History

The beach was named after the ship S.S. Collaroy which was beached there in September 1880, and was stuck there for four years, although the locals didn’t start to call the area Collaroy until the 1900s.

The S.S. Collaroy aground in 1880

The first club house was built during the first season – 1911/12 and the club’s emblem – a seagull atop a life saving buoy was designed. This emblem is still the club’s emblem today.

In 1914, the club affiliated with the Surf Bathers Association, the forerunner of the Surf Life Saving Association of today, and Collaroy’s members began to train for their Surf Bronze Medallions. The first group received their Medallions in December 1914, and the club was well on its way to being a full fledged Surf Life Saving Club.

Collaroy Surf Life Saving Club is one of the largest clubs on the Northern Beaches, with over 600 members, and one of the largest in New South Wales. It boasts numerous Australian, NSW and branch Champions in its membership.

The history of Collaroy S.L.S.C. has been published in a book - Vigilant and Victorious by Sean Brawley. It contains not only a comprehensive history of the club and surf life saving, but also a history of the early days of Collaroy and the Northern Beaches area of Sydney.

If you would like a copy, please contact the club via the address on our home page, or you can email our secretary on secretary@collaroysurfclub.com.au