3rd day of Dampier - HHBSC : The Pearl of the Harbour

The year is 1967, Hamersley Iron has established its workforce and the iron ore business is up and running. Now the fun stuff, without the fun stuff the families won’t come and more importantly won’t stay - three clubs sat at the heart of Dampier: Sailing, Footy and Bowls of course. First up we’ll talk about the sailing club, for no other reason than why not.

In 1967 DW Nielson took the initiative. Dampier naturally provided the perfect harbour and climate for sailing. He secured funding from Hamersley Iron, with JD Holden taking the helm as Commodore, the Hampton Harbour Boat Sailing Club (HHBSC) was born. Earlier life for the club was in the current cool room with the first general meeting here in November 1968 whilst the sailing yachts were safely stored underneath. As was the go back in the day the club members rallied together with all their ‘expertise’ and built the first ‘shed’. It wasn’t until 1971 that Mrs Nielson officially opened the club house.

With strong, passionate, dedicated characters, to mention a few Peter Nash, Ross and Sue Barnett, Dan Daniels and of course in more recent times John Lally, the HHBSC thrived. The regatta season was a must on the Pilbara calendar with the Northwest champs the most sought-after prize often attracting between 60 – 80 competing boats. In 1985 Ross Barnett drove the verandah extension, to make the club house the fanciest in the Northwest. The success of Friday night BBQ’s and a very active committee indicated HHBSC needed more and ‘The Galley’ restaurant opened in 2003.  

The fishing club joined forced with the sailing club after the 12 hour shift impacted member numbers and have been a large part of the club since. Today the HHBSC with a membership of over 800 is the Pearl of the Dampier Harbour and its future is bright and lustrous.  

Thanks to Krstin McLuckie & John Lally for chatting and sharing HHBSC info with us

HHBSC opening day Nov 1971

HHBSC circa 1970s

DW Nielson founding member 1967

Firebugs- built by Karratha Senior High Schoolo year 12 Students 2006

HHBSC July 2020 photo courtesy Coby Panettiere