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manufacturers : bombora and malau, 1963-1965

Introduction
In the early 1960s, the demand for surfboards unprecedented, with many large chain stores adding boards to compliment their range of beach wear.
The large stores were able to offer boards on hire purchase, not an option for the individual factory owner, which substantially expanded the market.
They usually carried premium priced authentic brands, supplemented by economy labels built by professional manufacturers, but bearing the retailer's brand.
Examples include Mick Simmons Sports Stores, Nock and Kirby's Bombora, and Walton's Malua.

This was a boom period for Sydney manufacturers, with orders as big as 300 units, and many of the top shapers of the late 1960s, served their apprenticeship on these boards.
It was said that "ding repairers became shapers over night."
Usually single stringer, D fin (sometimes Reverse D), limited rocker, with basic rounded rails, and they often had some colour decor for shop display.

On the beach, the boards were regarded as inferior to those from professional shops, their riders seen as beginners or, even worse, Westies (surfers from the inland suburbs).

The status of boards from inland manufacturers was only marginally better.
These included Ron (Canterbury, Lakemba, and Belmore), Weiss (Broadway-Marrickville), WM (Auburn), and Shane, initially at Eastwood before moving to Brookvale in 1966.
Dunlop's Pacific Star were first built in Bruen Finey's Crest Surfboards factory in Roger Street, Brookvale, and when Crest folded around 1964, Dunlop moved the board making operation to St Mary’s, in western Sydney.

In the 1970s, inland manufacturers included Age (Bankstown) and Wakefield (Granville).

Nock and Kirby's Bombora, 1963 - 1965
Bombora, an aboriginal word for waves on an off-shore reef, came to prominence with widespread press coverage of Dave Jackman riding Hawaiian-sized waves at the Queenscliff Bombora on 6th June, 1961.
Furthermore, The Altantics released their chart-topping single, Bombora, in July 1963; later the title of their first album that featured a suitably dramatic surfing shot on the cover.

The Bombora boards were produced by Dillon and Wallace Surfboards in Brookvale, and most probably by Ron Surfboards at Lakemba.

Scott Dillon Surfboards
39 Winborne Road, Brookvale.
In conversation in 1998, Scott Dillon recalled that around 1962-1963, following initial enquiries from Nock and Kirby's, a hardware chain store, the Bombora decal was printed and an order placed for 300 boards for the upcoming summer.
To complete the order, Scott doubled the size of his production team, occasionally recruiting likely-looking workers from the beach.

Wallace Surfboards
8 Winbourne Road, Brookvale.
In response to an enquiry from Keith Grisman in 2014, Bob McTavish replied:

(Bombora surfboards were) made at Wallace's in early 1964.
I shaped roughly half those boards, the others were "Bomber" (Bobby?) Mills and Jonny McIlroy- we were smoking them out!
- edited, thanks to Keith and Bob for these emails.

It is possible that the boards were also manufactured by other companies, however, despite the recollections of Nat Young, there were not produced by Gordon Woods Surfboards
Young recalled:

... my work was good enough for me to be put to work shaping "pop out" boards for Nock and Kirby, a big Sydney department store.
I learnt years later that Gordon (Woods) only made a deal with Nock and Kirby in order for me to gain shaping experience.

- Young Nat's Nat (1998) page 72.

While the boards were manufactured by several companies, despite the recollections of Nat Young, there were not produced by Gordon Woods Surfboards.
- personal phone conversation, August 22, 2005.
It is more likely that Nat served his apprenticeship at Dillon Surfboards, and the implication that such a financially attractive deal was made by Scott primarily for Nat's personal benefit is possibly an exaggeration.

Ron Surfboards
878 Canterbury Road, Lakemba.
Given that Dillon, Wallace, and Ron Surfboards all had a retail outlet through Nock and Kirby's, it is highly probable they had a similar arrangement, and Ron also manufactured a number of the Bombora boards.

Nock and Kirby's Advertisement, circa 1964.

Nock & Kirby's
'Phone 2 0246
Photo by courtesy of "Surfing World."
Buy now! Learn during winter.
Special Winter Payments - From 5/- wkly.

We have the greatest range of surfboards in town.
Everything tor the beginner to the expert.
Easy payments can be arranged for under 21's too.
DON'T wait until the hot weather returns before thinking of buying a new board.
Buy now and be prepared for summer.
Choose from all top names. Scott Dillon. Ron and Wallace, Nock & Kirby's Bombora boards.

Free Winter Board Riding Lessons at Nock & Kirby's City Store.

Reprinted in
Pacific Longboarder,
Volume 7 Number 5, June 2004, page 42.

Walton's Surfboards Malua
1964
Said to be manufactured by Scott Dillon Surfboards, Brookvale.
Possibly others.

Adhesive metal decal image courtesy Mick Mock,
Surf Auction, November 2011, #44.

Bay Side Surf Centre
1965
Melbourne 923774
Dora Surfboards Californian Style Model
There was probably no design or financial negotiations with Mr.Dora.

Geoff Cater (1999 - 2020) : Knock and Kirby's Surfboards, 1963-1965
http://www.surfresearch.com.au/mnock_kirbys.html