History

The Port to Pub swim was borne out of a desire to create a brand new long distance swimming event in Western Australia. The vision was to create a world class swimming event that supported both elite athletes and everyday swimmers in their ambition to cross the Rottnest Channel between Perth and iconic Western Australian landmark of Rottnest Island.

Through the years we have continued to build the event and remain dedicated to creating an open water swimming event that is thoroughly enjoyed by swimmers, skippers, paddlers, and crew from start to finish.

We rely on an incredible base of advisors, sponsors, stakeholders, volunteers, friends, and wonderful families who provide endless support and encouragement.

In 1956, German immigrant Gerd von Dincklage-Schulenburg became the first person to successfully swim across the Rottnest Channel. Mr von Dincklage-Schulenburg had been a successful spear fisherman and diver in Sri Lanka and had come to Perth in 1955 hoping to secure similar work. He was befriended by journalist, the late Hugh Schmidt. One version of the story describes a conversation at Rottnest’s Quokka Arms pub between von Dincklage-Schulenburg and Schmidt in 1956 where von Dincklage-Schulenburg boasted that he’d be able to swim from the Quokka Arms back to the mainland. A few days later, Schmidt had organised a support crew to accompany von Dincklage-Schulenburg from the mainland to Rottnest. Despite warnings of the dangers of sharks, strong winds, tides and water temperature, on 24 January 1956, von Dincklage-Schulenburg set off for Rottnest from North Fremantle’s North Mole.

Well known launch, Hiawatha, accompanied this swim, filled with leading members of the media and the Western Australian Amateur Swimming Association (WAASA). Von Dincklage-Schulenburg completed the 12 mile swim in 9 hours 45 minutes and was greeted by 200 people who gathered at the Natural Jetty to watch him finish.

The swim inspired the now defunct Weekend Mail newspaper to organise a race across the Channel – a chance for swimmers to qualify and better von Dincklage-Schulenburg’s time. The newspaper, on the advice of WAASA, held an elimination race one week before the swim. The results were to decide who would be selected. An 11-mile river swim from Fremantle to Perth (Bicton Jetty to Langley Park) was chosen for the elimination event. Of the 30 swimmers nominated, 22 started and only 9 finished. These included 18-year-old Trevor Seaborn, Tony Rigoll, Mel Andrew, Harry Lapelaars, Neil Earl, George Winning, Les Stewart, Howard Bowra, and Toby Regan.

After Howard Bowra and George Winning withdrew, on Sunday 25 March, 1956, the seven remaining men dived off Bill Lucas’ launch, Corsair, which hove to alongside the end of the North Mole, bound for Rottnest Island. Each swimmer was followed by an auxiliary launch with a crew of four.

Only four of the swimmers successfully reached Rottnest Island. Trevor Seaborn was the first to Rottnest Jetty in the time of 7 hours 36 minutes 26 seconds, a mile and a half ahead of the field, and the only swimmer to complete the intended course. The remaining swimmers battled against a severe northerly drift and were led to Bickley Bay more than a mile to the south. Neil Earl finished in second place, Les Stewart third, with Toby Regan, who was almost 51 years old, just four seconds behind in fourth place.

Harry Lapelaars, Tony Rigoll, and Mel Andrew all withdrew during the race.

Results

1. Trevor Seaborn – 7h, 36m, 26s
2. Neil Earl – 8h, 11m, 31s
3. Les Stewart – 9h, 34m, 56s
4. C. J. (Toby) Regan – 9h, 35m, 00s

The event was a resounding success and Weekend Mail agreed to sponsor a second event the following year. WAASA said it would not be involved in another swim to Rottnest because it was considered too dangerous. The swim was transferred to the river, the same course as the previous swim.

No further attempts were made to swim the Channel until 1969. In that year, on the 13 April, it was 23-year-old Lesley Meaney (nee Cherriman) who successfully completed the swim, making her the first woman to swim across the Rottnest Channel. Lesley, recruited by the Education Department as a specialist Art Teacher, had only recently arrived from the Isle of Wight in the UK before she made her crossing. Waiting for the strong easterly to ease, she didn’t leave until mid-morning at approximately 11am, arriving at North Mole in the evening to the delight of the crowds that had assembled to see her come in. Lesley’s experience, along with interviews with the first 100 soloists, led her to write the book Why swim to Rottnest when you can catch the ferry?

Lesley is a successful artist and is still swimming in local open-water and surf events.