Head of the River (Victoria)

The Victorian Head of the River regatta is contested between the eleven Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS).

The Head of the River is the oldest continuous schoolboy rowing event in the world, dating back to 1868, and throughout its history has changed format on a number of occasions: from a duel-style race between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College on the Yarra River in Melbourne, to the current regatta, with the race usually being the last of the official APS rowing season.

The race has been rowed on Lake Nagambie since 2001, which is a full-buoyed international standard course allowing six-boat finals.

The first Public School boat race in Victoria was rowed downstream on the Upper Yarra on 18 June 1868.

Crews had been rowing on the river for some time, but the challenge for the race issued by one of the Scotch College rowers was only made on 17 June.

It was promptly accepted by Melbourne Grammar School and, even in those early days, the contest aroused substantial interest.

Bow: A. C. Wilson, 2: A. Smith, 3: John C. Field, Str: J. Brady, Cox: F. G. White, Cch: J Johnstone.

Bow: J. Sweeney, 2: G. T. Teague, 3: W. Barker, Str: H. Ryan, Cox: H. M. Strachan, Cch: J H Thompson.

Wesley College proved their mettle by beating the Scotch boys on the 20th, after being beaten in a hard race by Melbourne Grammar the previous afternoon.

Those races were held after school, and the winners met on the Yarra to decide the title, except in 1943, when restrictions on travel were in force.

Gradually, other schools have joined the contest, with the most recent being Haileybury College, who entered the Boys First Eight event for the first time in 1991.

In the early part of the 20th century the race was held in October, but later it was moved to May and, after World War II, to April.

The co-educational schools in the APS were still (and continue to be) allowed to enter boats at the Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta.