The world's oldest surf club

The Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club hosts its annual ocean swim to raise funds to support the club's lifesaving activities on Bondi Beach.

About the Club

The Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club is officially recognised as the oldest surf lifesaving club in the world. It is an Australian icon and holds an indelible position in Australian history.

The club was established on the 21st February 1907 at the Royal Hotel Bondi Beach by a group of like-minded bathers. The club was responsible for introducing surf lifesaving to Australia and pioneered the famous surf reel and line.

The moment that thrust Bondi and surf lifesaving into the public arena was Sunday 6th February 1938. Thirty-one years after the club was founded Bondi members performed over 300 rescues after hundreds of swimmers were swept out to sea by a series of large waves. At the end of the day five lives were lost and the occasion was forever etched into Australian history as ‘Black Sunday’.

Other important milestones in the Club’s history include the development and introduction of duty rosters, test swims and the Bronze Medallion, which is still the basic qualification for lifesavers to this day.

To learn more about Bondi Surf Club or to become a lifesaver, visit http://bondisurfclub.com.