Historic Nelson Regatta to return for Australia Day in 2026 in bid to revitalise local tourism
- Replies 0
From the 1880s to the 1970s, people flocked to the Nelson Regatta from across south-east South Australia and south-west Victoria.
Now, a group of friends in Nelson plans to revive the event along the Glenelg River in 2026 as a way to attract more visitors to the small border town, which has struggled over the past five years.
"The regatta is an opportunity for me to, like my grandparents did, give back to Nelson," Eathan Whitehead, one of the organisers, said.
"I long for the place that I visited as a child that was full of ice creams and fishing off every deck in the summer.
"I don't see that as much anymore, especially with our kiosk closing."
The historic Nelson Kiosk — the town's general store and cafe — closed last August amid ongoing maintenance issues and was demolished in May.
Sitting on the coast, just east of the SA–Victoria border, Nelson was also badly affected by COVID-19 restrictions on tourism venues and border crossings during the pandemic.
The nearby Princess Margaret Rose Cave has been closed to tourists since 2021, while the Piccaninnie Ponds shut to divers in 2023.
It was later moved to the end of January and became known as the Nelson Australia Day Aquatic Carnival.
As well as rowing, swimming, speedboat and beauty contests, there was a parade, music and demonstrations, such as high-diving from the Glenelg River bridge.
Jim Millard's family moved to Nelson in 1962 and he remembered the "massive big party" the event was, when water-skiers stood on each other's shoulders in a pyramid formation
"I couldn't believe the amount of people — from the kiosk to the bridge on this side of the river was just people and cars," he said.
She said the event appeared to have declined in the 1960s when Nelson became more of a holiday town than a permanent settlement, and other entertainment options became available.
"Probably by the end of the 1950s, with changes in population, people were starting to do more things, I suppose," Ms McFarlane said.
"Whereas before they just had their cars, they didn't have much to do, they would go to these major events."
The event is last mentioned in 1974 in the Border Watch newspaper, when it was reported that around 3,000 people attended, while another event, the Bavarian International Festival at Mount Gambier's Valley Lake, was also held on the Australia Day weekend.
Soon after, they met Mr Whitehead, and began talking about how to boost tourism in Nelson.
With pictures from former Nelson regattas on display at the pub, inspiration soon sparked.
Ms Schroeder said they were not planning on exactly "resurrecting" the old Nelson Regatta but using the history to bring back its "soul".
"We are taking the soul that was that regatta and what it meant to Nelson and then using that to rebuild an event that will hopefully have people go, 'You know what? This weekend every year, go to Nelson because there's this amazing event happening'," Ms Schroeder said.
"We want to rebuild Nelson as a place where people go, 'This is a great place to come to' — not only for the regatta weekend but 'Oh my God, we didn't realise how beautiful this was. How good would it be to come back in winter?'"
The actual regatta — a parade of boats up and down the Glenelg River — will take place on Sunday, along with a market and a dinner-dance at the pub.
It will end on Monday with the existing Australia Day breakfast and flag-raising ceremony at the tennis club, followed by a car show on the banks of the Glenelg River.
Mr Whitehead said it was important the event was "do-able" with just a few volunteers so it could become a local fixture.
"I just hope to see a lot of people having fun on the day in Nelson and particularly, that [if] it happens every single year … one day, hopefully, I have children that have memories of going to the regatta," he said.
Written by Eugene Boisvert, ABC News.
Now, a group of friends in Nelson plans to revive the event along the Glenelg River in 2026 as a way to attract more visitors to the small border town, which has struggled over the past five years.
"The regatta is an opportunity for me to, like my grandparents did, give back to Nelson," Eathan Whitehead, one of the organisers, said.
"I long for the place that I visited as a child that was full of ice creams and fishing off every deck in the summer.
"I don't see that as much anymore, especially with our kiosk closing."
Jim Millard and Eathan Whitehead on the banks of the Glenelg River, where the event will be held. (ABC South East SA: Eugene Boisvert)
The historic Nelson Kiosk — the town's general store and cafe — closed last August amid ongoing maintenance issues and was demolished in May.
