About // Our history
BLACK MOUNTAIN PENINSULA, canberra
THE STORY OF RED SHED AND OUR BMRC PARTNERSHIP
In 2015, Black Mountain Rowing Club Inc. (BMRC) applied to lease a site to the south of the boat ramp on Black Mountain Peninsula. Eight years later, BMRC has been granted the lease and the vision for a new Community based rowing club facility is becoming a reality.
60,000 years ago
The site has an interesting history. Some writings and archaeological evidence indicate that Black Mountain Peninsula was a meeting place between the Ngunawal and Wiradjuri people.
1960-1969
On the 18th of April, permission was granted to rowers to use the Lake. The Telopea Public School Rowing Program commenced when it received its first rowing boat (a four) from ACTRA (ACT Rowing Association).
1970-1979
Year 11 & 12 students in 1976 started rowing under the name of the Telopea Narrabundah Students Rowing Club. In early 1977, graduating students who wanted to continue to row, formed the Eastern Suburbs Rowing Club. It took a couple of years for the two clubs to merge, combining their fleet, administrative and coaching support, and to finalise their name: Narrabundah Rowing Club.
1990-1999
Moving away from the Kingston Boat Shed (now known as the Kingston Foreshore), the Narrabundah Rowing Club moved to Black Mountain Peninsula, and reflected the location change in its new club name: Black Mountain Rowing Club (BMRC)
2000-2009
BMRC members performed well in Masters’ and Women’s competitions, and the club ran its first Regatta which saw Australian rower, Sally Kehoe take home $2k prizemoney for winning the single scull event.
2015
In 2015, Black Mountain Rowing Club Inc. (BMRC) applied to lease a site to the south of the boat ramp on Black Mountain Peninsula. Eight years later, BMRC was granted the lease and the vision for a new Community based rowing club facility began.
FUTURE
Red Shed facility focuses on providing "Rowing for All" and aims to be an inclusive and accessible space for the community. It is significantly larger than the previous shed, approximately four times its size, allowing for more boats, equipment, and facilities to cater to a broader range of rowers.
Red Shed focuses on providing “Rowing for All” and is an inclusive and accessible space for the community. It is significantly larger than the previous shed, approximately four times its size, allowing for more boats, equipment, and facilities to cater to a broader range of rowers.
Red Shed is expected to attract more people to the sport, offering a welcoming environment for both experienced rowers and newcomers alike. This facility serves as a significant milestone for the Black Mountain Rowing Club Inc. and their continued commitment to promoting rowing in their community.
The Black Mountain Rowing Club (BMRC) benefits from Red Shed as it provides the club with a larger space for activities. BMRC occupies an area of Red Shed that is more spacious than its previous shed, allowing for better storage, improved facilities, and a more comfortable environment for its members.
Additionally, Red Shed and BMRC have plans to refurbish the old shed, ensuring that they have adequate storage for boats and equipment. Red Shed and BMRC continues to use the existing amenities area in the old shed, maintaining a familiar and functional space for members.
At Red Shed, BMRC members can access an enhanced rowing experience, better facilities, and the opportunity to be part of a more inclusive and vibrant rowing community.
The Agreement between Red Shed and BMRC serves to secure the future of Red Shed facility and ensure its primary focus remains on promoting rowing and a healthy lifestyle for the Canberra community.
The arrangement between BMRC as the landowner and Red Shed has two main objectives:
01
Asset Protection
The agreement safeguards Red Shed facility from being taken over by another party, be it a competing rowing club or an organisation not interested in rowing. This ensures that Red Shed remains dedicated to its mission of providing accessible rowing opportunities and promoting a healthy lifestyle for all.
02
SUSTAINABLE INCOME GENERATION
The agreement enables Red Shed to conduct various activities that align with its mission, including community events, workshops, and rowing programs. These activities will create income to fund the ongoing operations and maintenance of Red Shed, ensuring its long-term financial stability and ability to continue offering rowing opportunities and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Red Shed is committed to exploring and experimenting with various rowing programs and activities to determine which ones resonate with the Canberra community and generate sufficient interest. By adopting a flexible and innovative approach, Red Shed offers a diverse range of programs that cater to different preferences and needs.
To support this experimental approach, Red Shed covered all costs associated with developing and implementing these programs. This ensures that the organisation can focus on discovering the most effective and engaging offerings without being hindered by financial constraints.
In the event that a program is successful and generates profit, Red Shed reinvests all profits back into the organisation. This funds the development of further programs and covers BMRC rowing-related expenses, contributing to the growth and sustainability of both Red Shed and BMRC.
Drawing on the research and lessons learned from successful community programs like the Community Rowing Inc. (CRI) in Boston, Red Shed implements best practices and proven strategies to create an engaging, inclusive, and sustainable rowing environment in Canberra.
By incorporating these elements into Red Shed’s operations and programming, the organisation creates a vibrant and successful rowing community in Canberra. By learning from the successes of established programs like CRI, Red Shed maximises its impact and fosters a sustainable, inclusive, and thriving rowing environment for all.
