About
About UTSHRC
UTS Haberfield Rowing Club was originally formed on 11 March 1925, as Haberfield Rowing Club Ltd, and has continuously operated as an amateur rowing club on the Iron Cove at Haberfield, since that time.
UTS Haberfield Rowing Club is widely recognised as one of Australia's leading rowing clubs, having developed and fostered numerous national and international level rowers, over the past century.
From our oldest alumni members, to our youngest school-aged members, we're proud of having a rich history of helping develop athletes who strive to achieve at the highest level both on-the-water and off-the-water.
UTS Haberfield Rowing Club is widely recognised as one of Australia's leading rowing clubs, having developed and fostered numerous national and international level rowers, over the past century.
From our oldest alumni members, to our youngest school-aged members, we're proud of having a rich history of helping develop athletes who strive to achieve at the highest level both on-the-water and off-the-water.
The early years
Haberfield Rowing Club was formed by charter in 1925 but had some initial difficulties in getting council approval for its clubhouse site. In early 1926 it opened its £1,300 club house at Dobroyd Point. Early success on the river was attained due to the skilled coaching of Bern Williams, their captain, and the club finished second in the junior pennant in 1926/27 and second in both senior and junior pennants in the 1927/28 seasons.
Throughout the 'thirties with Bernie Williams still as Head Coach the Club had further success winning the junior pennant in 1930/31 and 1931/32 and second place in the club premiership in three consecutive seasons from 1930/31 onwards. Haberfield's greatest success came in 1938/39, when both the premiership and the junior pennant were won, and the performance was repeated in 1939/40.
Haberfield predominated in success on the river during the war years. The Club won each of the substitute point score competitions which were held until 1947/48. This performance, coupled with the successes of 1938/39 and 1939/40 and of 1948/49, when the premiership and junior pennant competitions were reintroduced, led the NSW Rowing Association to state "[Haberfield] have thus set a record of supremacy in New South Wales rowing that is unequalled". At the 1948 Australian Rowing Championships, the NSW Kings Cup winning VIII was crewed entirely by the Haberfield 1st grade VIII.
The Club continued its good standing throughout the 1950s with three more premiership wins, four seconds and two thirds and six wins in the junior pennant. The 1960s also saw three premierships wins.
Throughout the 'thirties with Bernie Williams still as Head Coach the Club had further success winning the junior pennant in 1930/31 and 1931/32 and second place in the club premiership in three consecutive seasons from 1930/31 onwards. Haberfield's greatest success came in 1938/39, when both the premiership and the junior pennant were won, and the performance was repeated in 1939/40.
Haberfield predominated in success on the river during the war years. The Club won each of the substitute point score competitions which were held until 1947/48. This performance, coupled with the successes of 1938/39 and 1939/40 and of 1948/49, when the premiership and junior pennant competitions were reintroduced, led the NSW Rowing Association to state "[Haberfield] have thus set a record of supremacy in New South Wales rowing that is unequalled". At the 1948 Australian Rowing Championships, the NSW Kings Cup winning VIII was crewed entirely by the Haberfield 1st grade VIII.
The Club continued its good standing throughout the 1950s with three more premiership wins, four seconds and two thirds and six wins in the junior pennant. The 1960s also saw three premierships wins.
Haberfield oarsmen competed in the 1964 Rome Olympics.
In 1965 and 1967 following Haberfield won the NSW Championship Men's Eight race and Haberfield oarsmen made up the majority of the winning NSW Kings Cup crews. Also the majority of the Australian Men's Eight which competed in 1965 NZ test races and in 1967 in the North American and European Championships.
The 1971 NSW Kings Cup eight was again primarily Haberfield oarsmen, as was the 1972 Olympic Coxed Four.
Investment by UTS
In 1992, Haberfield Rowing Club Ltd's licenced premises ran into financial difficulty and the club was subsequently acquired by the University of Technology, Sydney's peak student body, UTS Union Ltd (now known as ActivateUTS).
ActivateUTS split the original club's 'upstairs' licenced premises and 'downstairs' rowing club into two separate legal entities, quarantining the rowing club from the trading activities of the licenced premises.
Haberfield Rowing Club Ltd was renamed UTS Haberfield Club Ltd, and continues to trade successfully as the 'upstairs' licenced premises. UTS Haberfield Rowing Club Inc. was newly created - providing autonomy and stability for the 'downstairs' rowing club and its members.
The University and ActivateUTS have invested heavily in the sport of rowing, since 1992. In 2013/14, the University and ActivateUTS jointly invested a further $8.5 million to build a new world-class rowing shed.
ActivateUTS split the original club's 'upstairs' licenced premises and 'downstairs' rowing club into two separate legal entities, quarantining the rowing club from the trading activities of the licenced premises.
Haberfield Rowing Club Ltd was renamed UTS Haberfield Club Ltd, and continues to trade successfully as the 'upstairs' licenced premises. UTS Haberfield Rowing Club Inc. was newly created - providing autonomy and stability for the 'downstairs' rowing club and its members.
The University and ActivateUTS have invested heavily in the sport of rowing, since 1992. In 2013/14, the University and ActivateUTS jointly invested a further $8.5 million to build a new world-class rowing shed.
However, in 2026 our external funding support has been greatly reduced and the Club is embarking on a journey of financially self-sufficiency, which we ask you all to help support through your membership fees and tax-deductible donations (via the Australian Sports Foundation).
A proud past, exciting future
“The UTSHRC has been a very special place for so many of us and will continue to be for many more well
into the future. It is a place where the camaraderie brought about by the pursuit of excellence on the water, the pride in racing in our club colours, and the sheer joy of being part of a good crew has produced lifelong friendships that are never forgotten.”
Geoff McIntyre AM
Captain – Haberfield Rowing Club 1960
Founding President – UTS Haberfield Rowing Club 1992
into the future. It is a place where the camaraderie brought about by the pursuit of excellence on the water, the pride in racing in our club colours, and the sheer joy of being part of a good crew has produced lifelong friendships that are never forgotten.”
Geoff McIntyre AM
Captain – Haberfield Rowing Club 1960
Founding President – UTS Haberfield Rowing Club 1992