WA surf industry legends Len and Peter Hawke commenced making wooden boards in 1954 before moving onto fiberglass boards in 1956. In 1962 they moved their business from a shed their parent’s backyard and established Hawke Surfboards in Scarborough Beach Rd Osborne Park.
The Hawke brother’s contribution to the WA surf
industry was acknowledged at the 4th Annual Western Australian Surfers of
the Year Awards held at the Mojos Club on Saturday April 22nd, 2005.
Hawke Surfboards were Recipients in 2006 ofOur First Surfboard Manufacturers Award.
2006 WA Surfer of Year Awards – Our First Surfboard Manufacturers Recipients. Image courtesy of Brian Cole. L-R Brian Cole, Leon Cole, Len Dibben, Len Hawke, Tom Blaxell, Peter Hawke, John Jakovich, & Murray Smith.
Peter and Len Hawke – Hawke Surfboards In 1954 two teenage brothers, Peter 13, and Len 15, hit the surf at Waterman’s Bay with a borrowed wooden long board. The experience inspired the pair that lead to an association between the Hawke brothers and water sports equipment that would last another 50 years.
Young Peter, riding around the streets on his pushbike, was fortunate enough to stumble across local surfer John Shackley as he shaped a hollow wooden board in his garage. After the pair had talked about surfing and boards, Shackley not only offered the boy some free advice, but he gave him a book of plans and templates. It was only a few weeks later and the Hawke brothers rode down to Trigg Beach in their father’s Chevy ute to try out their first homemade board.
In 1956, Peter and Len made numerous boards before moving on from wood to fibreglass with a black onazote core. The next development saw boards made from styrene and epoxy. Balsa wood boards were also shaped before settling with urethane surfboards.
By 1962 Hawke Surfboards needed to employ additional staff in their Scarborough Beach Road premises. It was also at this time industrial chemist Dr Bill Shelf helped with the development of urethane foam blanks. Dr Frank Benson’s expertise in 1966 was invaluable as Hawke Surfboards improved the strength and non-discolouration properties of the blanks which had been previously unattainable.
Over the years Hawke Surfboards evolved into Hawke Brothers Pty. Ltd. As their skills in design and manufacturing improved, a widening range of products that serviced water sports other than surfing began to develop. The Frobisher Street showrooms and factory in Osborne Park have been expanded on three occasions – testament to Peter and Len’s ability to produce high quality products in fibreglass and other plastics.
The brothers have been a significant part of the innovations in surfboard design and materials that have left a legacy from which our modern surfboard industry has received great benefit.
1958 Len and Peter Hawke with balsa surfboards made in their parent’s shed Wilcock Avenue Balcatta. Photo courtesy of David Hawke.
David Hawke (Len’s son) – Initially the brother’s made balsa surfboards in the shed, but they also started making foam boards there. The first foam was as my dad calls it “Black foam”. They had an industrial chemist make their own foam blanks from Australian made ingredients. I believe Bennett (NSW) imported his from the USA. In 1962 they moved from their parent’s shed in Wilcock Ave Balcatta to Scarborough Beach Road Osborne Park.
The Hawke Bros fiberglass factory has been running in Osborne Park for over 50 years.
1950-60s Collection of Hawke Surfboards. Image courtesy of Hawke Surfboards. Circa 1967-68 Hawke V-bottom single fin surfboard with paisley design. Images courtesy of Henry Marfleet UK. 1967 Hawke Surfboards advt. in WASRA State Title Program 1967 Gary Greirson (age 17) with his FC Holden panel van and 11ft Hawke Surfboard at Melville. Gary Greirson pic. Circa 1968 Hawke stringer-less single fin surfboard. Image courtesy of Henry Marfleet UK. 2020 Ian Daniell holding 1960s Hawke custom built Malibu surfboard shaped by Peter Hawke. Owner Steve Tobin Aravina Estate Yallingup. Jim King pics
Tony Harrison (retiree Albany) – In 1966 I left the Navy and joined Hawke Surfboards in Scarborough Beach Road in 1966. I glassed & finished boards shaped by Peter Hawke until Murray Smith took over shaping duties in 1967. Doug Lacklison glassed, sanded & finished the boards.
Hawke were producing
Zappa, Bubble Machine, Persian Slippers, FIBO, Kenyan Karpet and Flower Power
models at that time.
I left Hawke’s in 1974 to go cray fishing.
2020 Tony Harrison at Yallingup holding late 60s Hawke Flower Power model (with floral material inlays) glassed by Tony and Hawke Stage 4 FIBO model shaped by Murray Smith on the left. Jim King pic 1960s Hawke Flower Power model (with floral material inlays) glassed by Tony and Hawke Stage 4 FIBO model shaped by Murray Smith on the left at Yallingup 2020. Jim King pic
Murray Smith (retiree Exmouth/Yallingup) – I worked for Hawke Surfboards in Scarborough Beach Road from late 1966-67 for 4 years as a shaper. I started shaping 9ft to 9’6” Malibu’s and within 6 months boards changed to single fin shortboards in 5’10” to 6ft range. By the late 60s I was shaping twin fins.
