Bondi History | The Surfoplane
Bondi History | The Surfoplane
Before there were surfmats and body boards, there were “Surfoplanes”, inflatable rubber mats with a couple of handles attached to the top. For decades, the Surfoplane was a comforting part of the Australian summer, an ingenious but simple device that helped generations of grommets grow confident enough in the waves to become surfers or surf-lifesavers.
They were invented by Bronte-based Dr Ernest Smithers and first demonstrated on Bondi Beach in 1933. In a US patent filed in 1934, the Surfoplane was described by Smithers as “an improved type of pneumatic surf board or float”, and, as per the newspaper report of the day, it was like “Riding on Air in the Surf”.
The Surfoplane launch was backed by Smithers good friend and noted Australian aviation pioneer Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. Kingsford Smith used his influence to encourage many local councils to make the Surfoplane available to hire to beach goers at many popular beaches. By February 1934 the first official Surfoplane race had been held at Coogee Beach, and soon the device was a popular feature of beach holidays in many countries, including Britain, South Africa and New Zealand.
They were often used in surf rescue. Infamously, during 1938’s Black Sunday on Bondi Beach, they were used to help save 250 people after the collapse of a sand bar had created pandemonium on the beach.
Popular into the 1970s, many Australian champion surfers first took to the waves on a “surfo” or “rubbery” as they were known back then.
Finally, Stan MacDonald resigned as Chief Beach Inspector in 1933 to take up the Surfoplane and deck chair franchise at the North Groyne on Bondi Beach. In the final image above we see his daughter in law Joan manning the counter.
The Surfoplane brand is now owned by Land & Sea Sports. They manufacture surfmats bearing the Surfoplane brand. However, those mats don’t have the old school appeal of the originals. There are still some of those originals around and about. So, keep your eyes peeled.
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Archival photos courtesy Waverley Library Local History Image Collection
