Gas Works Surf Shops

Surf media personality Trevor ‘TB’ Burslem, raconteur Ronald Moss and accountant Reg Gillard established Gas Works Surf Shops in the late 60s.

Gasworks sold ladies and gentlemen’s outfits and John Arnold Surfboards from South Australia. During the flower power hippy era of the late sixties, Gasworks sold popular surf wear like high waisted corduroy flairs and Russell Hughes’ ‘The Crystal Vessel’ floral Nehru-collared shirts.

Gasworks Surf Shops were located 489 Hay St East Perth, Shop 23 Floreat (Forum Floreat) and 206 Hay St Subiaco.

Gasworks Surf Shops ceased operations during the late 70s.

Partners

Ron Moss “When I was age 17, I sold surfing stuff from under the City Beach Shop. Buying gear off Len Dibben and others. In those days we used to keep our boards under the shop or at Simmo’s parent’s place. This is before I got a car at 17 years of age. A green Morris Minor that was a side banger!

I met Nat Young when he came over here in 1967 and I took him around to metropolitan surfing spots. I took him to Trigg Point on a big day. Nat saw me surf and it was then he offered me the agency for Gordon and Woods Surf Boards. I took him home and my brother David was surprised to see Nat Young having a cup of tea with our mother.

I told Trevor about this and then we formed the Gas Works Surf Shops. I also; through Nat Young recommendation; secured the agency for Platt Surf Wear. I went to see Platts before embarking to go to Vietnam. I also met Gordon Woods when I came back from the funny farm (Vietnam) and secured the agency for Keyo Surf Boards. I also tried to get Les Purcell in Queensland; for the Gas Works to act for agent for him. Trevor did not want this. Les still is making boards in Queensland.

There was a Gas Works Surf Shop at the Floreat Forum. The shop was on the East side of the Forum and sold clothing footwear and boards.

Trevor Burslem and I started the Gas Works Surf Shops. I was also a partner with TB in another company Surf Line which bought over the surfing films screened at the Regal Theatre in Subiaco.”

*1971 Gasworks partner Ronald Moss (centre) ‘dressed to the nines’ for a night out on the town. Photo courtesy Ron Moss*.

Managers

Bruce King, Lizzie Gooch (nee Tidswell) and Robyn Brockman (nee McDonald) worked as Managers at Gasworks surf shops.

Bruce King. “TB bought me back from South Australia to run the Gasworks surf shop City Branch located Hay Street East Perth. That’s where I got my first job as a so-called Manager.”

*1969 Extract from Trevor Burslem’s **On the Board Walk** surf column in the Sunday Times.*

Lizzie Gooch. “I worked in the Subiaco Gasworks, but unfortunately don’t have many memories of my time there. The Blues Music playing in the shop is one of my most notable memories. I really can’t even remember who my boss was, I was so young!”

*1968 Gasworks Managers Bruce King & Lizzie Tidswell*. *Photo courtesy LIzzie Gooch (nee Tidswell).*

Robyn Brockman. “I worked at the Floreat (Floreat Forum) and Subi (Hay Street) stores. Honestly, there were not a whole lot of memorable moments there….I spent a lot of time at the Subi store talking to the ‘Farris boys’. Sold clothing, wetsuits, boards (probably a lot bigger than now) and met lots of people, loved it as a fill in job. TB would pop in from time to time, and that’s about it ”.

*1970 Gasworks Managers Bruce King & Robyn McDonald at City Beach Cabaret. Photo courtesy Bruce King.*

Others

Ross Utting. “Prior to Gasworks having formal retail outlets, Ron & TB used to flog clothes inside the City Beach Tearooms on Saturday mornings.

I guess they must have done a deal with Mario, the tearooms proprietor at the time.

One Saturday morning me & a couple of mates were sitting under the beachside windows of the tearooms when clothes started falling on our heads.

We gathered them up & were heading around to go into the tearooms when a couple of skinheads came down the stairs, saw us & scarpered up the hill.

Turns out they had taken a heap of clothes into the makeshift fitting room & thrown them out the window to be gathered up later.

Bit of excitement for us on a surf less Saturday morning, not to mention momentary hero status with Pix & TB”.

*1966 City Beach Tea rooms (demolished early 70s). Photo Trevor ‘TB’ Burslem.*

Gary McCormick. “Growing up in Osborne Park in the 60’s and 70’s meant I grew up with the Surfing Industry of WA. In 1971 I made UGG Boots for Gas Works Surf Shop in Perth and Bill Oddy at Cordingleys in Jolimont.”

*1970 Ugg Boot maker Gary McCormick with his surfboard quiver at Long Point. Photo Gary McCormick.*

Wendy Irene. “I used to work upstairs from the Gasworks Surf Shop in Hay St Subiaco owned and run by late Trevor Burslem. I bought all my Bikinis from him. He was such a lovely guy!”