City of Newcastle Director Museum Archive Libraries and Learning Julie Baird said the exhibition

newy.com.au – A free exhibition at Newcastle Museum will take Novocastrians on a journey through four decades of Surfest as the iconic surfing event celebrates its 40th anniversary this month.

Foundation sponsor City of Newcastle is marking the milestone with the exhibition Newcastle: The City That Made Surfest, opening on Friday 20 March and showcasing objects and photographs from the Surfest archives, community-loaned items and surfboards owned by local surfing legends Mark Richards and Russell “Russ” Maloney.

The exhibition is the result of a year-long collaboration between Newcastle Museum and Surfest to uncover the stories behind the competition and its place in local, national and international surfing culture.

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the council had been involved with Surfest since the event began in 1985.

“Surfest began in 1985 as an initiative of Newcastle City Council, with Council contributing the initial funding to help create the contest,” Mr Bath said.

“The success of proud Novocastrian and four-time world champion Mark Richards gave organisers confidence Surfest could work in Newcastle.

“The contest was seen as a way to help Newcastle evolve from its industrial roots and promote its beaches and surf breaks to a new audience. As it celebrates its 40th anniversary, Surfest is now the largest surfing festival in the southern hemisphere.”