One of the enduring public entertainments in Brisbane was the regatta which
took place on the river that dominated the layout of the settlement as it does the city
today.
Given the importance of river travel and transportation to the
colony, there was no shortage of skilled competitors.
One such carnival was held in midsummer 1847 and was given a favourable
report in the local press.
THE BRISBANE REGATTA.
This Regatta took place on Saturday last, and turned out
a very sporting affair. The aquatic amateurs and the inhabitants of Brisbane
generally appeared to take great interest in the day's proceedings. The
settlement never looked gayer, and the banks of the river were crowded with
spectators.
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| Regatta on the Brisbane River with Steamer in the Background |
The weather was exceedingly favourable for the boat
races. The Experiment steamer moored in the middle of the stream, and gaily
decorated with flags, served as the flag-ship on the occasion. On board this
vessel a numerous party, including those who had the superintendence of the
day's proceedings, assembled to witness the sports.
Music, too, was not wanting to animate the scene.[1]
The races were organised into various classes of human powered small
craft, depending on the number of rowers. There was a whale-boat match
featuring five man crews, and subsequent races featuring four and two man
teams. The final event was the single rower skulls.
Each boat was given a jaunty name by the owners such as Dundee Lass, All Round My Hat, Lilly,
Gulpin, Kipper, Rover, and
Spring-heel'd Jack.
By all accounts it was a successful meet enjoyed by all, except for an
officious constabulary. This resulted in the summons of a prominent businessman
and publican Robert Dix, to appear before Bench to answer a charge of selling
beer without a licence on regatta day.
ALLEGED BREACH OF THE LICENSING ACT, At the Police
Office, on Thursday, Mr. Robert Dix, of the Sovereign Hotel, appeared before
the Bench, to answer an information filed against him by the Chief Constable
for selling ale, without having obtained the permission of the Magistrates, on
board the Experiment steamer, on Saturday last, during the Regatta.[2]
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| The Sovereign Hotel, Elizabeth Street, Brisbane 1869 |
If the Chief Constable thought he had a watertight case, he was to be
publicly ridiculed before a large gallery. He was given short shrift by the
magistrate who intimated that he was a self interested killjoy, who dared to impugn
the honour of a prominent resident of the town.
The office was very much crowded, and the greatest
interest was taken in the proceedings. The Chief Constable having called his
witnesses, and the evidence having been taken, the Bench decided that he had
failed to prove his case, and dismissed it accordingly, to the infinite delight
of all present, with the exception of the informer himself, who appeared quite
chap-fallen[3]
at the result of his impertinent and ill judged attempt to annoy a respectable
man, with the view of putting money into his own pocket.[4]
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| Rowing Regatta on the Brisbane River |
The Editor of The Moreton Bay
Courier had the last word summing up the feelings of those who had a
pleasant day at the regatta.
It is really too bad that people cannot be allowed to
meet together for the purpose of harmless amusement, without their being
afterwards sued for fines and penalties, at the instance of jacks[5]
in office.
A more absurd charge of sly-grog selling, judging from
the evidence produced in Court, we never before heard, and we hope that we
shall not hear the like again.[6]
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