History

Bennett Woody

BB team 1960's

Family Tradition since 1956

Barry Bennett born 1931 began manufacturing hollow plywood surfboards and skis in the early 1950's at Waverley in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney as a part time business. In 1956, after the introduction of the short 10'6" plywood hollow Malibu; production began on a full time basis, yet production volume was limited to five boards per week. In 1958, the production was moved to Harbord, near Freshwater Beach.

At this time balsa board production began and production numbers rose to ten custom orders per week. Bennett Surfboards Pty Ltd was formed in 1960 which saw the first factory built exclusively for the manufacture of surfboards and blanks on Harbord Road, Brookvale. With five employees, all top surfers of that era, production numbers rose to forty-five custom boards per week, using polyurethane foam blanks moulded on the Harbord premises. Balsa was phased out in 1960 when Urethane blank production began in the same year.

1962 saw the formation of Dion Chemicals a division of Bennett Surfboards, which still to this day is responsible for the manufacturing of high quality polyurethane foam surfboards blanks, as well as importing and supplying high quality resins and other materials to local and overseas markets.

Surf Life Saving introduced Racing Malibu's to Australian Titles in paddle board races and iron man competitions in 1962 and with longboards, was incorporated into Bennett's surfboard production. Bennett's has always maintained its strong roots in the Surf Life Saving environment. And for the last 40 years, has supplied many paddle board and rescue boards to overseas and local clubs. The Bennett name is highly valued amongst the Surf Life Saving fraternity and many Australian and World Titles have been won on Bennett boards.

Barry Bennett is very highly respected within in the Surfboard industry and is considered by many as one of Australia's Surfboard Industry pioneers. He still today, can be found working blowing blanks in the Brookvale factory.