Studley Park Boathouse was established in the 1860s. In 2025 it was one of two surviving boathouses on the Yarra River. Established by the Burns family, who were boat builders in nearby Punt Road, when boating became popular on the Yarra river. They offered a small boat hire, allowing visitors to hire rowing boats for the day. In the late 1990s refreshment rooms were added, as well as a a separate family residence. The Edwardian style building with arched verandah was added in the early 1910s. The Burns family were associated with the Boathouse for over 50 years, and Studley Park Boathouse is the oldest operating boathouse on the Yarra River. Studley Park was reserved as a public park in 1877. Day trippers and locals visited the park since the 1850s, and it was very popular for picnics.Photograph of the Studley Park Boathouse on the Yarra River at Kew. studley park boathouse, yarra river, boulevard, burn's boathouse, studley park

Studley Park Boathouse was established in the 1860s. In 2025 it was one of two surviving boathouses on the Yarra River. Established by the Burns family, who were boat builders in nearby Punt Road, when boating became popular on the Yarra river. They offered a small boat hire, allowing visitors to hire rowing boats for the day. In the late 1990s refreshment rooms were added, as well as a a separate family residence. The Edwardian style building with arched verandah was added in the early 1910s. The Burns family were associated with the Boathouse for over 50 years, and Studley Park Boathouse is the oldest operating boathouse on the Yarra River. Studley Park was reserved as a public park in 1877. Day trippers and locals visited the park since the 1850s, and it was very popular for picnics.Photographs of the Studley Park Boathouse on the Yarra river at Kew. studley park boathouse, yarra river, boulevard, burns, burn's boathouse, studley park

In the 1920s and 30s, rowing on the Yarra was a very popular weekend pastime. Each of the early boats was individually named in gold letters on its varnished wooden backboard. This is all that remains of one of the Thames pulling boats from Burns' Boatshed at Studley Park which was destroyed by a falling tree in a storm. Their entire fleet of rowing boats has now been replaced by fiberglass boats.Varnished wooden backplate of a rowing boat. The shaped sign is embossed with the name 'Wagana" in gold lettering, outlined and shaded in black paint. Gilt scroll work surrounds the name. The ends of the backplate shows the holes where the plate was once attached to the seat of the boat. The name Wagana means 'to dance' in Wiradjuri language."Wagana"burns' boatshed, thames pulling boats, yarra river -- kew (vic.), boathouses - river yarra