Sydney University Boat Club’s boatshed officially opened

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The University of Sydney’s Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson AM, Vice Chancellor Dr Michael Spence and the Hon Anthony Roberts MP joined around 250 guests to celebrate the official opening of Sydney University Boat Club’s (SUBC) Thyne Reid Boatshed in Lane Cove on Saturday. 

The Boatshed was completed earlier this year, nearly eleven years after the previous boatshed, which served for 42 years, was destroyed by fire in March of 2006. State-of-the-art features include:

  • The shed sits on 38 piles punched into the bedrock of Burns Bay. Each pile is concrete and reinforcing steel covered in a polyethylene sleeve.
  • The construction employs non-combustible materials.
  • The shed floor extends onto a large apron, 350 square metres, where boats can be rigged or washed.
  • A gangway off the apron connects the shed to a floating pontoon. The pontoon has two telescopic piles connected to its underside which enable it and the gangway to rise and fall with the tide. The pontoon allows up to two eights or six to eight sculls to launch simultaneously.
  • A small crane that can lift coaching boats out of the water and onto moveable dollies to store in the boatshed.
  • The boat storage space is airy and light-filled with high quality racking from Lowe and Hennessy.
  • The upper level integrates a large tallowwood deck, change and shower rooms, kitchen, toilets, air-conditioned large multipurpose room, coach’s office and communications room.
  • A unique winged-profile roof line offers shelter to a large portion of the generous balcony.
  • Vehicle entry and parking to ensure safe and convenient access off Burns Bay road plus high quality landscaping to the public park and a public jetty to provide access to the water for small water craft.

Former President of the Club, Chris Noel thanked all those involved in bringing the project to fruition including its achitects, major donors, the University of Sydney, Lane Cove Council and the NSW Government, Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness, and club officials and coaches.

He also thanked George Reid and the Thyne Reid Foundation and those who had major input into the project.

“This magnificent boatshed has allowed the Boat Club to expand the range of rowing programs it offers – it is a landmark in our sport of rowing and in university sporting facilities,” he said.

“I am proud to be able to say on behalf of all our club members past and present, thank you to everyone involved in bringing it to fruition.”

The event concluded with a ribbon cutting ceremony across Bay 3, held by Club captains Dyone Bettega and Marcus Britt. The Chancellor and Vice Chancellor cut the ribbon, before the men’s and women’s eights emerged to do a demonstration row.

A full transcript of Chris Noel’s speech is available here. You can read more on SUBC’s Boatshed here

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