In the 60s Scarborough Beach was a fun place for surfers to hang out. Back then you could see the beach from West Coast Highway and surf uncrowded waves on your Malibu surfboard.
From a tent on the beach, you could hire inflated black rubber ‘surf shooters’ for one shilling (ie one bob or 10 cents post 14 Feb 1966) for half an hour and/or get a personalised spray on Vita Tan for 1/6p. And there were lamp posts with lights on the beach, so nocturnal beach goers could enjoy the beach on hot summer nights.
Fun things to do on Scarborough Beach esplanade included, consuming hamburgers and milk shakes at Peters by The Sea, watching the action at the infamous Snake Pit dancing venue (opened 1953 & closed 1969). Enjoying an ale at the Scarborough Beach Hotel (built 1938 & demolished mid 1980’s) and hanging out at Luna Park Scarborough’s theme park (opened 1939 & demolished 1972).
This is the second of a three-part series on Scarborough Beach images.
Series #2 is a collection of Scarborough locals’ images from the 60s and early 70s.
Tom Blaxell (Scarborough surfer & WA surf industry pioneer) – There was and to a certain extent still is, a bit of a thing about being a Scarborough boy. It was a big catchment, and really meant something to a wide demographic mix. A kind of real grass roots Aussie thing. I’m sure there is still an underlying groundswell about it now.
Scarborough’s North End Board Club was formed in 1962 by Geoff Culmsee, Murray Smith & other Scarborough board riders.
Image: 1962 Scarborough North End Board Club team photo. Murray Smith pic.
Image: 1963 Scarborough surfers with their autos and Malibu’s on West Coast Highway, South Scarborough (Nov 1963). Murray D’Arcy pic
Tom Blaxell – This pic was taken just next to where I grew up as a kid on West Coast Highway, South Scarborough. It’s where I started making boards in the garage in 1964. I lived in the house just to the right of the right hand house, Doc Langman’s in the pic.
Image: 1964 Blaxell back yard at Scarborough. Blaxell family pic.
L-R Tom’s brother Peter holding Astor the dog, Tom in front and sitting on wall Darryl Brown, Ken sparks & Ray Kemp.
Tom Blaxell –The brick garage in the background is where I started making surfboards in ’64.
Image: 1964 Surf Art by Tom Blaxell Scarborough.
Image: Mid 60s unidentified female surfers at Scarborough Beach. Tom Collins pic
Image: 1966 Scarborough High School Surfboarding Team. Image courtesy of Brian Trainer and the School’s ‘The Student’ High School Annual.
Image: 1966 Finalists 6PR Surf Contest held at Scarborough beach. Gooselegs pic.
L-R Gary ’Gooselegs’ Vaughan, unidentified & Ian ‘Spyder’ Taylor standing in front of Trevor Burslem’s 6PR surf report VW sedan.
Image: 1966 State Surfing Champion Murray Smith outside his parent’s place in Scarborough. Jim Breadsell pic
Image: 1966 Vicky Wilson’s two door Morris Minor at Scarborough Beach. Trevor Burslem pic.
Image: 1966 Scarborough surfers Jeff (R.I.P.) & Errol Considine kissing the road after digging out Jeff’s Mini Minor out of dirt track down south. Errol Considine pic.
Image: 1967 Scarborough postman Ron ‘Pixie’ Moss. Aust Post pic.
Photo: 1968 Brighton gang at Brighton Beach. Paul ‘Burnie’ Marchant pic.
Mark and Dean Forsyth, Pat Mason (R.I.P), Shane ‘Maca’ McGilligan. Bert Horley (R.I.P.) about to whack Mick ‘Tractor’ Marchant (Burnie’s brother) over the head.
Image: 1969 Scarborough Board Club meeting at the Trainer’s place Scarborough with Gavin McCaughey sitting front row in Hawaiian shirt. Brian Trainer pic.
Image: 1969 Scarborough surfer Ron Marchant was introduced to surf culture at North End Board Club infamous Bonnie and Clyde cabaret. Ron Marchant pic.
Image: 1970 Blaxell Surfboards 2nd Factory Scarb Beach Rd Osborne Park near Regent Motors. Ric Chan pic
L-R Ric Chan, Cindy dog, Bunky Miller, Vin Nolan & Tom Blaxell
Image: 1971 party Scarborough Tennis Club. Ian ‘Prive’ Morris pic.
Includes John Paterson, Boona, Pup, Mark Waller & other Scarborough boys & girls.
Image: 1971 Russell Catto (age 17) in his VW at Scarborough.
Image: 1970s Bill Gibson with single fin boards at the beach.
Image: 1972 Dolphin Board Riders at Deanmore Park Scarborough. Tom Blaxell pic
In the 60s Scarborough Beach was a fun place for surfers to hang out. Back then you could see the beach from West Coast Highway and surf uncrowded waves on your Malibu surfboard.
