Our History
Surf Life Saving has a proud tradition of saving lives for over 100 years. Since 1907, surf lifesavers have volunteered their time and effort to provide a dedicated coastal lifesaving service around the country – it’s the largest not-for-profit volunteer movement of its kind in Australia and the world.
The Surf Life Saving movement in Western Australia was founded at Cottesloe beach in 1909 (after originating at Bondi Beach in 1907) in response to a number of drowning incidents on the beach. Over the next 20 years, a number of additional clubs commenced operations around the metropolitan and regional coast. In 1926 the Surf Life Saving clubs met to determine a peak body to support and advocate on their behalf and Surf Life Saving Western Australia (SLSWA) was born.
Since that time SLSWA’s charter has been to assist in the ongoing development and growth of the club structure and to identify and meet the needs of stakeholders, those principally being the general public, club members, tourists and local government authorities.
Since 1909, 31 Surf Life Saving clubs have been established around the WA coastline and over 24,500 volunteer members continue to make a significant contribution to their communities.
