Dobroyd Aquatic Club burned to the ground

by Adrian Herbert on 4 Apr 2005 Members of Sydney’s Dobroyd Aquatic Club looked on in disbelief early yesterday morning (Sunday April 3), as fire investigators examined the surrounds of the still smouldering wreckage of their club to try to determine what caused the building to burn down.

The collapsing building was still far too dangerous to be entered.

The club, at Rodd Point, Iron Cove, was burned to the ground in a fire which is believed to have started in the early hours of the morning.

Although fire investigators have released no conclusions, it seems likely the fire was deliberately lit.

It is believed someone may have forced entry to the building in the early hours of the morning before the fire started.

Along with the club, about seventy boats and sailboards belonging to members were destroyed. The club has the largest fleet of racing sailboards in Sydney and strong, Laser, Heron and Sabot fleets as well as smaller numbers of other off the beach craft such as 125s.

Many of the Sabots destroyed were Club boats used in their extremely popular children’s sailing program. A large number of training sailboards were also destroyed.

Other craft reduced to ash were a fleet of Access dinghies used by Sailability which shares the club’s facilities. The Club has been very supportive of Sailability for some years.

The heat of the fire apparently also melted the club’s aluminium rescue boats as well as destroying one near-new rigid inflatable rescue boat. Boats and equipment were stored on the lower level of the building.

The waterfront club had only last year commissioned a lift built to give handicapped sailors access to the second level clubroom. This was also destroyed in the fire.

Club President, Stuart Long, said he was sure Club members and the local Drummoyne area community would rally around to ensure the club was rebuilt with improved facilities. He pointed out that the club was not only used by the sailing fraternity, but by other community groups as well, most notably Sailability.

Right now, many members are wondering how they are going to sail the winter season program which starts on Sunday May 1.

With more than a dozen racing sailboards and lots of sailboard gear lost in the fire, boardsailors have sent out an SOS for gear, particularly for Mistral one design and Windsurfer one design boards, sails and gear.

Former club President and Life Member, Stan Burnicle, believes the Club will soon rise from the ashes. He remembers the club being started back in 1939 at Dobroyd Point, Haberfield. It eventually had to move to make way for the original Dobroyd Parade Bridge across the Hawthorne drainage channel to Lilyfield.

The club then operated from a tent at Rodd Point until members raised money to build the clubhouse in 1964.

It looks like it’ll be back to the tent for the 2005-06 summer season.


*Adrian Herbert is a Dobroyd member who was one of those who lost his sailboard in the fire. He is also editor of Offshore sailing magazine.