Port Macquarie surf museum lease deal approved by council

It’s been a “travelling circus” for the past few years but the state’s first ever bricks and mortar surf museum is just a few set waves from reality with a historic lease deal passed.

Oxley Beach at Port Macquarie in the 60s near where the museum will be built.

It’s been a “travelling circus” for the past few years but the state’s first ever bricks and mortar surf museum is just a few set waves from reality with an historic lease deal passed.

The Port Macquarie Surf Museum, which has never really managed to find a permanent spot in the sand, has finally found a proper home.

Over the past three years the museum has moved six times.

Its ever increasing collection of boards and memorabilia has long since outgrown its current location in a store at the Port Central shopping mall.

But in stoked words from Port Macquarie-Hastings Councillor Nik Lipovac – in support of a move to lease a patch of vacant land across from Oxley Beach to the museum – the “travelling circus” can finally put down roots and settle in.

It will be the first of its kind in NSW with other ‘bricks and mortar’ museums located in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.

Damien King during Australian Championships at Dee Why in 1997. Picture: Contributed.

The town is well known for its surf breaks and has been the training ground for many legendary surfers including Damien King who won back to back bodyboard world titles in 2003 and 2004 and in 2011 won the Dropknee World Tour.

Europeans first started riding the local breaks back in 1912 when Harry McLaren and two mates made and rode the first surf skis at Town Beach.

Town beach in the 1920s with Harry McLaren's surf skis in action.

Harry McLaren's 1928 Chevrolet truck with surf skis he built. Picture: Port Macquarie Surf Museum.

Flynn's Beach at Port Macquarie in the 1950s.

Port Macquarie boys Adam Roh and Stephen Hall in 1973 after a win in Newcastle. Adam is the vice president of the Port Macquarie Surfing History Association. Picture: Facebook.

The proposal to lease the vacant Crown land up on the hill, across from Oxley Beach next to the historic cottages of the Mid North Coast Maritime Museum, was debated at the recent Port Macquarie-Hastings Council meeting.

The majority of councillors supported the move but three, including newly elected mayor Adam Roberts, voted against it saying a more comprehensive plan was needed for the land before determining who would be leasing it.

Other concerns related to a lack of parking in the area with popular beaches, clubs and sporting fields nearby.

Museum plans include a carpark along with the multi purpose museum building for a range of organisations to use, with the iconic Norfolk Pines to be retained.

Vice President of the museum association Adam Roh with Mark Warren who visited the museum in 2023.

Another possible use for the land was more tennis courts but most councillors felt this was not in keeping with the open nature of the space.

The Port Macquarie Surfing Museum association has over 150 members and volunteers including president Alan Jeffrey who has worked tirelessly over the years to get the plans to this stage.

As well as celebrating surf culture, the museum will focus on promoting surf awareness and safety for tourists.

Interactive classes to preserve ancient surf crafting techniques are also part of the future vision for the museum.

Got a news tip? Email: [e-mail]