Our History

In 1904, the NSW Amateur Swimming Association gave permission for the NSWAWPA (NSW Amateur Water Polo Assoc.) to form. Drummoyne Water Polo Club Inc was formed in this year as one of the foundation clubs along with ten other teams including Sydney, Northbridge and Bondi to compete in Water Polo for the first time in Australia. Drummoyne is now only one of two only remaining water polo clubs still competing. It is one of the few clubs that still upholds the traditional sporting values of participation, competition, and community. The Club continues to innovate and leads the progression of Water Polo in this country

Throughout the years Drummoyne had a team competing almost every season, including the senior handicap competitions held during the War in an attempt to keep the sport alive….it did and in 1945 the premiership resumed. Drummoyne finished third in its division. It wasn’t until 1949 that Drummoyne had its first big win, finishing Premiers in the 2nd Grade. 

Drummoyne, over the years have exposed many fine officials and players to the sport of water polo. Many of these players have gone onto achieve senior representative status. Players like Arthur Burge, representing Australia in the 1948 London Olympic Games and Brian Hamill, who throughout the 1960’s captained the State team. Don Cameron played for Australia as well as coaching the national team at the 1988 Olympics, while the most recent legend of the sport Daniel Marsden who represented his country at three Olympics (1988, 1992, Sydney 2000 - Captain), first threw a water polo ball under the Drummoyne banner.

From an officiating perspective, Arthur Burge was secretary and Treasurer of the NSWAWPA between 1936 and 1938. B Erikson and Darren Spooner have also held Treasurer and Secretarial positions for NSWWPI while Dave Henricks is the current NSWWPI Secretary and Treasurer.

Most recently the Club has had a strong focus on the grass roots of the sport with one of the largest junior development programmes in the country. A testament to the current Junior Development programme is the recent selection of John Hahn in the Australian U/17 side at the age of only 15.

After 75 years of existence Drummoyne Water Polo now represents one of the largest Water Polo clubs in the country as well as being close to the largest senior sporting club in the district with over nine senior teams represented.

Life Members