What Is Brunswick SLSC and What Does It Do?

Brunswick SLSC (Brunswick Surf Life Saving Club) is a volunteer surf life saving club based at Brunswick Heads on the Far North Coast of New South Wales. Formed in 1935 to safeguard bathers and fishermen, it patrols a stretch of coastline on weekends and public holidays from September to April and welcomes new members, including juniors aged 5 to 14.

Where is the club located?

The club is at South Beach Rd, Brunswick Heads NSW 2483, about 400 metres south of the river entrance wall. The site has parking and a large park and picnic area, and a vehicle and foot bridge across Simpsons Creek provides easy road access.

Brunswick Heads itself is a long-established fishing village at the mouth of the Brunswick River, dating back to the 1850s when cedar cutters used the beach and river entrance to load logs. The river entrance is now trained by two prominent walls that define the northern end of the beach.

What area does it patrol?

The club is responsible for patrolling from the Belongil Creek mouth in the south to the surf beaches of New Brighton and South Golden Beach to the north, on weekends and public holidays from September to April.

The beach sweeps south-east toward Byron Bay, ending after 10.5 km at the mouth of Belongil Creek.

Why the patrol area demands caution

The club's own description flags several hazards in the area:

• The Brunswick river mouth bar is notorious for upending large and small boats.
• The surf beach has a double bar system dominated by rips.
• A prominent rip runs out against the southern training wall.
• There are strong tidal currents and breaking waves between the training walls.

This context explains the club's original purpose: patrolling the south beach at Brunswick Heads for bathers and fishermen.

Who can join?

Brunswick SLSC states it is always looking for new members to help patrol, and welcomes members from other clubs who have moved to the Brunswick Valley.

History at a glance

The club was formed at a meeting on Friday 8 November 1935, from a motion that the public of Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads co-operate to form a surf club to patrol the south beach at Brunswick Heads.

Acknowledgement of Country

The club acknowledges the Arakwal people of the Bundjalung Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which it lives, works and stands, and asks that people respect and help look after Country and Culture.