In the early/mid 1960s North Fremantle’s surf beaches were the North Mole, Port Beach and Leighton Beach.
Sand Tracks
Then in the late 1960s the Fremantle Port Authority built a breakwater at Port Beach. The new groyne produced Sand Tracks Beach which provides sheltered surf with rights and lefts during larger swells.
The man-made surf break is popular with metro surfers. However, users need to be aware of debris when surfing Sand Tracks. Rocks and other building materials may jut out in the restored beach sand after storm erosion.
This media article by pioneer surf journo the late Alan McIntosh features a photo of City Beach surfer Norm Bateman surfing a right-hander at Sand Tracks.
1968 Surfing with Alan McIntosh article courtesy of the Weekend News. 1968 Norm Bateman surfing Sand Tracks right. Dave McNair pic. 1968 Norm Bateman surfing Sand Tracks right. Dave McNair pic.
North Mole
While metro surfers gained a new surf break at the Port Beach groyne, they unfortunately lost novelty waves at the North Mole surf break in the process.
The new Port Beach breakwater realigned a rock wall from the North Mole and destroyed the former surf break at the North Mole.
Swells used to refract off the North Mole and produced fun lefts in the right conditions.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men. Couldn’t put Humpty together again. Humpty Dumpty nursey rhythm.
1966 City Beach junior Bruce King surfing the North Mole. Trevor Burslem pic
The 1967 WASRA Program cover featured an image of Scarborough surfer Murray Smith nose riding at the North Mole.
1967 Program cover WASRA Fourth State Surf Riding Championships held at Yallingup.
In 1967 City Beach Surf Riders Club presented Bruce King with a Certificate for his second place in the Junior Division of a Cordingley Trophy intra-club contest held at the North Mole. The Certificate is signed by the late Trevor Burslem (President) and late Kevin O’Dwyer (Secretary).
1967 City Beach Surf Riders club Certificate for intra-club contest held at the North Mole.
LeightonBeach(Late 50s to early 70s)
Leighton’s beach breaks are the jewel in the crown of North Freo’s surf beaches.
Late 1950s Leighton surf boat race with Dingo Flour Mill sign in the background. John Budge pic. 1961-62 Kevin Ager and his mate surfing Leighton Beach. Photo credits Kevin Ager. Left: Kevin’s mate & Kevin (age 13 on right) with their plywood surfboards at Leighton. Right Kevin surfing Leighton on his plywood surfboard. 1965 State Women’s Champion Teena Christon at Leighton Beach. Len Dibben pic. Teena is wearing a Len Dibben Surf Team t-shirt and displaying her trophies on a Len Dibben surfboard. 1965 Len Dibben Surf Team at Leighton Beach. Len Dibben pic L-R. Rod Slater, Dave Richards, Jeff Jowlett, Steve Farbus, Teena Christon, Peter Stephens, Art Sherburn & Doug White 1966 Ronald Moss surfing past ‘Surf Boards Prohibited’ sign at Leighton Beach. Trevor Burslem pic 1967 Howard Johnson (RIP) nose riding Leighton Beach. Greg Woodward pic 1967 Ian Cairns surfing Leighton Beach. Greg Woodward pic 1972 Kevin Ager surf/sailing his Hobie 14 catamaran at Leighton Beach. Kevin Ager pic Early 1970s spectators in car park at Leighton Beach. Ric Chan pic Early 1970s unidentified surfing Leighton Beach. Ric Chan pic.
In the early/mid 1960s North Fremantle’s surf beaches were the North Mole, Port Beach and Leighton Beach.
Sand Tracks
Then in the late 1960s the Fremantle Port Authority built a breakwater at Port Beach. The new groyne produced Sand Tracks Beach which provides sheltered surf with rights and lefts during larger swells.
The man-made surf break is popular with metro surfers. However, users need to be aware of debris when surfing Sand Tracks. Rocks and other building materials may jut out in the restored beach sand after storm erosion.
This media article by pioneer surf journo the late Alan McIntosh features a photo of City Beach surfer Norm Bateman surfing a right-hander at Sand Tracks.
North Mole
While metro surfers gained a new surf break at the Port Beach groyne, they unfortunately lost novelty waves at the North Mole surf break in the process.
The new Port Beach breakwater realigned a rock wall from the North Mole and destroyed the former surf break at the North Mole.
Swells used to refract off the North Mole and produced fun lefts in the right conditions.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men. Couldn’t put Humpty together again. Humpty Dumpty nursey rhythm.
The 1967 WASRA Program cover featured an image of Scarborough surfer Murray Smith nose riding at the North Mole.
In 1967 City Beach Surf Riders Club presented Bruce King with a Certificate for his second place in the Junior Division of a Cordingley Trophy intra-club contest held at the North Mole. The Certificate is signed by the late Trevor Burslem (President) and late Kevin O’Dwyer (Secretary).
Leighton Beach (Late 50s to early 70s)
Leighton’s beach breaks are the jewel in the crown of North Freo’s surf beaches.
Left: Kevin’s mate & Kevin (age 13 on right) with their plywood surfboards at Leighton.
Right Kevin surfing Leighton on his plywood surfboard.
Teena is wearing a Len Dibben Surf Team t-shirt and displaying her trophies on a Len Dibben surfboard.
L-R. Rod Slater, Dave Richards, Jeff Jowlett, Steve Farbus, Teena Christon, Peter Stephens, Art Sherburn & Doug White
Many thanks to the photo contributors.
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