Hawke Bros blew their own surfboard blanks reasonably successfully. Tony Harrison and Doug Lacklison were glassing and finishing boards at that time.
1968 Hawke stringer-less surfboard shaped by Murray Smith. Image courtesy of Andrew Dyksta. 1968 Hawke Zapper single fin surfboard shaped by Murray Smith. Photographed 2020 Vintage Surf Swap. 1969 Hawke twin fin shaped by Murray Smith. Photographed 2020 Vintage Surf Swap. 1969 Hawke twin fin shaped by Murray Smith. Photographed 2020 Vintage Surf Swap. 1970 Murray Smith at Guillotine surf break with a 5’8″ Hawke single fin surfboard. Image courtesy of Murray Smith. 2000s the old Osborne Park crew who worked at Hawke Surfboards in the 1960’s. Gary McCormick pic. L-R Murray ‘Muzz’ Smith, Tony ‘Harrow’ Harrison and Gary McCormick.
Gary McCormick (Semi retired Mullaloo) – It would take hours to tell the full Hawke Surfboards story. Peter travelled to the US in his early years and worked making boards for a number of top Californian Surfboard Brands.
I was the kid who spent his spare time in the shop annoying Peter Hawke. Pete would give me stickers to piss-off so he could go out back and keep an eye on Muzz and Harrow.
In 1970 I had new board from the Hawke Surfboard Factory, a 5’10” S Deck Twin Fin (See pic below). When I got my Driver’s Licence, I drove down South and paddled out at 6ft Marg’s. They were the days of no leg ropes, so I did a lot of swimming 😊. The other board in pic was under 5’ and reshaped from a blank of the Innovator Pop Out from Jon Dadd’s shop in 1970/71.
1970 Gary at Long Point with his Hawke twin fin and a board he made from one of Jon Dadd’s Innovator Pop Outs. Gary McCormick pic.
Bill Gibson – When I was growing up, all I ever wanted was a Zapper Surfboard by the Hawke brothers. There was no way I could afford one in those days; it was $65 brand new and my parents wouldn’t lend me the money.
All my friends knew I wanted a Zapper and 40 years later when they finally came across one, they knew I had to have it. It took me four decades to get this surfboard (see pic below) and its nothing like I dreamed.
Note: There is a video of Bill restoring a Hawke Bubble Machine surfboard at the end of this story.
2020 Bill Gibson’s 1969 Hawke Zapper (middle) on display WA Surf Gallery, Aravina Estate Yallingup. Vintage surfboards 2019 Foam Lust Surf Festival Cowaramup. Image courtesy of Bill Gibson. L-R. Hawke (Platypus nose), Len Dibben & Midget Farrelly surfboards. 1980 Hawke Surfcats advertisement in West Coast Surfer Mag. 1975 Peter Hawke (right) and customers outside the Hawke Fibreglass factory in Frobisher Street Osborne Park. Ric Chan pic.
Hawke Bros Pty Ltd Est. 1962 are manufacturers of all types of fibreglass and plastic products for over 50 years. Hawke Bros Pty. Ltd. is a wholly owned and operated Western Australian company. Home of the famous Hawke surfcat, Hawke shower cubicles, the Hawke model HB1 sewer connected site toilet and a complete range of Hawke fibreglass canoes and kayaks.
Hawke Bros Pty Ltd, 21 Frobisher Street, Osborne Park WA 6017 Telephone (08) 9242 2111
WA surf industry legends Len and Peter Hawke commenced making wooden boards in 1954 before moving onto fiberglass boards in 1956. In 1962 they moved their business from a shed their parent’s backyard and established Hawke Surfboards in Scarborough Beach Rd Osborne Park.
The Hawke brother’s contribution to the WA surf industry was acknowledged at the 4th Annual Western Australian Surfers of the Year Awards held at the Mojos Club on Saturday April 22nd, 2005.
Hawke Surfboards were Recipients in 2006 of Our First Surfboard Manufacturers Award.
L-R Brian Cole, Leon Cole, Len Dibben, Len Hawke, Tom Blaxell, Peter Hawke, John Jakovich, & Murray Smith.
This profile on Hawke Surfboards was sourced from the WA Surfer of Year Awards 2006.
Peter and Len Hawke – Hawke Surfboards
In 1954 two teenage brothers, Peter 13, and Len 15, hit the surf at Waterman’s Bay with a borrowed wooden long board. The experience inspired the pair that lead to an association between the Hawke brothers and water sports equipment that would last another 50 years.
Young Peter, riding around the streets on his pushbike, was fortunate enough to stumble across local surfer John Shackley as he shaped a hollow wooden board in his garage. After the pair had talked about surfing and boards, Shackley not only offered the boy some free advice, but he gave him a book of plans and templates. It was only a few weeks later and the Hawke brothers rode down to Trigg Beach in their father’s Chevy ute to try out their first homemade board.
