Helensburgh NSW 2508
Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club
Last updated 7 July 2026
The Helensburgh–Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club (HSPSLSC) patrols Stanwell Park Beach — the northernmost surf beach on the Illawarra coast, at the foot of Bald Hill. Despite the Stanwell Park address, the club has deep ties to Helensburgh, Stanwell Tops, and Otford.
Formed on 11 February 1908, the club is among the oldest surf life saving clubs in Australia and ranks among the oldest in the world. Volunteer lifesavers have watched over this beach for more than a century.
Quick facts
Swim between the red and yellow flags
On patrol days, only swim where lifesavers are on duty. Conditions change quickly — do not rely on this page for today’s patrol status. Surf and rip-current advice is published on the club website.
Visiting Stanwell Park Beach
Stanwell Park is a popular family beach — sheltered by the escarpment, with the surf club and clubhouse at the northern end. The club runs an active nippers program for junior swimmers and welcomes associate members from across the Illawarra, Sutherland Shire, and Sydney.
- Patrol times — BeachSafe for current season hours and surf conditions
- Club website — stanwellparksurfclub.com for patrol rosters, nippers, membership, and events
- Parking — near the beach; summer weekends and public holidays can be busy
Getting there from Helensburgh
From Helensburgh town centre, head east down the escarpment to Lawrence Hargrave Drive, then continue south to Stanwell Park. The clubhouse sits at the northern end of the beach.
About the club
HSPSLSC is a volunteer organisation that has won multiple Surf Life Saving Illawarra and NSW awards in recent seasons. The clubhouse on Beach Road was rebuilt in stages from the 1980s after Wollongong City Council determined the earlier building was beyond repair — a far cry from the single room attached to a beach kiosk in the club’s earliest years.
Vigilance and Service — the club’s motto since the earliest days of surf life saving in Australia. For a fuller history, see Vigilance and Service on the Helensburgh & District Historical Society website.
1908
- Club formed at Stanwell Park (then Little Bulli) — among the first surf clubs in the Commonwealth
- Public display before a large crowd; Bondi SLSC demonstrated techniques at the beach in May
1909 & beyond
- First dedicated clubroom built by members in 1909
- Major clubhouse rebuilds in 1954 and the 1980s with council and club funds
Combine your visit
Stanwell Park pairs naturally with a coastal day trip from Helensburgh:
?? Bald Hill
Lookout and hang-gliding site directly above the beach (~5 minutes by car).
?? Sea Cliff Bridge
Iconic coastal drive a few minutes south along Lawrence Hargrave Drive.
?? Stanwell Park overbridge
Historic railway and road alignments in the valley.
?? Royal National Park
Bushwalks and coastal tracks to the north.
Contact
Website — stanwellparksurfclub.com
Clubhouse phone — 02 4294 1223 (Sundays 9:00 am–5:00 pm, per club website)
Postal — PO Box 111, Helensburgh NSW 2508