#ThrowbackThursday – Today we time travel back to 1985 and the Candlebark Park carpark just in time to catch an adventurous soul taking a dip in the Yarra below the Fitzsimons Lane Bridge. No bikini for this keen swimmer, rather a Holden Gemini seemed more the go. Seems the Gemini twins couldn’t decide whether to go to Templestowe or Eltham. Or perhaps it was a late entry in the Great Yarra Raft Race of 1985?
A Holden Gemini in the Yarra River at Templestowe, 1985. (From the collection of Eltham District Historical Society.)A Holden Gemini in the Yarra River at Templestowe, 1985. (From the collection of Eltham District Historical Society.)At least the Ford entry could float, Great Yarra Raft Race, Westerfolds Park, Templestowe, 1985. (From the collection of Eltham District Historical Society.)And the Jeep could float as well, Great Yarra Raft Race, Westerfolds Park, Templestowe, 1985. (From the collection of Eltham District Historical Society.)The Great Yarra Raft Race, Westerfolds Park, Templestowe, 1985. (From the collection of Eltham District Historical Society.)The Great Yarra Raft Race, Westerfolds Park, Templestowe, 1985. (From the collection of Eltham District Historical Society.)The Great Yarra Raft Race, Westerfolds Park, Templestowe, 1985. (From the collection of Eltham District Historical Society.)The Great Yarra Raft Race, Westerfolds Park, Templestowe, 1985. (From the collection of Eltham District Historical Society.)The Great Yarra Raft Race, Westerfolds Park, Templestowe, 1985. (From the collection of Eltham District Historical Society.)The Great Yarra Raft Race, Westerfolds Park, Templestowe, 1985. (From the collection of Eltham District Historical Society.)The Great Yarra Raft Race, Westerfolds Park, Templestowe, 1985. (From the collection of Eltham District Historical Society.)
We recently digitised an album containing these images of the car in the Yarra and the Great Yarra Raft Race but apart from the date of 1985, have very little other information to record about them.
Does anyone remember this incident and the circumstances? Were there any news stories at the time about it? Or were you involved in the Great Yarra Raft Race? Any details or stories are greatly appreciated.
2 thoughts on “ThrowbackThursday: Rafting in the Yarra, 1985”
Mick Blake, my brother Hamish and I: We made a great raft… well, we thought it was great. Painted on huge skull and crossbones with stems of flowers painted in the skull mouth.
Towed it to Westerfolds and launched it as a Pre-race practice maiden journey. Got a hundred yards before one 33 gallon drum was damaged on rocks and started filling with water.
A few more metres and some more drums with holes. Finally the raft capsized and we were then sitting on the drums, with the deck under our feet.
I think we just made it to Finns Reserve before dragging the raft out and towing it home.
Never did make it into the race. 😦
Hans, fantastic story and sounds like the raft would have looked pretty awesome too. Reckon you got a lot further than the Gemini did if that’s any consolation.
Eltham District Historical Society Inc. 
Mick Blake, my brother Hamish and I: We made a great raft… well, we thought it was great. Painted on huge skull and crossbones with stems of flowers painted in the skull mouth.
Towed it to Westerfolds and launched it as a Pre-race practice maiden journey. Got a hundred yards before one 33 gallon drum was damaged on rocks and started filling with water.
A few more metres and some more drums with holes. Finally the raft capsized and we were then sitting on the drums, with the deck under our feet.
I think we just made it to Finns Reserve before dragging the raft out and towing it home.
Never did make it into the race. 😦
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Hans, fantastic story and sounds like the raft would have looked pretty awesome too. Reckon you got a lot further than the Gemini did if that’s any consolation.
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