Australian surfing great Bob McTavish renews historic link with northern beaches

One of the most influential Australian surfing industry pioneers has re-established his historic links with the northern beaches more than 50 years after he left.

Australian surfing pioneer Bob McTavish, has opened a retail surfboard, apparel and equipment outlet, with a cafe, at 182 Harbord Rd, Brookvale. Picture: Steven Woodburn

One of the pioneers of the surfing industry has re-established his historic links with the northern beaches.

Bob McTavish, considered one of the country’s foremost board shapers, has opened a surf shop at Brookvale – the suburb that was once the heart of board manufacture and design in Australia.

Now 80 and still working in the family’s surfboard factory at Byron Bay, he has thrown the doors open at the McTavish Surfboards outlet at 182 Harbord Rd.

It’s next door to Bennetts Surfboards, opened by Barry Bennett in the 1960s, and one of the places where McTavish, originally from Queensland, learned his design craft.

Bennett gained international fame as one of the so-called “Brookvale Six” – the pioneers of the Australian surfboard design and manufacturing industry based on the northern beaches that also included Greg McDonagh, Scott Dillon, Denny Keogh, Bill Wallace and Gordon Woods.

Australian surfing pioneer Bob McTavish, 80, (right) still works at his family's surfboard factory at Byron Bay. Picture: McTavish Surfboards

McTavish, who was also an internationally recognised surfer in his own right, ended up moving to the NSW far north coast and starting his own business.

He opened Bob McTavish Surfboards at Byron Bay in 1973.

Bob McTavish surfing at Malibu in California. Picture: Supplied

The handcrafted surfboards on display at Brookvale, ranging in length from 5ft to 11ft, are trucked down from the North Coast factory.

Surf apparel and fashion, as well as equipment, is also for sale.

There are also places to sit and “talk surfing and surfboards” and it has a cafe, operated by Manly-based Belgrave Cartel.

Bob McTavish with his new patented fin box design in 2009. Picture: Richard Gosling

Bob McTavish outside the dressing sheds at Palm Beach, circa 1967. Picture: John Witzig

It even has surf film nights and “demo days” as well as surfboard repair workshops.

“I am stoked because we are back where it all started,” McTavish said.

“Right next to Barry Bennett’s, the founder of foam and glass in Australia.

He’s back: Posters around Manly advertising the McTavish Surfboard outlet on Harbord Rd, Brookvale. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

“In the 60s, the ‘Brookvale Six’ emerged from hollow wood surfboards into the new fibreglass, and rapid modifications of shapes and construction led to the current brilliant designs that make surfing so much fun.

“And I was there for it all.”

Surfboard design great and one of the “Brookvale Six”, Barry Bennett (left) with Bob McTavish. Picture: Facebook

McTavish’s son, Ben, the firm’s head shaper said “it was like it’s meant to be on Harbord Rd, next to absolute legends of the industry, Bennetts”. The new shop is even in a former Bennetts’ workshop.

“It’s like sliding into your favourite old leather boots. (Dad) did so much shaping time down there in the 60s,” he said.

The McTavish Surfboard outlet on Harbord Rd, Brookvale. Picture: Steven Woodburn

The McTavish Surfboard outlet on Harbord Rd, Brookvale. Picture: Steven Woodburn

The McTavish Surfboard outlet has a Belgrave Cartel cafe. Picture: Steven Woodburn

The McTavish Surfboard has places to sit and talk surfing. Picture: Steven Woodburn.

“We are still using design fundamentals in our boards that sprung from this place.

“That sense of larrikin is still real, from the resin on the light switches and the images throughout, a real surf shop that will only get saltier in time.”