On January 12, 2013 South Australia’s first National Surfing Reserve became official with a dedication ceremony held at Daly Head, attended by approximately 200 people. Quentin Agius, a descendant of the indigenous (Adjahdura) ADJA-JURA tribe. Quentin was part of the National Surfing Reserve ceremony and began the dedication by singing out to his ancestors in a sign of respect and asked them to look out for us. He continued with stories from over 40 thousand years ago explaining the formations of the land and rocks at Daly Head
History of Surfing on the lower Yorke Peninsula
In the late fifties the only people to travel to Daly Head were beach and rock fishermen and campers The first surfers to surf Pondalowie Bay made the journey at the time when balsa boards were being replaced by fibreglass Malibu boards. Some members of the Chiton Rocks Surf Life Saving Club appear to have been the pioneers. Surfers began making weekend trips to Yorkes and in the early sixties the first waves were ridden at Pondalowie. Surfers sighted riding waves at Daly Heads In the mid sixties the surf chasers with their home-made racks carrying up to 9 surfboards no longer visited Yorkes and were replaced by station wagons, panel vans and a variety of other vehicles.
Another historical phenomenon at this time was the formation of a number of Surfing Clubs. The very early clubs to visit Daly Head and Pondalowie included Seaview Road Board Riders, Day Street and Four Point. Gleeson’s Landing was a popular camping spot for surfers in those days and was also known as Billy Goat’s Point. number of surfers purchased gun boards to ride the large waves at Daly. On some days only a handful of riders would go out when it was breaking on the outer reef. When the swell was smaller, Formby Bay (the Dust Hole) and the Salmon Hole were alternative waves. A large rock, located just after the takeoff at Salmon Hole caused a number of surfers injuries, especially at low tide. This rock was removed, so the story goes by some strategically placed sticks of gelignite on the day of the lowest tide of the year.
In the 70’s surfers started camping out, 4residing in nearby farmhouses and even living rough in a humpy overlooking the Daly’s surf break. There was a steady turnover of visitors and stories abound of the adventures that the ‘surfies’ were involved in throughout this period and beyond. It was a popular area and the police were called on one occasion when one of the hardcore surfers was reportedly taking
potshots into the lineup in an effort to clear the water and control crowd numbers. In the 1980s some surfers purchased blocks in new subdivisions with a view to build in the future. Slowly, more surfers began moving to the area and establishing themselves in the community as business people, tradies, footballers, teachers and the like. Surfers were becoming a more accepted part of the ‘Bottom End‘ community and indeed the surf has attracted a range of people to live in the area and contribute to its culture.
Throughout the 90’s and beyond, more development was occurring in the area. This gave rise to enhanced employment opportunities and as a result more surfers moved to the area. This along with accurate surf forecasting capability has seen regular and visiting surfer numbers steadily increase thus increasing the pressure not only on the surf amenity but the natural environment itself. The area has two boardriding clubs –
Bootleg Boardriders Surf Club founded in 1997 and Yorkes Junior Surf Club founded in 2009. In late 2010 a small group formed to investigate the National Surfing reserve nomination process, culminating in a celebration of 50 years of surfing in the area at the dedication ceremony in 2013.
Daly Head has five main breaks all point and reef breaks:
- Rock Pools – powerful right hander, holds to 5 m.
- Salmon Hole- right hand reef break best 1-3 m.
- Graveyards – a bombie breaking between 3-6 m and for the experienced only
- Daly Head Left Reef – left hand reef break, three sections hold up to 6 m.
- Inside daly – long left with holds from 1-3 m.