Yamba Surf
Lifesaving Club
Over a Century of Service, Surf and Community
Yamba Surf Life Saving Club is one of Australia’s most historic surf clubs, with a proud tradition of volunteer service and community spirit that stretches back more than 100 years.
In March 1908, local teenagers Walter Freeburn and Clarrie Redman made a courageous rescue at the northern end of Yamba’s Main Beach, using a life buoy and line to save Samuel Dhu, a Maclean resident caught in heavy swell. Their bravery was recognised with awards from the Royal Shipwreck and Humane Society of NSW — and this heroic act became the catalyst for the formation of the Yamba Surf Life Saving Club later that year.
Founded on September 9, 1908, at a meeting held in the Yamba School of Arts, Walter and Clarrie became founding members of the new club, alongside inaugural President Ted Cox, Club Captain Bill Black, and Secretary/Treasurer and Instructor George Lowe. Remarkably, Yamba SLSC has operated continuously for over a century, even during two World Wars and the Great Depression when active membership was very low.
from humble beginnings...
Our first clubroom was built during the 1913–14 season but this was later demolished to make way for the 2-storey current clubhouse which was officially opened in 1931. Several upgrades have been completed over the ensuing years to cater for the changing needs of members, including the addition of a nippers clubhouse above the boatshed in 1976 and later, ladies changerooms to cater for the introduction of women into surf clubs from 1980.
From our early beginnings with reel and line rescues, to today's presence of highly trained lifesavers assisted by power craft and drone technology, Yamba SLSC continues to play a vital role in keeping our beaches safe whilst constantly working to build the next generation of surf lifesavers.
We’ve been proudly patrolling Main Beach since September 1908 — making us the oldest surf club on the North Coast of NSW, and one of the oldest in the world.
We have maintained a proud history of sustaining the ideals of the Surf Life Saving movement for over 100 years in fine tradition!
