The Swan River Rowing Club is a

rowing club A rowing club is a club for people interested in the sport of rowing. Rowing clubs are usually near a body of water, either natural or artificial, that is large enough for maneuvering the rowing boats. Clubs usually have a boathouse with racks t ...

that was founded in 1887 in

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

, Western Australia. It has had rowing sheds at different locations on the Swan River. The

Canning River The Canning River ( or ) is a major tributary of the Swan River in the South West Land Division of Western Australia. It is home to much wildlife including dolphins, pelicans, swans and many other bird species. Source and route With headwate ...

was a location of regattas and social events for the club. In early years regattas were held to increase interest and membership. Social activities were an important part of the annual events. Rivalry and differences with the

West Australian Rowing Club The West Australian Rowing Club is a rowing club based in Perth, Western Australia. The club has operated out of a boatshed next to Barrack Square Barrack Square is an open public square on the foreshore of Perth Water on the Swan River (Wes ...

were evident in early years of operation. In 1943 the

American Red Cross The American National Red Cross is a Nonprofit organization, nonprofit Humanitarianism, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. Clara Barton founded ...

took over the clubhouse (at the bottom of Barrack Street) and converted it for use as an entertainment venue for Allied troops. New flooring was installed, and a reading room, library, and lounge created. The cost for the renovations was £2,000, equivalent to in , and the club was officially opened by Governor Mitchell; it was called the ''American Red Cross Service Club''.

References

External links

* Rowing clubs in Australia 1887 establishments in Australia Rowing in Western Australia Perth waterfront {{Australia-sport-team-stub