From the bustling days of the 1880s to the vibrant gatherings of the 1970s, the Nelson Regatta was a beloved event that drew crowds from across south-east South Australia and south-west Victoria. Now, in a bid to rejuvenate local tourism, a group of friends in Nelson is planning to revive this historic event along the Glenelg River for Australia Day 2026. The initiative comes as the small border town seeks to recover from economic challenges faced over the past five years.
“The regatta is an opportunity for me to, like my grandparents did, give back to Nelson,” said Eathan Whitehead, one of the organizers. “I long for the place that I visited as a child that was full of ice creams and fishing off every deck in the summer. I don’t see that as much anymore, especially with our kiosk closing.”
The Decline and Revival of Nelson
The historic Nelson Kiosk, once the town’s general store and café, closed last August due to ongoing maintenance issues and was demolished in May. The closure marked a significant loss for the community, which has also been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting tourism venues and border crossings. Additionally, nearby attractions like the Princess Margaret Rose Cave and Piccaninnie Ponds have been closed to tourists and divers, respectively.
Jim Millard, a long-time resident, recalls the regatta as a “massive big party” where water-skiers performed daring feats and the banks of the Glenelg River were lined with spectators. “I couldn’t believe the amount of people — from the kiosk to the bridge on this side of the river was just people and cars,” he said.
A Rich History of Celebration
The Nelson Regatta first took place on New Year’s Day in 1886, initially focusing on rowing races. It later evolved into the Nelson Australia Day Aquatic Carnival, featuring swimming, speedboat races, beauty contests, parades, music, and high-diving demonstrations from the Glenelg River bridge.
Christina McFarlane, who is organizing a photo display for the upcoming event, noted that the regatta’s popularity waned in the 1960s as Nelson transitioned into a holiday town. “Probably by the end of the 1950s, with changes in population, people were starting to do more things, I suppose,” McFarlane said. “Whereas before they just had their cars, they didn’t have much to do, they would go to these major events.”
The event is last mentioned in 1974 in the Border Watch newspaper, when it was reported that around 3,000 people attended.
Inspiration from the Past
In October 2023, lawyer Kerry Schroeder and her husband, Rob Grant, purchased the Nelson Hotel. Inspired by photos of past regattas displayed in the pub, they, along with Eathan Whitehead, began discussing ways to boost tourism in Nelson. “We are taking the soul that was that regatta and what it meant to Nelson and then using that to rebuild an event that will hopefully have people go, ‘You know what? This weekend every year, go to Nelson because there’s this amazing event happening,’” Schroeder explained.
The event aims to re-establish Nelson as a desirable destination, not just for the regatta weekend but throughout the year. “We want to rebuild Nelson as a place where people go, ‘This is a great place to come to’ — not only for the regatta weekend but ‘Oh my God, we didn’t realize how beautiful this was. How good would it be to come back in winter?’” she added.
Plans for the 2026 Regatta
The revived Nelson Regatta is set to begin on Saturday afternoon with a slide show and music at the Nelson Hotel, followed by an outdoor cinema. Sunday will feature the main event — a parade of boats on the Glenelg River, a market, and a dinner-dance at the pub. The festivities will conclude on Monday with an Australia Day breakfast and flag-raising ceremony at the tennis club, followed by a car show along the riverbanks.
Mr. Whitehead emphasized the importance of making the event manageable with a small team of volunteers to ensure its sustainability. “I just hope to see a lot of people having fun on the day in Nelson and particularly, that [if] it happens every single year … one day, hopefully, I have children that have memories of going to the regatta,” he said.
The revival of the Nelson Regatta represents a hopeful step towards revitalizing the town’s tourism industry, drawing on its rich history and community spirit to create lasting memories for future generations.
