Southern Swell Exhibition

This summer Hazelhurst Regional Gallery is going to the beach with a major exhibition which will explore the early days of surfing in the 50’s through to today.

Southern Swell, a history of surfing in southern Sydney opens November 23 and runs until February 2 next year.

Hazelhurst Gallery is calling out for memorabilia from the public to be part of the exhibition.

From the early days of the 60’s through the decades of the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and now, the exhibition will examine the history and culture of surfing along Cronulla’s beaches.

The exhibition will include contemporary and historic photographs, films, memorabilia and commissioned artworks that highlight key surfers, influential characters, iconic surf breaks, competitions and clubs over the past decades.

The Cronulla beaches have been instrumental in the development of surfing culture in Australia, with the father of surfing Duke Kahanamoku putting on a display at North Cronulla Beach in 1915 and the first sight of the modern Malibu surfboard when the American Lifeguard team turned up in 1956 for the Melbourne Olympic Games and put on a demonstration at Cronulla Surf Club.

Cronulla has also produced many surfing champions including the late Bobby Brown and World Tour surfers Jim Banks, Gary Green, Richard Marsh, Kirk Flintoff, Connor O’Leary and of course 1999 World Champion Mark Occhilupo.