From a tent on the beach, you could hire inflated black rubber ‘surf shooters’ for one shilling (ie one bob or 10 cents post 14 Feb 1966) for half an hour and/or get a personalised spray on Vita Tan for 1/6p. And there were lamp posts with lights on the beach, so nocturnal beach goers could enjoy the beach on hot summer nights.
Fun things to do on Scarborough Beach esplanade included, consuming hamburgers and milk shakes at Peters by The Sea, watching the action at the infamous Snake Pit dancing venue (opened 1953 & closed 1969). Enjoying an ale at the Scarborough Beach Hotel (built 1938 & demolished mid 1980’s) and hanging out at Luna Park Scarborough’s theme park (opened 1939 & demolished 1972).
This is the second of a three-part series on Scarborough Beach images.
#1 beach images
#2 Locals
#3 Surfing
Series #2 is a collection of Scarborough locals’ images from the 60s and early 70s.
Tom Blaxell (Scarborough surfer & WA surf industry pioneer) – There was and to a certain extent still is, a bit of a thing about being a Scarborough boy. It was a big catchment, and really meant something to a wide demographic mix. A kind of real grass roots Aussie thing. I’m sure there is still an underlying groundswell about it now.
Scarborough’s North End Board Club was formed in 1962 by Geoff Culmsee, Murray Smith & other Scarborough board riders.
Image: 1962 Scarborough North End Board Club team photo. Murray Smith pic.
L-R Murray D’Arcy, J Pinch, unidentified, Murray Smith, Geoff Culmsee & Gary Granery.
Image: 1963 Scarborough surfers with their autos and Malibu’s on West Coast Highway, South Scarborough (Nov 1963). Murray D’Arcy pic
Tom Blaxell – This pic was taken just next to where I grew up as a kid on West Coast Highway, South Scarborough. It’s where I started making boards in the garage in 1964. I lived in the house just to the right of the right hand house, Doc Langman’s in the pic.
Image: 1964 Blaxell back yard at Scarborough. Blaxell family pic.
L-R Tom’s brother Peter holding Astor the dog, Tom in front and sitting on wall Darryl Brown, Ken sparks & Ray Kemp.
Tom Blaxell – The brick garage in the background is where I started making surfboards in ’64.
Image: 1964 Surf Art by Tom Blaxell Scarborough.
Image: Mid 60s unidentified female surfers at Scarborough Beach. Tom Collins pic
Image: 1966 Scarborough High School Surfboarding Team. Image courtesy of Brian Trainer and the School’s ‘The Student’ High School Annual.
For more Schoolboys surf contest coverage click on 1965-73 State Schoolboys Surf Riding Championships published January 2015.
Image: 1966 Finalists 6PR Surf Contest held at Scarborough beach. Gooselegs pic.
L-R Gary ’Gooselegs’ Vaughan, unidentified & Ian ‘Spyder’ Taylor standing in front of Trevor Burslem’s 6PR surf report VW sedan.
Image: 1966 State Surfing Champion Murray Smith outside his parent’s place in Scarborough. Jim Breadsell pic
Image: 1966 Vicky Wilson’s two door Morris Minor at Scarborough Beach. Trevor Burslem pic.
Image: 1966 Scarborough surfers Jeff (R.I.P.) & Errol Considine kissing the road after digging out Jeff’s Mini Minor out of dirt track down south. Errol Considine pic.
Image: 1967 Scarborough postman Ron ‘Pixie’ Moss. Aust Post pic.
Photo: 1968 Brighton gang at Brighton Beach. Paul ‘Burnie’ Marchant pic.
Mark and Dean Forsyth, Pat Mason (R.I.P), Shane ‘Maca’ McGilligan. Bert Horley (R.I.P.) about to whack Mick ‘Tractor’ Marchant (Burnie’s brother) over the head.
Click on this link to view more of Burnie’s Scarborough images published February 2019.
Image: 1969 Scarborough Board Club meeting at the Trainer’s place Scarborough with Gavin McCaughey sitting front row in Hawaiian shirt. Brian Trainer pic.
Image: 1969 Scarborough surfer Ron Marchant was introduced to surf culture at North End Board Club infamous Bonnie and Clyde cabaret. Ron Marchant pic.
Image: 1970 Blaxell Surfboards 2nd Factory Scarb Beach Rd Osborne Park near Regent Motors. Ric Chan pic
L-R Ric Chan, Cindy dog, Bunky Miller, Vin Nolan & Tom Blaxell
Image: 1971 party Scarborough Tennis Club. Ian ‘Prive’ Morris pic.
Includes John Paterson, Boona, Pup, Mark Waller & other Scarborough boys & girls.
Image: 1971 Russell Catto (age 17) in his VW at Scarborough.
Image: 1970s Bill Gibson with single fin boards at the beach.
Image: 1972 Dolphin Board Riders at Deanmore Park Scarborough. Tom Blaxell pic
Image: 1970s Coffin Cheaters bikies at Scarborough Beach. Ric Chan pic.
Many thanks to Tom and the other contributors for sharing their vintage images.
Coming soon 1960s Scarborough Beach #3 Surfing.
—————————————————————-
Share this:
Like this: