Melbourne Day Regatta

More than 1000 people were introduced to Docklands waterways at the Melbourne Day Regatta celebrations on August 26.

The passengers were invited onboard 13 different boats for a free cruise.

The Passenger Boat Association held the regatta to reinforce the importance of the waterways and to celebrate the history of Melbourne. 

The first Melbourne Day Regatta was held on August 30, 1838, in celebration of the Enterprize arriving with Melbourne’s first settlers onboard three years earlier in 1835.

Last month’s regatta was the first in modern times.

Charter boat operator Keith Rankin said the event was a “rekindling” of the original.

Mr Rankin said the event was particularly significant because two direct descendants of original passengers of the Enterprize attended the regatta.

While celebrating the history of Melbourne’s waterways, the regatta also served to reinforce the relevance of the water in modern times.

“The reason most people move to Docklands is the water. So they need to celebrate it and be active on it,” charter boat operator Jeff Gordon said.

Mr Gordon said the Melbourne Day Regatta would be held again next year with August 25 already set as the date.

“It’s the first of many and the next will be bigger and better,” Mr Gordon said.

The Melbourne Day Regatta was part of the Melbourne Day celebrations, which will continue this week with a celebration at Waterfront City from 10am on August 30.