At the Aquatic an excerp from the book.

INTRODUCTION

By Ian Horn 

Seafaring readers expecting to find in these pages accounts of sailing regattas and stories associated

with the sport of sailing, may be disappointed to find just a few brief accounts from the early days.

While the “Aquatic Club” has served the community well as a boating club, this book deals

primarily with the building itself and its function as a long-serving centre for entertainment in

Cairns. In keeping with its history, it remains a common 'watering hole' for both mariners and

musicians.

Dancing at The Aquatic has been written towards the end of a lengthy campaign for the preservation

of the historic Cairns Yacht Club building, therefore some of the text may appear emotional but with

emotion born out of frustration at the deafness of community leaders to the voice of the citizens

they serve.

Cairns' buildings were not destroyed by enemy bombers and a tropical cyclone as were

Darwin's. The enemy of Cairns' heritage has been more stealthy and bears the pretentious name of

Progress.

Progress towards what?

The obliteration of so many wonderful purpose-built tropical buildings, Icons reflecting the city's unique

tropical identity and lifestyle, can only be called "Regress".

Oddly, many of the buildings which have been given heritage listing are currently

derelict and unused, while the irreplacable "living" Yacht Club building, which has served the people of

Cairns continuously for 87 years, appears doomed.

While there is bitterness, what shines through  “Dancing At The Aquatic” is ex Yacht Club

Commodore, Bob Rendall's love of the place, its people and its entertaining musical history which

he describes so well in his characteristic forthright manner.

Numerous people have either allowed their own articles to be reproduced here in full or have made

their research available to be quoted. Alan Hudson and Dorothy Kelly and Warwick Armstrong

(cover picture) are mentioned on the title page and others are credited in some of the following

pages. Vera Bradley and Marjory Earl are among them.

Bob Rendall is still seeking out former regular Aquatic entertainers to interview and turning up new

sources of contemporary information. Rob Williams, President of the Cairns Tropic Jazz Club and

spokesman for the Cairns Heritage Group has gleaned information from a variety of sources (which

he acknowledges in the WWII section). Rob's tenacious 'can do' attitude has been a key feature in

the heritage campaign, continually motivating 'the team' and keeping the opposition jittery.

Bob has asked me to tidy up his 2005 edition and to compile extra material for this 2007 edition,

now scheduled for release around the middle of the year. New sections include a chronological table

of the building's history and information about its wartime role. I rewrote the section on the Cairns

Tropic Jazz Club and the background to its formation as well as a brief summary of its history

before the adoption of the "Aquatic Hall" as it's home.

Ian Horn, May 2007

THE HISTORIC AQUATIC

THE CAIRNS AQUATIC CLUB - A HUB OF SOCIAL LIFE

By Dorothy Kelly

The Cairns Post of March 1908 reported that a well attended meeting of Cairns residents who were

interested in fostering aquatic sports and pastimes was held at the Strand Hotel. It was resolved that

a club be formed to be called the Cairns Aquatic Club with resulting official positions as follows:

Patron - Mr R Sturt; President & Commodore - Dr Baxter-Tyrie; Rear Commodore - Mr C B Lilley;

Vice Commodore - Mr E Sunners; Treasurer - Capt Nelson; Vice Presidents - Dr Kerwin, Messrs P

G Grant, W J Munro, A J Draper. E C Earl, P J Doyle, J Meyer.

A number of sub-committees were appointed to cover sailing, Rowing and swimming.

At this inaugural meeting a decision was made to hold a plain and fancy dress ball in connection

with the regatta during the Carnival Week in July. Thus was launched the social activity of the

Cairns Aquatic Club which was to become an important hub of the social life of Cairns. The

Regatta itself was a memorable occasion when Trinity Harbour presented a gala appearance with

gaily decorated flagships and craft of all sizes and description (including a canoe manufactured and

manoeuvred by Mr J L Peake) and carrying spectators, congregated in the vicinity of the wharves.

This pattern was adopted for the opening of each sailing season thereafter. Boats from Townsville

joined in the competitions and the fun, which culminated in a reunion at the Post Office Hotel in

Abbott Street.

