Chris Holyday’s new book, Recollections from the Coast (Hesperian Press) is now available. It chronicles our coastal lifestyle changes from Scarborough to Marmion, beginning with holidays and fishing at simple fishing shacks, and evolving into a coastline of more permanent homes, shops, and then restaurants.
Cover RECOLLECTIONS from the COAST book by Chris Holyday.
The new northern suburbs history book contains surfing recollections from northern beaches residents, including WA surfing pioneers John Budge & Jim Keenan and many other surfers.
Highlights from Chapter 3 of Chris’s Recollections book
THE OLDEST SURFERS ON THE BEACH
The modern era, post WWII, also saw the explosion of modern surfing. The baby boomer generation drove great social change, but before they reached their teens, the seeds of change were sown by the pioneers of the surfing movement. As early as the late 1920s, Scarborough had seen the introduction of surf ‘shooter’ home-made boards as shown in this photo. The grommets of the 1930s took to them, perhaps to escape from the Depression inspired harsh home life, and enjoy the freedoms of the sea. This generation eagerly embraced the Surf Life Saving Clubs at places like City Beach, Cottesloe and Scarborough immediately following WWII.
1935 Homemade surf shooters Scarborough Beach WA. Photo courtesy Bob Brown L-R Bros Kurvil & Freddy Bartlet on ends, others unidentified.1930s Stand up plywood boards at Scarborough. Photographer unknown.
Before long they were venturing further north to Trigg Island. Before the Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Club was formed in October 1953, our oldest living surfers were free surfing at Trigg, then Mettams and Toms. John Budge of Trigg and Jim Keenan of Sorrento are two of these pioneers and their recollections make interesting reading. They left the restrictions of surf club drills and beach patrols to try the swells at Rottnest (by paddling over on the club’s Toothpick surf skis). Then they strapped their heavy plywood boards to their old cars and ventured to new and bigger surf breaks ‘down south’.
1956 Neil Chapple in bear suit & John Budge with his Morris Minor surfmobile car and Toothpick board at City Beach. Photo John Budge.
Everything changed after the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games where surfing was a demonstration sport – and television arrived in Australia (later in WA). American and Hawaiian surfing teams demonstrated their new lightweight Malibu boards in Melbourne and Sydney and they sold many of their boards to local enthusiasts. Australian surfboard manufacturing then took off. Jim Keenan went over to see the new technology boards, and followed the surf teams up to Manly in Sydney where he lived and surfed for a time, before heading overseas. The lighter and more manoeuvrable American Malibu’s soon found their way West – and Jim Keenan found his way back home by 1970 too!
1958 WA surfers with balsa Malibu boards at Mettams. Photo John Budge L-R Colin Taylor, Dave Williams, Cocko Killen, Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill & Arty Taylor
American culture had already impacted life at Scarborough through American servicemen visiting Luna Park amusement park at Scarborough during WWII. They also built the sealed road through from Scarborough to Trigg. American culture infiltrated through more than just hamburgers – American surf films eg. Gidget, TV shows and music captured the post WWII teenager’s imagination like nothing before. And when the Beach Boys sang the line “tell the teacher we’re surfing – surfing USA”, in the early 1960s, the search was on for new freedoms – like dancing at The Snake Pit at Scarborough. By the 1960s, that search was in full swing.
1950s The Snake Pit at Scarborough. City of Stirling History Collection Photographer unknown.
Tom Blaxell recalled: “In the 1960s 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 February 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 1980s) and hanging out at Luna Park Scarborough’s theme park (opened 1939 & demolished 1972).”
1950s Kool Korner Kafe Scarborough beach front. Media image.
The beginnings of north metro surfing have been documented in great detail by our oldest living surfers still on the beach and I am indebted to John Budge, Jim Keenan and many others who followed the path blazed by these two pioneers and have helped to recall the many changes through the pivotal 1950s to 1970s era in Recollections from the Coast.
Thanks to Jim King (see FB page Surfing Down South) for sharing his research. Other contributions have come from Murray Smith, Tom Blaxell and Gavin McCaughey. Rare photos and a commentary of surfboard development, including the Hawke Brothers role in WA surfing, is included.
1968 Hawke Surfboards employee Tony Harrison’s FC Holden, shown here with Michael Ferguson, Phil Hayes and Brian Tolhurst. Photo Tony Harrison.
Don’t forget to check out the old surf ski and boards at Thirsty Camel North Beach Shopping Centre when you have finished reading chapter 3 of Recollections from the coast. And a visit to the WA Surf Gallery at Aravina Estate Yallingup is a must do when next heading ‘down south’.
