West Australian surf industry pioneer Rex Cordingley (age 81) passed away on Sunday 12 January 2020.
Rex and his brother Colin Cordingley were among the first surfboard manufacturers in WA. Boat builders by trade they began building their first plywood surfboards as a hobby at age 13 and 14. The hobby became an obsession and so began a ten-year era where both Rex and Colin built boats and made surfboards as a side-line.
In the
early 60s they saw the demand for surfboards and started a surfboard business
called Cordingley Brothers. They operated from a shed in the backyard of their
Mosman Park home. At the peak of summer, they would shape ten boards a week and
sell them for around $100 each.
1960 First Cordingley Bros logo. Image courtesy of Dave Ellis.
In 1962
they moved to new premises in Hay St Subiaco.
1962 Cordingley’s surf shop Hay St Subiaco. Image courtesy of Dave Ellis
Cordingley’s sponsored the first professional surfing competition held at Yallingup and were among the first to discover Surfers Point at Margaret River with a guy called Hank the Yank.
1970 Aust Day State Surfing Titles presentations at Yallingup. Ric Chan pic L-R Colin & Rex Cordingley with Bill Oddy
By the early 70s the Cordingleys were in their 30s and ready for a change. Bill Oddy, who had been a member of the sponsored Cordingley Surfboard Team and had a close association with both Colin and Rex, was asked to manage Cordingley’s and eventually he and Charlie Campbell took over the surfboard business.
Rex headed for Jurien to build holiday cottages and became involved in the charter fishing industry, while Colin and Jenny went travelling around Australia before settling in Darwin. Colin achieved international recognition for his angling achievements and was a major contributor to re-building Darwin after Cyclone Tracy devastated the township from 24 – 26 December 1974. Colin Cordingley passed away 24 April 2014.
Background material sourced from Mark Thornley article Wet Side News magazine 1993.
2014 Colin Cordingley Remembrance Lunch at Bill Oddy’s pub. Image courtesy of Mike Bibby. L-R Dave Ellis, Mark Paterson, Rex Cordingley, Mike Bibby, Helen Backshell (Rex & Colin’s sister), Bill Oddy, Charles Campbell & Kim Standish
In 2007 Rex and Colin Cordingley were WA Surfer of The Year award winners for their services to surfing.
2007 WA Surfer of The Year award winners Image courtesy of Surfwest magazine.
Cordingley
Surfboards has had a number of owners since the mid 70s and the shop has been
in Scarborough for many years. The current owners, the partners behind The Surf
Boardroom, have intentionally retained the Cordingley name in respect for the
history associated with the famous surf brand in Western Australia surfing.
A Celebration of Rex’s life will be held on Monday 20th January at Cruising Yacht Club of WA, on the Waterfront at Rockingham starting at 11am. Parking opposite available from 10.30am.
West Australian surf industry pioneer Rex Cordingley (age 81) passed away on Sunday 12 January 2020.
Rex and his brother Colin Cordingley were among the first surfboard manufacturers in WA. Boat builders by trade they began building their first plywood surfboards as a hobby at age 13 and 14. The hobby became an obsession and so began a ten-year era where both Rex and Colin built boats and made surfboards as a side-line.
In the early 60s they saw the demand for surfboards and started a surfboard business called Cordingley Brothers. They operated from a shed in the backyard of their Mosman Park home. At the peak of summer, they would shape ten boards a week and sell them for around $100 each.
In 1962 they moved to new premises in Hay St Subiaco.
Cordingley’s sponsored the first professional surfing competition held at Yallingup and were among the first to discover Surfers Point at Margaret River with a guy called Hank the Yank.
L-R Colin & Rex Cordingley with Bill Oddy
By the early 70s the Cordingleys were in their 30s and ready for a change. Bill Oddy, who had been a member of the sponsored Cordingley Surfboard Team and had a close association with both Colin and Rex, was asked to manage Cordingley’s and eventually he and Charlie Campbell took over the surfboard business.
Rex headed for Jurien to build holiday cottages and became involved in the charter fishing industry, while Colin and Jenny went travelling around Australia before settling in Darwin. Colin achieved international recognition for his angling achievements and was a major contributor to re-building Darwin after Cyclone Tracy devastated the township from 24 – 26 December 1974. Colin Cordingley passed away 24 April 2014.
Background material sourced from Mark Thornley article Wet Side News magazine 1993.
L-R Dave Ellis, Mark Paterson, Rex Cordingley, Mike Bibby, Helen Backshell (Rex & Colin’s sister), Bill Oddy, Charles Campbell & Kim Standish
In 2007 Rex and Colin Cordingley were WA Surfer of The Year award winners for their services to surfing.
Cordingley Surfboards has had a number of owners since the mid 70s and the shop has been in Scarborough for many years. The current owners, the partners behind The Surf Boardroom, have intentionally retained the Cordingley name in respect for the history associated with the famous surf brand in Western Australia surfing.
A Celebration of Rex’s life will be held on Monday 20th January at Cruising Yacht Club of WA, on the Waterfront at Rockingham starting at 11am. Parking opposite available from 10.30am.
Rest in Peace Rex.
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