The Queensland Head of the River refers to two high school rowing regattas in Queensland Australia, one for boys (Great Public Schools Association of Queensland Inc., G.P.S.) and one for girls (Brisbane Schoolgirls' Rowing Association, B.S.R.A.). The boys' regatta is held in mid to late March while the girls' regatta is held in late August to early September. Due to the lack of water at Wivenhoe Dam the boys' Head of the River was moved to Hinze Dam for 2006, and was then moved to Lake Kawana on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland the following year. Since the girls require 10 lanes for their regattas, the BSRA Head of the River was held at Hinze Dam from 2005 to 2007. However, due to construction work that was underway to increase the size of the dam, the BSRA Head of the River was also moved to Lake Kawana for the 2008 season. Both the GPS and BSRA competitions moved to Wyaralong Dam in 2017 following the opening of the Queensland State Regatta Centre the previous year.
G.P.S. Head of the River
Participating Schools Seven of the nine GPS schools compete at the annual Head of the River. Only GPS Schools can compete. SchoolLocationEnrolmentFoundedDenominationDay/BoardingSchool ColoursAbbreviationNicknameIn competition sinceAnglican Church Grammar SchoolEast Brisbane1,7001912AnglicanDay & BoardingBlue & GreyACGSChurchie1920Brisbane Boys' CollegeToowong1,6001902Uniting ChurchDay & BoardingGreen, White & BlackBBCCollege1918Brisbane Grammar SchoolSpring Hill1,4001868Non-DenominationalDay & BoardingDark Blue & Light BlueBGSGrammar1918Brisbane State High SchoolSouth Brisbane3,3611921Non-DenominationalDayCerise & Navy BlueBSHSState High1924St Joseph's College, Gregory TerraceSpring Hill1,3371875CatholicDayRed & BlackGTTerrace1928St Joseph's Nudgee CollegeBoondall1,4701891CatholicDay & BoardingBlue & WhiteNCNudgee2001The Southport SchoolSouthport1,2001901AnglicanDay & BoardingMaroon, Navy & WhiteTSSSouthport1918Gregory Terrace first competed in 1928, but did not compete again until 1954.
Between 1916 and 1985 the Anglican Church Grammar School (ACGS), was known as Church of England Grammar School (CEGS).
Early years The first inter-school rowing contests took place in 1890 and 1891 between Brisbane Grammar School and Ipswich Grammar School. Following these initial competitions, a devastating flood in 1893 led to Ipswich Grammar School abandoning the sport.
From 1899 to 1909, Brisbane Grammar School and Maryborough Grammar School competed nine times, with races held alternately in Brisbane and Maryborough. Brisbane Grammar School were victorious in seven of these contests.
In 1908, Southport entered the competition and won on its first attempt. Southport continued its success, securing five more titles over the next six years. 1908 also marked the last appearance of Maryborough Grammar School in the competition.
Rockhampton Grammar School made its first and only appearance on the Brisbane River in 1913. However, Maryborough and Rockhampton Grammar Schools continued to compete against each other on the Mary and Fitzroy Rivers until Maryborough Grammar School closed in 1935.
Brisbane Grammar School claimed the championship titles in 1910 and 1917. Technical College High School entered the competition in 1915, winning both that year and the following year, 1916. Brisbane Boys' College, initially known as Clayfield College, joined the competition in 1917. Church of England Grammar School made its first appearance in 1920.
Southport, after winning the race in 1908, 1909, and 1911, secured the Smith Cup. Southport also won outright the Henderson Cup in 1914 and the Lawless Cup in 1921. Year1st2nd3rd4th1890Ipswich GrammarBrisbane Grammar1891Brisbane GrammarIpswich Grammar1899Brisbane GrammarMaryborough Grammar1902Maryborough GrammarBrisbane Grammar1903Brisbane GrammarMaryborough Grammar1904Brisbane GrammarMaryborough Grammar1905Maryborough GrammarBrisbane Grammar1906Brisbane GrammarMaryborough Grammar1907Brisbane GrammarMaryborough Grammar1908SouthportBrisbane GrammarMaryborough Grammar1909SouthportBrisbane Grammar1910Brisbane GrammarSouthport1911SouthportBrisbane Grammar1912SouthportBrisbane Grammar1913SouthportRockhampton GrammarBrisbane Grammar1914SouthportBrisbane Grammar1915Technical College High SchoolSouthportBrisbane Grammar1916Technical College High SchoolSouthportBrisbane Grammar1917Brisbane GrammarSouthportBrisbane Boys' CollegeTechnical College High School
Open 1st VIII – O'Connor Cup The G.P.S. Head of the River, known then as the All Schools' Race, commenced in 1918 when the Secondary Schools' Association was formed. The O'Connor Cup was first presented in 1922 and is for perpetual competition. The race was contested in "fours" from 1918 to 1954, and in "eights" since 1955.