Swimming Matches at St. Kilda.

Scarce c.19th engraving of c.19th swimming races held at St. Kilda, featuring a portrait of Harriet Elphinstone-Dick in the centre.

Harriet Elphinstone-Dick (1852–1902), also known as Harriet Elizabeth Rowell, was an early English and Australian swimming champion, and physical fitness teacher.  Originally from Brighton, England, she taught swimming at Brill’s Baths in Pool Valley and won local fame with a series of public swimming feats including a 2-hour 43 minute swim in a rough September sea from Shoreham to Brighton. In 1875, she migrated to Melbourne, Australia aboard the Newcastle with her partner, Alice Moon, and started to teach swimming at the St Kilda Sea Baths, while also winning prizes in swimming competitions at various venues around Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay.

From the original edition of the Australasian Sketcher.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 914558
State Library New South Wales: REF1/MAV/FM4/9236-9239
State Library Victoria: PCINF AS 06-09-73 P.104