George Towns and Sons

Australian, 1909 - 1965

BiographyGeorge Towns was one of Australia's premier sculling professionals who became world champion in the early 1900s. His father, George Towns (snr) started boatbuilding on Dempsey Island on the Hunter River NSW in 1869, and three of his other brothers Norman, Eldrid and Arthur also went into boatbuilding. They remained on Dempsey Island and were later known as N & E Towns.

George (Jnr) established the firm of George Towns and Sons in Gladesville, Sydney, NSW that built sculls and shells until the 1960s. These were high quality craft used throughout Australia and internationally. Bobby Pearce rowed a Towns built scull to win his first Olympic Gold medal in 1928 at Amsterdam.

Towns built other rowing craft and canoes, and the business was well respected. Many schools and clubs bought thier craft. Towns also coached and was associated with the Kings School in Sydney. Their shed is now the site of the Sydney Grammar School rowing shed.

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