirit that continue to define Surrey Park today.
Originally formed through the excavation of clay for the local brickworks the “clay hole” was over 100m in diameter and estimated to vary up to 20m in depth.
The first swimmers
Local footballers from Box Hill Football Club seeking an early form of cross training used the abandoned clay hole to regularly meet and swim, these swimmers were the beginnings of the Club.
Box Hill Football Club, 1903 with Surrey Park founding members Frederick Hodges (with beard, back row second from left), Stephen Sweetland (next to Hodges), George Garrett (in front of policeman), Ed Britnell (second row third from left), and captain George Morton (front row, with ball).
Source: “Fog on the Dive” by Gerard O’Donnell 2004
The drowning of 14 year old Thomas Henry Walsh led to the Nunawading Shire Council closing the clay hole due to both real and perceived dangers.
On the 22 February 1906 the local swimmers submitted a petition to lease the clay hole as Surrey Park Swimmers Club, to make it safe and accessible for swimmers, the council finally agreed on condition that the “Council should be relieved of all responsibility” and that the Club be responsible for the management and safe use.
On February 23 the Club held its first carnival at “The Dive” with up to 5,000 spectators, the event included the One Mile Championship of Victoria, which was won by Frank Beaurepaire in a new Victorian record time of 26min 25sec.
The annual Surrey Park carnivals attracted visitors from across the state, which was rumoured to have been one of the key drivers to the Box Hill population growth
In early May, the Club submitted a proposal to the council to construct a shallow water learners basin at The Dive to teach children how to swim.
Without shallow water various methods were enlisted to keep beginners safe; a local plumber soldered the ends of empty cans to be used as flotation devices for children.
For over a 100 years the Club has provided swimming lessons to the local community at the Surrey Park site albeit no longer in The Dive, which has since been filled in and transformed into an ornamental lake.
5 year old Lesley Bromley nee Lobban using the “cans” in 1930.
Lesley later single–handily kept the Club afloat during the war.
The Surrey Park Ladies Swimming Club was formed on 19 December 1925 in a meeting chaired by the Mayor of Box Hill, Cr Proudfoot and attended by 30 local residents. The Club had 40 members by the official opening on 6th February 1926 (after the new dressing shed were built) which grew to 104 members by the first “Open Carnival” on 13th March 1926. The ladies club eventually merged with the men’s club in 1930.
President: Ivy Livinia Weber (later first women in Victorian Parliament)
Vice Presidents: Mrs Boyland, Mrs McPhail
Secretaries: Mrs Wetzel, Miss Claire Anderson
Treasurer: Mrs Cathcart
In 1933 a 100m ten lane course was laid out in The Dive to be the first Olympic standard pool in Australia.
Box Hill City Swimming Pool
Colloquially known by locals as “Bocky Baths”, the 6-lane pool was formally opened on 28 January 1939. Although, a group of 14 year old boys were given permission to jump in for a swim before the official opening on Friday 13 January, Black Friday, where temperatures in Melbourne soared to 45.6°C during Australia’s third-deadliest bush fire event.
The new pool enabled the Club to provide swimming lessons in a more suitable environment, whilst continuing to train in both The Dive and the new pool.
The war decimated the Clubs membership with the Club plummeting down to only 44 members; many Club members had enlisted to serve the nation, including Club Treasurer Alan Baster and Club Secretary Tom Richards (pictured here).
It wasn’t until the early to mid 50s did the Club begin to blossom again thanks to the hard work of a few dedicated volunteers, with the Club being promoted back up to A grade in 1959.
Also, in 1959 the Club hosted the Herald Learn to Swim Program at the pool in addition to the free “coaching” it was known for, continuing its tradition of teaching children the life skill.
1962 saw the Club achieve one of its best results of the era breaking multiple state records and medalling well at the state championships, as well as being the social hub of the eastern suburbs with dances hosted every Saturday night.
Severe droughts resulted in the closure of The Dive in the early 70s, leaving the Club with just the 6-lane pool whilst petitioning the council for updated facilities. In 1981 the Box Hill Council built the new aquatic centre with an indoor 25m pool and diving pool.
The Club incorporated and formally took on the Learn to Swim service for the new centre.
Surrey Park members selected for the Victorian team as a result of great performances at the 1962 State Championships – Gary Winduss, Doug Andrews, Mick Withers, Robert Menzies, Robert Elmore, J. Bell, Alwyn Mitchell, Bev Lyall.
Source: “Fog on the Dive” by Gerard O’Donnell 2004
1985 brought in the Clubs first full time professional Head Coach, a young swim teacher at the Club, Ian Pope.
