From the 1880s to the 1970s, people flocked to the Nelson Regatta from across south-east South Australia and south-west Victoria.<\/p>\n
Now, a group of friends in Nelson plans to revive the event along the Glenelg River in 2026 as a way to attract more visitors to the small border town, which has struggled over the past five years.<\/p>\n
“The regatta is an opportunity for me to, like my grandparents did, give back to Nelson,” Eathan Whitehead, one of the organisers, said.<\/p>\n
“I long for the place that I visited as a child that was full of ice creams and fishing off every deck in the summer.<\/p>\n
“I don’t see that as much anymore, especially with our kiosk closing.”<\/p>\n
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Jim Millard and Eathan Whitehead on the banks of the Glenelg River, where the event will be held. (ABC South East SA: Eugene Boisvert)<\/p>\n
The historic Nelson Kiosk \u2014 the town’s general store and cafe \u2014 closed last August amid ongoing maintenance issues<\/a> and was demolished in May.<\/p>\n Sitting on the coast, just east of the SA\u2013Victoria border, Nelson was also badly affected by COVID-19 restrictions<\/a> on tourism venues and border crossings during the pandemic.<\/p>\n The nearby Princess Margaret Rose Cave has been closed to tourists since 2021<\/a>, while the Piccaninnie Ponds shut to divers in 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speedboats on the Glenelg River at Nelson as part of an event possibly in the 1960s. (Supplied: Nigel Telford)<\/p>\n Long history of river event<\/p>\n The first Nelson Regatta appears to have been held on New Year’s Day in 1886, with rowing races the main focus.<\/p>\n It was later moved to the end of January and became known as the Nelson Australia Day Aquatic Carnival.<\/p>\n As well as rowing, swimming, speedboat and beauty contests, there was a parade, music and demonstrations, such as high-diving from the Glenelg River bridge.<\/p>\n Competitors in a “Bathing Beauties” competition held as part of the Nelson Regatta in 1950. (Supplied: Vern McCallum Collection)<\/p>\n Jim Millard’s family moved to Nelson in 1962 and he remembered the “massive big party” the event was, when water-skiers stood on each other’s shoulders in a pyramid formation\u00a0<\/p>\n “I couldn’t believe the amount of people \u2014 from the kiosk to the bridge on this side of the river was just people and cars,” he said.<\/p>\n Christina McFarlane is organising a photo display at the new event, to be held from January 24\u201326.<\/p>\n Christina McFarlane looks at an old photo collection that will be on display at the information centre. (ABC South East SA: Eugene Boisvert)<\/p>\n She said the event appeared to have declined in the 1960s when Nelson became more of a holiday town than a permanent settlement, and other entertainment options became available.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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