About Us

Since 1922…

A long-standing and proud tradition of resilience, trust and teamwork in a team sport like no other.

The South Australian Schools’ Head of the River regatta began in 1922, when St Peter’s College challenged Adelaide High School to race their First VIII crews on the Torrens.

A tradition was born, and the regatta quickly began attracting additional schools and rowers.

It has continued to grow steadily over the years until today it has become South Australia’s peak schools’ rowing event.

Each March, the Head of the River now draws more than 1,200 athletes from fifteen of Adelaide’s premier schools to Adelaide’s West Lakes, where rowers continue to pursue a long-standing and proud tradition of resilience, trust and teamwork - training and working together in a team sport like no other.

The Head of the River is now without doubt the highlight of the each year, as much for our hard-working young rowers who train long and hard all year to compete, as for the friends, family and community who gather to support and celebrate their efforts.

See more out our hundred years of South Australian rowing memories - visit the gallery here…

100 Years of Rowing Highlights.

  • 1922

    1922

    First regatta held on the Torrens Lake as a challenge between St Peter’s College and Adelaide High School. (Image courtesy Adelaide High School Archives).

  • 1927

    1927

    Prince Alfred College entered the competition. Image (1932) Prince Alfred College 1st VIII Blackmore & Gosse courtesy Prince Alfred College.

  • 1948 & 1950

    Regattas were cancelled due to polio epidemics.

  • 1961

    1961

    Christian Brothers College entered the competition.

  • 1961

    1961

    Kings College (later Pembroke School) entered the competition. Image (1963) courtesy Pembroke School.

  • 1961

    1961

    Pulteney Grammar School entered the competition. Image 1961 courtesy Pulteney Grammar School.

  • 1967

    The regatta was held at Port Adelaide.

  • 1974

    1974

    King’s College changed to Pembroke School.

  • 1977

    The regatta moved to its current location at West Lakes.

  • 1978

    1978

    Girls competitions were incorporated into South Australian Schools’ Head of the River regattas.

    Image: Walford Old Rowing Mothers and daughters (1993). Image courtesy Walford.

  • 1978

    1978

    Unley High School entered the competition.

  • 1987

    1987

    Wilderness School joined for the first time. Image Wilderness A Rowing Crew 1988. Back row (L-R): J Thompson, E Baldwin (Captain). Front row (L-R): M Young, G McGregor-Reid, J Lahey (Vice-Captain).

    Image courtesy of Wilderness School Archives.

  • 1989

    1989

    Walford Anglican Girls’ School took part.

  • 2001

    2001

    Norwood Morialta High School entered the races.

  • 2006

    2006

    Seymour College joined in.

  • 2012

    2012

    Loreto College entered for the first time.

  • 2013

    2013

    St Ignatius’ College is the latest school to take part.

  • 2013

    2013

    St Peter’s Girls’ School entered for the first time.

  • 2020

    2020

    The regatta was cancelled due to the Coronavirus global pandemic. Senior races were brought forward and held, without spectators, days before Adelaide commenced its first lockdown.

  • 2022

    2022

    South Australian Schools’ Head of the River Rowing Regatta proudly celebrates 100 years of elite competitive rowing events.