With the focus of a professional Head Coach the Club thrived, Matt Welsh’s gold medal at the 1998 World Championships, three medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and his 1st world record for 200m backstroke in October 2000 were the headliners, but the whole Club across all ages was flourishing.
The 2001 State Age Championships was a stand out competition for the Club, with the swimmers taking home 42 individual medals, 20 of which were Gold.
The swimming landscape has now changed with successful Clubs being more professionally run and with stronger finances.
2001 State Team
2004 marked the 100th year anniversary since the founding members joined together to begin the tradition of building a local community through swimming.
The centenary year was kicked off with a Centenary Family Fun Meet in February, where past and present members were invited to compete. Competitors were aged from 7 years to 70 years old with a number of fun-filled mixed relays included.
At the Annual Presentation Night in May, Life Memberships were awarded to Heather O’Connor, Gerard O’Donnell, John Pepper and Ian Pope. “Fog on the Dive” by Gerard O’Donnell, a book documenting the first 100 years of the Club, was officially released.
The year culminated with a Centenary Dinner held on the 1 November 2004, the day before Cup Day, which was traditionally the day of the Surrey Park Swimming Club Annual Ball in the pre-war years.
Heather O’Connor being presented Life Membership by Alan Davis
Surrey Park dominated this period as the preeminent Open Water Swimming Club in Australia, receiving the C.B. Rickards Trophy for being the highest ranked club at the Australian Open Water Championships for 5 out of the 6 years, only finishing 2nd in 2011.
In 2012 Surrey Park finished 3rd at the National Age Championships and followed it up with a 5th in 2013.
2013 also saw the Club awarded the Sports Club of the Year award in the City of Whitehorse Sports Award, as one of the top swimming clubs in Australia.
2013 Australian Open Water Champions
In 2013 the Whitehorse Council began the redevelopment of the Centre, during the redevelopment the Club trained and taught in the now infamous “tent” (outdoor pool with a huge marquee). The new Aqualink Box Hill centre saw the addition of a dedicated learn to swim pool and a new 10 lane 25m outdoor pool. This provided the opportunity for Surrey Park to grow/expand the learn to swim business at the Centre. The original outdoor pool was decommissioned.
Community Access Program for Swimming (CAPS)
Teaching swimming is at the Club’s core, formalised in 2015, CAPS provided funding for swimming lessons to local community members facing disadvantage. CAPS focused on newly arrived migrants, families facing financial difficulties, and children with mental and physical disabilities.
In 2016 the Club’s committee approved an ongoing funding program where revenue raised from swimming lessons would be diverted to the CAPS program.
2015 also saw the Club bring on board its first professional General Manager, Phillip Kong, following a review of its organisational structure and strategic plan.
Migrant group with Emily (Swim School Manager) and Chelsea (Swim Instructor)
The Club opened its own Learn to Swim Centre and squad training pool on the border of Blackburn and Box Hill South. This purpose built 1,000 sqm facility was one of the first mineral based 25m pools in Victoria, and has a state of the art Ozone & Ultra-Violet secondary disinfection system.
The new centre was opened by Councillor Blair Barker (City of Whitehorse) with Matt Welsh (Oly), Ian Pope (Director of Coaching), Shannon Clarke (Club President) and Phillip Kong (Club CEO) in attendance.
2020 brought in the COVID-19 pandemic and nearly two years of lockdowns, stay at home orders and other restrictions, significantly impacting the Club financially.
Its said that adversity brings out your true character, this was exactly what we saw at the Club.
The committee navigated through the financial crisis, the management team focused on keeping employees engaged, and the coaches inspired the swimmers and boosted morale.
The Club’s membership actually grew during this time, with the Club embracing remote training sessions and regular virtual social get togethers.
In 2021 the Club won the City of Whitehorse Sports Club of the Year award at the annual Sports Awards, specifically in recognition of the Clubs ability to retain (and grow) their membership, support their employees and engage with their customers.
2021 Club Championships, held just after the end of the last lockdown
Entering into 2024, the Club’s finances have mostly recovered after the impact of COVID-19. In respect to the performance in the pool, the Club now consistently places in the top 5 clubs in Victoria having ranked 2nd in the last two years (2022 and 2023).
To further strengthen the Club’s financial sustainability as it progresses into the future, in December 2023 the Club acquired Learn To Swim Victoria, a long established and well respected swim school of over 20 years, further enhancing its ability to promote the benefits of learning to swim.
Importantly, the Club has an inclusive and welcoming family culture, and is a place swimmers and their families want to be associated with, which are key in driving the Club to be the largest in Victoria with over 640 members.
The Club is well positioned for the next 120 years.
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