1960-70s Floreat surfing community

During the 1960s and early 1970s, the Floreat surfing community had an eclectic mix of motor vehicles ranging from classic vintage models to customized street cars. Many were members of the City Beach Surf Riders Club and hung around the old wooden Tea Rooms/Post Office at City Beach.

This period was marked by a vibrant surf culture, where the spirit of adventure was as much about the journey as it was about riding the perfect wave.

This collection of photos showcases the Floreat crew from that period and their vehicles.

*1964 Floreat lads Gary Smith (Decd) Steve “Stonk’ Fletcher & Geoff Baxter with Stonk’s Mazda K360 mini-truck. Photo Carol McDonald.*

*1964 Graeme Ward, Ross James, Geoff Baxter & others with Ford station wagon at *Greenacres Cottages* *Dunsborough*. Photo Ronald Moss*.

*1964-65 Brian and Allan Cleaver with cousin’s Collin & Gary at Floreat with the Cleaver brothers 1946 Morris 8 and Morris Minor sedan. Photo Brian Cleaver.*

*1965 Ken ‘Kiwi’ White, Mick Lindsay & Geoff Berry with Geoff’s VW at Gallows Jan 1965. Photo Dave Condon*.

*1965 Martin Pardoe sitting on Rod Bothwell’s Ford Prefect*. *Photo Martin Pardoe.*

1965 Graham McManus’s FJ Holden (on the left) parked outside City Beach Shop/Post Office. L-R John Parker 18, John McCloud 18, John Wholagan 18, Graham McManus 18 and Kim Tovey 17. Middle car unidentified. On the right is Bruce & Jim King dad’s Morris Oxford with Malibu surfboards on the roof rack. Photo Graham McManus.

*1966 Rob Halliday with his Fiat sedan and Malibu surfboards at the beach. Photo Trevor Burslem.*

*1966-67 Graham McManus’s modified FJ holden. Photo Graham McManus*.

*1967 Ron Moss with his hound & Vauxhall sedan at Floreat. Photo Ron Moss.*

*1967 Kevin O’Dwyer shuttling surfers & equipment to the waves on his Holden work ute at Surf Beach. Image ex City Beach Surf Riders Club video footage.*

1967 Floreat surfers Glen ‘Roy’ Carroll, Ross Utting & David ‘Bull’ Moss Yallingup bound in Bull’s Morris Minor. Photo Ross Utting.

*1968 David ‘Bull’ Moss with his Morris Minor sedan at Floreat. Photo David Moss.*

1969 Ross Utting and Craig Henfry with Ross’s Dad’s EK Holden station wagon at Melros Beach. Photo Ross Utting.

Western Australia hosted the Australian Surf Riding Championships for the first time in May 1969. Major WA board clubs billeted many eastern states surfers here for the Australian titles. The billeting arrangements were coordinated by WASRA and President Ron ‘Doc’ Naylor.

Floreat youngsters Ross Utting & David ‘Bull’ Moss from the City Beach Club hosted South Australian surfers Alistair Boot & Graham Symonds.

*1969 Ross Utting & David Moss with SA competitors Ali Boot & Graham Symonds and David’s Austin sedan at Floreat. Photo Ross Utting.*

*1970 Ross Utting with his VW sedan in Floreat. Photo Ross Utting.*

*1971 Norm ‘Dot’ Kitson with his VW wagon at Floreat. Photo Norm Kitson.*

Thanks to the photo contributors.

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