Watching the Waves
A selection of photographs of surf lifesaving from the Australian News and Information Bureau collection at the National Archives of Australia.
Introduction
The Australian News and Information Bureau collection, now held in the National Archives of Australia, is the legacy of nearly half a century’s work by government photographers who captured hundreds of thousands of images of Australians at work and play. Almost 500 images record the coastal lifestyles and competitive pursuits of our surfers and lifesavers from the 1950s to the 1970s. Here are some of our favourites.
A lifesaver on duty at Bondi Beach (1960) by NAANational Archives of Australia
A group of surfers gathered on Manly Beach (1958) by John TannerNational Archives of Australia
A group gathered around a surf-reel at Surfers Paradise (1958) by John TannerNational Archives of Australia
Bernard 'Midget' Farrelly competing in the World Surfboard Championships (1964) by NAANational Archives of Australia
Bernard 'Midget' Farrelly, winner of the World Surfboard Championships (1964) by NAANational Archives of Australia
A lifesaver watching over swimmers from a lookout tower (1966) by NAANational Archives of Australia
A group lifting a surfboard onto a Volkswagen Kombi (1967) by John CrowtherNational Archives of Australia
A surfboat crew on the beach during Portsea's Surf Carnival (1967) by NAANational Archives of Australia
A lifesaver watches the surf at Waratah Beach (1968) by NAANational Archives of Australia
A member of the Neptune Ladies Lifesaving Club on duty at the Gold Coast (1971) by NAANational Archives of Australia
Champion surfer Mark Warren at Surfers Paradise (1977) by NAANational Archives of Australia