You can buy Chris’s $40Recollectionsbook at North Beach Post Office, Davey Real Estate North Beach or at Mister D’Arcy restaurant on Flora Terrace. If that is not convenient for you, the author will post out books for $40 plus $10 postage (Total $50) if you email cholyday@bigpond.com with your name and postal address.
Chris Holyday’s new book, Recollections from the Coast (Hesperian Press) is now available. It chronicles our coastal lifestyle changes from Scarborough to Marmion, beginning with holidays and fishing at simple fishing shacks, and evolving into a coastline of more permanent homes, shops, and then restaurants.
The new northern suburbs history book contains surfing recollections from northern beaches residents, including WA surfing pioneers John Budge & Jim Keenan and many other surfers.
Highlights from Chapter 3 of Chris’s Recollections book
THE OLDEST SURFERS ON THE BEACH
The modern era, post WWII, also saw the explosion of modern surfing. The baby boomer generation drove great social change, but before they reached their teens, the seeds of change were sown by the pioneers of the surfing movement. As early as the late 1920s, Scarborough had seen the introduction of surf ‘shooter’ home-made boards as shown in this photo. The grommets of the 1930s took to them, perhaps to escape from the Depression inspired harsh home life, and enjoy the freedoms of the sea. This generation eagerly embraced the Surf Life Saving Clubs at places like City Beach, Cottesloe and Scarborough immediately following WWII.
L-R Bros Kurvil & Freddy Bartlet on ends, others unidentified.
Before long they were venturing further north to Trigg Island. Before the Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Club was formed in October 1953, our oldest living surfers were free surfing at Trigg, then Mettams and Toms. John Budge of Trigg and Jim Keenan of Sorrento are two of these pioneers and their recollections make interesting reading. They left the restrictions of surf club drills and beach patrols to try the swells at Rottnest (by paddling over on the club’s Toothpick surf skis). Then they strapped their heavy plywood boards to their old cars and ventured to new and bigger surf breaks ‘down south’.
Everything changed after the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games where surfing was a demonstration sport – and television arrived in Australia (later in WA). American and Hawaiian surfing teams demonstrated their new lightweight Malibu boards in Melbourne and Sydney and they sold many of their boards to local enthusiasts. Australian surfboard manufacturing then took off. Jim Keenan went over to see the new technology boards, and followed the surf teams up to Manly in Sydney where he lived and surfed for a time, before heading overseas. The lighter and more manoeuvrable American Malibu’s soon found their way West – and Jim Keenan found his way back home by 1970 too!
L-R Colin Taylor, Dave Williams, Cocko Killen, Bruce ‘Moonshine’ Hill & Arty Taylor
American culture had already impacted life at Scarborough through American servicemen visiting Luna Park amusement park at Scarborough during WWII. They also built the sealed road through from Scarborough to Trigg. American culture infiltrated through more than just hamburgers – American surf films eg. Gidget, TV shows and music captured the post WWII teenager’s imagination like nothing before. And when the Beach Boys sang the line “tell the teacher we’re surfing – surfing USA”, in the early 1960s, the search was on for new freedoms – like dancing at The Snake Pit at Scarborough. By the 1960s, that search was in full swing.
Tom Blaxell recalled: “In the 1960s 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 February 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 1980s) and hanging out at Luna Park Scarborough’s theme park (opened 1939 & demolished 1972).”
The beginnings of north metro surfing have been documented in great detail by our oldest living surfers still on the beach and I am indebted to John Budge, Jim Keenan and many others who followed the path blazed by these two pioneers and have helped to recall the many changes through the pivotal 1950s to 1970s era in Recollections from the Coast.
Thanks to Jim King (see FB page Surfing Down South) for sharing his research. Other contributions have come from Murray Smith, Tom Blaxell and Gavin McCaughey. Rare photos and a commentary of surfboard development, including the Hawke Brothers role in WA surfing, is included.
Don’t forget to check out the old surf ski and boards at Thirsty Camel North Beach Shopping Centre when you have finished reading chapter 3 of Recollections from the coast. And a visit to the WA Surf Gallery at Aravina Estate Yallingup is a must do when next heading ‘down south’.
You can buy Chris’s $40 Recollections book at North Beach Post Office, Davey Real Estate North Beach or at Mister D’Arcy restaurant on Flora Terrace. If that is not convenient for you, the author will post out books for $40 plus $10 postage (Total $50) if you email cholyday@bigpond.com with your name and postal address.
Related content.
The Captain’s House at Trigg by Chris Holyday published 20 Mar 2021
Who remembers Trigg Island Café? published 25 Feb 2021
Trigg Point Waves published 10 Feb 2021
Between Beach and Bush published by Hesperian Press 2020
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