In 1956, Peter and Len made numerous boards before moving on from wood to fibreglass with a black onazote core. The next development saw boards made from styrene and epoxy. Balsa wood boards were also shaped before settling with urethane surfboards.
By 1962 Hawke Surfboards needed to employ additional staff in their Scarborough Beach Road premises. It was also at this time industrial chemist Dr Bill Shelf helped with the development of urethane foam blanks. Dr Frank Benson’s expertise in 1966 was invaluable as Hawke Surfboards improved the strength and non-discolouration properties of the blanks which had been previously unattainable.
Over the years Hawke Surfboards evolved into Hawke Brothers Pty. Ltd. As their skills in design and manufacturing improved, a widening range of products that serviced water sports other than surfing began to develop. The Frobisher Street showrooms and factory in Osborne Park have been expanded on three occasions – testament to Peter and Len’s ability to produce high quality products in fibreglass and other plastics.
The brothers have been a significant part of the innovations in surfboard design and materials that have left a legacy from which our modern surfboard industry has received great benefit.
1958 Len and Peter Hawke with balsa surfboards made in their parent’s shed Wilcock Avenue Balcatta. Photo courtesy of David Hawke.
David Hawke (Len’s son) – Initially the brother’s made balsa surfboards in the shed, but they also started making foam boards there. The first foam was as my dad calls it “Black foam”. They had an industrial chemist make their own foam blanks from Australian made ingredients. I believe Bennett (NSW) imported his from the USA. In 1962 they moved from their parent’s shed in Wilcock Ave Balcatta to Scarborough Beach Road Osborne Park.
The Hawke Bros fiberglass factory has been running in Osborne Park for over 50 years.
Images courtesy of Henry Marfleet UK.
Tony Harrison (retiree Albany) – In 1966 I left the Navy and joined Hawke Surfboards in Scarborough Beach Road in 1966. I glassed & finished boards shaped by Peter Hawke until Murray Smith took over shaping duties in 1967. Doug Lacklison glassed, sanded & finished the boards.
Hawke were producing Zappa, Bubble Machine, Persian Slippers, FIBO, Kenyan Karpet and Flower Power models at that time.
I left Hawke’s in 1974 to go cray fishing.
Murray Smith (retiree Exmouth/Yallingup) – I worked for Hawke Surfboards in Scarborough Beach Road from late 1966-67 for 4 years as a shaper. I started shaping 9ft to 9’6” Malibu’s and within 6 months boards changed to single fin shortboards in 5’10” to 6ft range. By the late 60s I was shaping twin fins.
Hawke Bros blew their own surfboard blanks reasonably successfully. Tony Harrison and Doug Lacklison were glassing and finishing boards at that time.
Image courtesy of Murray Smith.
L-R Murray ‘Muzz’ Smith, Tony ‘Harrow’ Harrison and Gary McCormick.
Gary McCormick (Semi retired Mullaloo) – It would take hours to tell the full Hawke Surfboards story. Peter travelled to the US in his early years and worked making boards for a number of top Californian Surfboard Brands.
I was the kid who spent his spare time in the shop annoying Peter Hawke. Pete would give me stickers to piss-off so he could go out back and keep an eye on Muzz and Harrow.
In 1970 I had new board from the Hawke Surfboard Factory, a 5’10” S Deck Twin Fin (See pic below). When I got my Driver’s Licence, I drove down South and paddled out at 6ft Marg’s. They were the days of no leg ropes, so I did a lot of swimming 😊. The other board in pic was under 5’ and reshaped from a blank of the Innovator Pop Out from Jon Dadd’s shop in 1970/71.
Bill Gibson – When I was growing up, all I ever wanted was a Zapper Surfboard by the Hawke brothers. There was no way I could afford one in those days; it was $65 brand new and my parents wouldn’t lend me the money.
All my friends knew I wanted a Zapper and 40 years later when they finally came across one, they knew I had to have it. It took me four decades to get this surfboard (see pic below) and its nothing like I dreamed.
Note: There is a video of Bill restoring a Hawke Bubble Machine surfboard at the end of this story.
L-R. Hawke (Platypus nose), Len Dibben & Midget Farrelly surfboards.
Hawke Bros Pty Ltd Est. 1962 are manufacturers of all types of fibreglass and plastic products for over 50 years. Hawke Bros Pty. Ltd. is a wholly owned and operated Western Australian company. Home of the famous Hawke surfcat, Hawke shower cubicles, the Hawke model HB1 sewer connected site toilet and a complete range of Hawke fibreglass canoes and kayaks.
Hawke Bros Pty Ltd, 21 Frobisher Street, Osborne Park WA 6017
Telephone (08) 9242 2111
A big thank you to all contributors.
Related content.
Video link Bill Gibson restoring circa 1968 Hawke Bubble Machine surfboard. Run time 4.04 mins.
Web link to Hawke Surfboards – The early days by Tony Harrison published 6 January 2021.
Coming soon.
1970s Hawke Bros surfcat trip to the Abrolhos Islands by Ric Chan
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