The Ball, the concluding function of the carnival, was held in the Shire Hall on the Esplanade and

exceeded all expectations. Three hundred programmes which had been supplied were grossly

insufficient for the patrons who attended and the hall, cleared of furniture and decorated especially

for the occasion, could provide room for only about half the numbers of dancers. Music for the

evening was provided the Florodora Orchestra conducted by Mr A Bennett. The enjoyment and

enthusiasm of all attending was regarded as representing a high water mark in entertainment and as

having established a record for success in Cairns - the only drawback being the condition of the

floor and its limited area. The display of costumes and the happy atmosphere were to set a

precedent for the many functions that followed throughout the

years ahead.

Initially meetings of the Club were held in Colemans and Saunders

Rooms and later at the Cairns Baths. In January 1917 the

Committee. Realising the necessity for a Club House, purchased

the rice mill erected by the Cairns Rice Manufacturing Company

in 1895, and a new bean dance floor was laid in 1919. However

this Club House was destroyed by a cyclone early in 1920 and a

new building was erected and opened seven months later. I was

told that much of the work involved in erecting this new clubhouse

was carried out by members, many of whom were employed in the

Railway workshops, and Vice Commodore J Noble was appointed

foreman. At that time the Club House was considered the premier

hall in Cairns and was used extensively for dances prior to and

after the advent of the Hibernian Hall and the Trocadero.

The club has been described by ex-members as “mostly a workers’

club”. No public advertisements were used to attract members.

4

John Noble Esq. Vice Commodore

and Hon. Builder of the Club, 1920.

At the Aquatic

Aspiring sailors and adventurous youths, some of whom used to spend much of their spare time

sailing “tinnies” (home-made boats of corrugated, flat/galvanised iron) in the water near the

concrete wall which ‘protected’ Cairns, joined the club to avail themselves of the opportunity to

acquire skills in operating boats far more attractive and sophisticated in appearance and

performance than their home-made craft.

Membership fees were set at 7/6 for Senior males, whilst ladies and juniors paid 2/6. As interest

grew. Membership climbed to about 300 senior gents. 150 women and a large number of juniors,

peaking in about 1933-35, until the club disbanded during World War II when all boats were

immobilised due to the threat of invasion by Japan.

With a prevailing mixture of serious competition and of frivolity the high standard of entertainment

and socialisation was maintained. The spirit in which many races were conducted was revealed in

an interesting and humorous forecast which appeared in the Cairns Post ( 23 April 1910 ) prior to

the Club Officials’ race, when it was suggested that skippers don bathing costumes and that a keg of

spirits be attached to each beacon on the course. Local supplies of cork suitable for life belts had, it

was reported, been exhausted. Furthermore it was anticipated that Dr Kerwin intended taking his

red lamp with him in the event of his not reaching shore before dusk.

Camaraderie amongst club members grew rapidly. Seniors assisted and instructed junior members

in a bid to produce more proficient crews. No doubt many who later rose to become champions can

be grateful for the tuition and advice given freely by their more experienced seniors. Words of

encouragement were forthcoming readily and a feature of the club was the involvement of whole

families. It is any wonder that week-end sailing became such a popular event.

Early reports state that a launch Cleveland carrying spectators, followed the races. In 1924 it was

replaced by the Pacific and, in 1931, a 66ft launch was purchased trom Hayles Ltd. For the price of

one shilling the Magenta provided a popular vantage point trom which spectators could monitor the

progress of the skiffs. On board, a cup of tea (also costing 1/-) was available. Such an enjoyable

way to spend an afternoon of relaxation was well patronised whilst the club’s finances prospered. A

special Ladies’ Committee was appointed to attend to catering. Teas and suppers became part of the

weekly afternoon racing programme.

The verandah of the Club House was always crowded with patrons. With the aid of binoculars,

judges and supporters kept a close watch on the performance of all competing craft. Often a

spontaneous shout signified a strategic manoeuvre, a capsize or a close encounter. Cairns Esplanade

was dotted with spectators, many of whom rushed to be close to the finishing line to cheer the

winning skiffs. Not even the occasional derisive comment or gibe could dampen the spirits of the

victors including those who managed to capsize their craft as they sailed in to shore. Ladies’ Day,

when each boat carried a female skipper operating the tiller, provided great entertainment,

excitement and amusement.

An annual bazaar was organised to provide necessary finance. As always the sound and sight of

spinning wheels offering hams and novelties as prizes lured crowds of people to congregate around

the stalls. Regular games of Housie Housie (similar to Bingo) were popular during the 1920’s-30’s.

