NameBeach, WilliamBiographyWilliam arrived to Australia with his parents Alexander and Mary from London in 1856.
William was born 1852, and the family came to Andrew McGill’s farm at the Macquarie, Albion Park where his father, a blacksmith worked for Mr. McGill.
William learnt the blacksmith trade from his father. The family had moved on to work for Henry Osborne, but on his father’s death and his mother deceased, William returned to Albion Park and worked for James Grey.
William married Sarah Duley of Illawarra and lived at Dapto, where he took up sculling at Mullet Creek and also trained on Macquarie Rivulet. He went on to be a World Champion Sculler. William and Sarah had 13 children.
William Beach was one of the first Directors of the Illawarra Co-operative Central Dairy, Creamery Road Albion Park Rail in 1899.
William is honoured on Shellharbour City Hall of Fame.
William was a professional Australian oarsman. He was unbeaten as the World Champion from 1884 to 1887.
On May 25, 1874, a series of boat races were held on Lake Illawarra. After winning a race with teammate James Duley, Williams love and dedication towards the sport began.
In 1884, he won his first World Champion title, defeating previous winner, Edward Hanlon on Parramatta River. Undefeated, he held his title for three years and three months until his retirement.
William Beach.