Sitting on the coast, just east of the SA–Victoria border, Nelson was also badly affected by COVID-19 restrictions on tourism venues and border crossings during the pandemic.
The nearby Princess Margaret Rose Cave has been closed to tourists since 2021, while the Piccaninnie Ponds shut to divers in 2023.
Speedboats on the Glenelg River at Nelson as part of an event possibly in the 1960s. (Supplied: Nigel Telford)
Long history of river event
The first Nelson Regatta appears to have been held on New Year's Day in 1886, with rowing races the main focus.It was later moved to the end of January and became known as the Nelson Australia Day Aquatic Carnival.
As well as rowing, swimming, speedboat and beauty contests, there was a parade, music and demonstrations, such as high-diving from the Glenelg River bridge.
Competitors in a "Bathing Beauties" competition held as part of the Nelson Regatta in 1950. (Supplied: Vern McCallum Collection)
Jim Millard's family moved to Nelson in 1962 and he remembered the "massive big party" the event was, when water-skiers stood on each other's shoulders in a pyramid formation
"I couldn't believe the amount of people — from the kiosk to the bridge on this side of the river was just people and cars," he said.
Christina McFarlane looks at an old photo collection that will be on display at the information centre. (ABC South East SA: Eugene Boisvert)
She said the event appeared to have declined in the 1960s when Nelson became more of a holiday town than a permanent settlement, and other entertainment options became available.
"Probably by the end of the 1950s, with changes in population, people were starting to do more things, I suppose," Ms McFarlane said.
"Whereas before they just had their cars, they didn't have much to do, they would go to these major events."
The event is last mentioned in 1974 in the Border Watch newspaper, when it was reported that around 3,000 people attended, while another event, the Bavarian International Festival at Mount Gambier's Valley Lake, was also held on the Australia Day weekend.
The Nelson Kiosk being demolished in May 2025. (ABC South East SA: Eugene Boisvert)
Inspiration through pub
Lawyer Kerry Schroeder and her husband, Rob Grant, bought the Nelson Hotel in October 2023.Soon after, they met Mr Whitehead, and began talking about how to boost tourism in Nelson.
With pictures from former Nelson regattas on display at the pub, inspiration soon sparked.
Eathan Whitehead, Kerry Schroeder and Jim Millard look at a picture of the Nelson Regatta on a wall at the Nelson Hotel. (ABC South East SA: Eugene Boisvert)
Ms Schroeder said they were not planning on exactly "resurrecting" the old Nelson Regatta but using the history to bring back its "soul".
"We are taking the soul that was that regatta and what it meant to Nelson and then using that to rebuild an event that will hopefully have people go, 'You know what? This weekend every year, go to Nelson because there's this amazing event happening'," Ms Schroeder said.
"We want to rebuild Nelson as a place where people go, 'This is a great place to come to' — not only for the regatta weekend but 'Oh my God, we didn't realise how beautiful this was. How good would it be to come back in winter?'"
A crowd watches from the banks of the Glenelg River during a previous Nelson Regatta. (Supplied: Vern McCallum Collection)
Plans well underway
The event will begin on Saturday afternoon with a slide show and music at the Nelson Hotel, followed by an outdoor cinema that night.The actual regatta — a parade of boats up and down the Glenelg River — will take place on Sunday, along with a market and a dinner-dance at the pub.
It will end on Monday with the existing Australia Day breakfast and flag-raising ceremony at the tennis club, followed by a car show on the banks of the Glenelg River.
Many of the events will be held within the grounds of the Nelson Hotel (bottom right). (Supplied: Wilsons Warrnambool & District Real Estate)
Mr Whitehead said it was important the event was "do-able" with just a few volunteers so it could become a local fixture.
"I just hope to see a lot of people having fun on the day in Nelson and particularly, that [if] it happens every single year … one day, hopefully, I have children that have memories of going to the regatta," he said.
Written by Eugene Boisvert, ABC News.
