THE FIRST SHACKS:

The first shack was built by Mr M. J. Warren in 1947 in the area to the East of the Jetty on land which was leased by the then Regatta Club from the SA Harbor Board. This was near the foreshore oval which was maintained by the Regatta Club and the site of many successful Regattas in the early years of the twentieth century.

The Strathalbyn Council had agreed to the erection of shacks in February 1947 and standard building requirements were set out. These were followed reasonably well, with the exception of a Railway Brake Van which caused some unease amongst the shackies.

Each shack might have a rain water tank and thus have facilities for washing but there was no provision for individual toilets. The provision of communal or public toilets thus became a necessity and has been a source of difficulty over the years.

By 1948 seventeen shacks had been built and it appeared that more land would be needed to provide for the demand. The Progress Association acquired the lease on nearby land which had a few pieces of children's play equipment on it. These they donated to the School which paved the way for more shacks.

In the meantime the old Regatta Club had relinquished its control of the foreshore oval and in 1949 this was taken over by the Progress Association. The Association therefore became responsible for administering the foreshore area, including the shacks. This arrangement would continue until 1967, with Progress and the shackies working together to build up the facilities in the area.

Demand for sites continued to be keen and approval was given to lease sites on the western side of the jetty and this area really took off following the devastating floods of 1956.