Nedlands Yacht Club

Statement of Significance

The Nedlands Yacht Club has aesthetic, historic and social cultural heritage significance. The buildings have been kept to a low scale so there is no interference with the foreshore. The old clubhouse built in the 1950s is still being used and is in fairly original condition. The yacht club has had a continuous connection with the City of Ned lands since its inception in 1952 giving it 46 years of social history and contribution to the sport of sailing.

Physical Description

The Nedlands Yacht Club training centre is located very close to the river. It is part of the bigger yacht club complex. Situated east of the newer clubhouse, the training centre is a simple fibreboard and corrugated iron structure with a skillion roof. The glassed in tower is centrally located over the building and is accessed by an exposed metal staircase. On the facade of the lower part of the building is an open viewing platform, a weather vane and a complex flag pole structure. The main clubhouse is a single storey brick building which has had a number of renovations and additions since its original construction. Again it faces towards the river to capitalise on its location for viewing yacht activity.

History

The Nedlands Yacht Club (NYC) started in 1952 as a breakaway from the Mounts Bay Yacht Club under the name of Subiaco Yacht Club A current life member of NYC Warren Rock, who with another member Brian Lewis were the world champions in the Tornado Catamaran class in the 1970s, recalls a meeting held in the sun room of his parents home on 31 May 1952, to form the new club. His father Garnet Rock (deceased) was later a Commodore and life member. The first officers at the initial meeting of the yacht club were: A J LeMaistre, Commodore; C Walton, Vice - Commodore; G E Rock, Rear Commodore; P Holland, secretary. Jack LeMaistre held the Commodore position for nine years during the critical formation period. The yacht club initially raced two person VJ yachts and three races were held in the season 1952-53 whilst the sailors retained membership at the Mounts Bay sailing club. The first headquarters were the Pagoda Tearooms (now demolished) which were offered for use by the proprietor of the Nedlands Hotel, Steve McHenry. The races were started with flags hoisted on a staff attached to the end of the Nedlands jetty. Well known yachtsman Bill Lucas opened the first proper racing season of 1953-54 on 17 October 1953. At the same time the club moved into the disused Pagoda Tearooms the club changed its name to the Nedlands - Subiaco Yacht Club. The club was immediately popular and successful, concentrating mainly on small sailing craft and fostering youth interest and development In 1955 the club was expanding and looking for a new location. Representations by Mr George Evans, a member of the Nedlands Council, secured a lease over the present premises. A 'busy bee' in June 1955 and then for another 20 weekends led to the building of the clubhouse. This was opened 5 November 1955just in time for the 1955-56 racing season. In 1955 there was no sandy beach and the yachts were lowered over the sea wall directly into the water. This was a far cry from the excellent beach backed by a large expanse of reticulated lawn which now makes NYC one of the prime sites in Australia for off the beach yachts. In 1959 the club again changed their name, this time to Nedlands Yacht Club. This followed the declaration of the City of Nedlands. The club has enjoyed a very good relationship and strong tangible support from the City Council. In 1962 new clubrooms were built to allow off season functions as well as extend the facilities of changeroorns. The architect was Peter Grigg and the builders were Landall Constructions. The following description of the new clubrooms was taken from a newspaper report The main rooms command a wide view over Melville Water. This building includes a social room big enough for 250 people, a well equipped galley, small change rooms and toilet accommodation. The plan allows for future extension southwards. The new building is on the foreshore at Nedlands adjacent to the club 's existing premises which are used for the storage of boats. The main entrance is up a short flight of concrete steps and across an open terrace running almost right across the front of the building. The steel portal framework is exposed in the building and given a sand coating. The walls are of pastel brickwork and thefloor of waxed wandoo. All thejoinery isjarrah with a dull varnishfinish. The entrance foyer has a low ceiling of blackbutt boarding. The ceiling in the social room follows the pitch of the roof and has open jarrah battens at the apexfor ventilation. The galley cupboards have been finished in maple which contrasts with a light grey laminated plastic on the bench tops. The galley has hatches for service into the main social room and onto the terraces. The opening ceremony of the new clubhouse was performed by the Governor of Western Australia Sir Charles Gairdner who presented the club with a compass which remains a treasured and much used item today. In 1973 the clubhouse was extended to twice its original size and additional bar, changeroom and associated facilities were installed to increase accommodation for a growing membership and larger social functions. By 1976 the membership had grown to 760 with a full program of races on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Further additions have been added to the Clubhouse in 1984 and again in 1996 which together with the superb location on the river front and an abundance of parking for vehicles have enhanced the attraction of the building for a range of social functions including weddings, private and corporate parties and regular midweek meetings for several special interest organisations. The headquarters of the Yachting Association of Western Australia is located on the premises and the Human Activities faculty of Edith Cowan University conducts its sail training courses from NYC. Training for all ages remains a strong focus for the club with regular training classes for novice sailors held three or four times each year. Advanced couses in yacht racing tactics and power boat handling are held annually or as demand requires. Like many other yacht clubs Nedlands has seen a number of classes of yachts wax and wane over the 47 years of its history. At one stage the club had 92 of the popular red-sail Mirror yachts on its register with comments from other clubs of a 'red rash all over the river'. VJ's, Kinycats, Moths, Lazy E's, Fireballs, Paper Tigers, Lasers, Hobie 14s, Skates and Manta Cats are amongst classes which have made NYC their home for a time before numbers in those classes declined as the social moods of the group supporting that class became influenced by age and alternative attractions. In 1998 NYC still has a strong core of 520 members who enjoy the facilities and family spirit which characterises the club. NYC is probably one of very few organisations which has enjoyed the active involvement by its patron Sir Charles Court for a continuous period of over 40 years. Sir Charles Court's five sons all learnt to sail at NYC and two of them (including WA's current premier, Richard Court) sti II maintain their membership. Sir Charles has only missed one Opening Ceremony in 40 years and one attendance at the annual HMAS Perth Memorial Regatta held in February each year since 1961. The ceremony is held to honour the survivors from the sinking of the ship during combat in the Sunday Straits on 28 February 1942. This regatta is the highlight in the calendar of NYC when the club hosts a long list of distinguished guests includung many of the survivors resident in Perth, a representative from the US Navy (which also lost a ship in the Sunday Straits battle), the RAN Western Command at HMAS Stirling, several Naval Associations, the RSL, the Association of POW's, the Corvette Association, the Fleet Air Arm Association, Flag Officers from other yacht clubs and a guard of honour provided by the Naval Cadet Association. NYC is a voluntary club proud of its facilities, its traditions and its record of helping a lot of people from Nedlands and many other parts of Perth, learn to enjoy the sport of sailing.

Integrity/Authenticity

Fair

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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