This provided great entertainment on Friday or Saturday nights. Some of the money raised was used

to assist with travelling expenses of crews participating in championships in other cities and/or

states.

Fishing trips out on the reef - departing Cairns on Saturday afternoons and returning on Sunday

mornings to allow time for participating in the afternoon’s racing - Smoke Concerts, Moonlight

Excursions, regular dances and fancy dress balls, all centring around the Cairns Aquatic Club,

5

At the Aquatic

featured prominently on the social calendar of Cairns and district. Various organisations hired the

hall to conduct functions. Julie Breslin’s Orchestra was one of the popular bands engaged to supply

dance music, as was Marion Jenkin’s Old Time Band.

One of the highlights of social life was the Ball Season. The Aquatic Hall was the venue for most of

these functions. Friday nights were selected for most balls. This enabled proceedings to continue

well past midnight as regulations stipulated that places of amusement should close down at

midnight on Saturday. Beginning in May and heralding the months of delightful winter weather,

thoughts and eyes focussed on what were regarded as THE events of the year. Debutante Balls

featured in the early part of the season with St John’s, the Masonic, St Monica’s and Highland Balls

- to name just a few, offering young ladies an opportunity to make a formal entrance into Society.

Crowds assembled at the entrance to the hall to watch expensively dressed dignitaries, debutantes,

partners and mends arrive in all their glory - some in taxis, some in cars, some on motorbikes (and

sidecars), and yes, even a bicycle or two.

Beneath the dance floor the area used for storage of boats and equipment was cleared and decorated

to be transformed into an enormous supper room. Many an anxious eye was cast upwards as the

floor above rocked and vibrated ‘neath the stomp of dancing feet. Rumour hath it that even the dust

of the sawdust (used to create the glassy surface of the dance floor) at times showered on the

patrons below. The Aquatic Club was renowned for the quality of its dance floor.

An Annual Aquatic Club picnic, often held at Turtle Bay, to which members were transported

aboard the Magenta was another highlight of each year’s activities. As some ex-members

reminisce, humorous tales of incidents surface to indicate the lighter moments of the Club. One

story tells how, one Saturday afternoon, five members borrowed a boat to challenge another crew to

race around Fitzroy Island. The prize was a 9 gallon keg of beer. In a rain squall the jib of the

borrowed boat was blown away so the crew turned back, tied up and ‘got stuck into’ the keg of

beer. The second boat arrived later and its crew vowed they had been around Fitzroy. Which crew

won? Then there is the story of one owner who painted his skiff a dazzling white. His pride in the

magnificent appearance of his craft soon turned to dismay when he discovered that some larrikin

had added red crosses as decorations. On one occasion the starter had to use an ordinary gun with

real bullets instead of the regular starting pistol. To minimise the danger this presented, he pointed

the gun downwards towards the mud. The result was, to the amusement of onlookers, a very mud

splattered starter.

Sailing was not without its dangers. One incident reported told how, whilst on an outside course, a

crew member fell overboard and had his leg caught in the main sheet, resulting in his being towed

by the boat for some distance. He was lucky to survive. The concern shown by all indicated a

closely knit sector of the community. Functions were designed to help humanitarian causes. One

such was organised to provide financial assistance after the Mt Mulligan disaster.

Members who had entisted in the Military Forces were given a grand farewell before departure. On

their return the Club arranged for cars to pick them up trom the ship and take them home. Welcome

Home socials were held.

During the winter season when sailing was in recess some club members organised cricket matches.

Many belonged to football clubs and made their marks in local and inter-city competitions. Others

spent time crabbing and prawning with cast nets under the Club House - and keeping watch to

‘evade’ detection by Mr Brewster, the Harbour Master. These activities served to maintain the

fel1owship of the Club.

At the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific area, the Navy took over the downstairs section of

6

At the Aquatic

the Club House. The Magenta was commandeered by the Air Force. After the war it was reconditioned

and offered back to the Aquatic Club but the offer was rejected. Eventually the sport

became too expensive for the ‘working man’ and membership dropped off

With its regattas, its Club House and superb dance floor, and its variety of outdoor sports and

entertainments keeping members together, it is no surprise that the Aquatic Club was regarded as an

important hub of social life for so long.

References: The Cairns Post 1908, 1909, 1910; The Cairns Post Centenary Edition, Oct 1976; D

Jones, Trinity Phoenix, 1976; Mr J Atkinson; Mr B Scholz; Mr G Dunne.