Bells Beach - how a world first became a model for conservation

Bells Beach has crafted a reputation through surf culture and folklore as the spiritual home of surfing in Australia, and an internationally renowned surfing icon. As well as hosting the longest running annual international surfing contest, Bells Beach's surfing history is commemorated in its status as a Surfing Recreation Reserve.

In this video, curator of the Australian National Surfing Museum Craig Baird sheds some light on the background behind the establishment of the Bells Surfing Recreation Reserve (a world first).

The reserve set the model for the more recent National Surfing Reserve movement, which recognises iconic surf spots of intrinsic value to Australia. National Surfing Reserve status recognises surfing as a sport that is part of the social and economic fabric of many coastal communities across the Great Southern Reef and beyond.