On Boxing day the Gold Coast Eagles Rowing club shed on S.E. side of the Isle of Capri bridge is washed away in the floods.
1989
Surfers Paradise Rowing Club is reformed as a sub-committee of Gold Coast Eagles Rugby Union Club by Derek Wilde & Rob Thomason.
TSS donates an VIII ‘Cavill Bere’ to the rowing club.
Casey Cumming arranged for the first sponsorship from CSR of $1500 for the first club race singlets & ‘T’ shirts.
1992
SPRC was again re-established by Stuart Anderson & Rob Thomason. Joined forces with Gold Coast Canoe Club with the aim of obtaining local & state government support & funding to build a shed adjacent to the Eagles Rugby Union Club shed on the river @ Overell Park.
John Wright asked Mick Vievers MLA to be SPRC patron.
Club colours were registered as Navy, maroon & White.
Discussions are held with St.Hildas to re-invigorate St.Hildas rowing & entice them to be a tenant & row out of the proposed new shed.
SURFERS PARADISE ROWING CLUB inc. is registered & planning application made to Albert Shire council for approval.
Submission was rejected by council after Dawn Crichlow recommended against the proposal on the grounds that she believed the reasons provided for the application were not valid & there was 1 objection.
1993
The land was secured @ 159 Bundall Rd following approaches to Local & State Government.
The land was eventually granted for use after various approaches regarding 14 possible sites were made by Keith Williams to Russ Hinze and Lex Bell.
21 March the ‘Sod turning’ ceremony was held on the site @ 9am with the press, Bill laver & Mick Vievers MLA (SPRC Patron).
1994
7 July GCCC approves a single storey building w/- a pump station.
12 Aug Dredge & Bell (Planning Consultants) make application to amend the existing approval to make it 2 storey – GCCC rejects the application.
24 Aug 1st application for funding ($125,000) is rejected.
1995
Planning court appeal lodged by SPRC Inc. in the Planning and Environment Court to overturn the whole GCCC planning decision (16 Dec 1994)
1996
Court order for consent overturning the council decision is issued on 5th March
2nd application for funding from State Government ($173,000) is approved.
The boatshed is constructed for $186,000 but not fully completed.
Significant foundation problems were encountered necessitating the excavation of a mud layer & re-compaction over the whole site of brought in foundation material and the redesign of a raft foundation system to allow the shed to sit on the compacted layer. As a direct result and extra $26,000 were needed & $’s ran short to complete the building.
As at opening the club possessed a 20 year old VIII - ‘Cavill Bere’, 2 aging single sculls (previously bought from chook/meat tray raffle funds) & one pair (paid for personally by Rob Thomason & John Wright) .
1997
Ted Hale is approached to supply 4 single sculls (Ted Smith, Bernie Kelly, Dave Raby, Fred Newton) plus 2 double sculls (Casey Cummings & Ray Hillier) to be paid off over 2 years.
11 May new shed officially opened.
1997-2010
The shed grows from 6 boats & a dozen junior & masters rowers into a fully state of the art equipped rowing club boasting successful competitive rowing programs in all levels - Junior, Senior & Masters
2010
SPRC secured the sponsorship & support of GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY as a principal naming rights sponsor & became known as GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY SURFERS PARADISE ROWING CLUB
