Rowing has had a long history in Austin, Texas. The Austin Rowing Club was first established in 1899 with 43 charter members and a mission to “promote all aquatic sports” in Austin. The club was founded by the same people who in 1893, 1894 and 1895 hosted the International Regattas in Austin, Texas on Lake McDonald. According to Audrey Bateman's Waterloo Scrapbook an International Regatta was held in Austin in 1893 with an audience of 10,000 people.
Organized rowing returned to Austin when the current Austin Rowing Club (ARC) was incorporated in August of 1981 with the purpose of practicing and supporting the sport of rowing in Austin. Finding a location to store the boats near Lake Austin proved to be the first large hurdle to overcome. Working with the City of Austin's Parks and Recreation Department the ARC was allowed to store the boats at the Deep Eddy pool site. In 1982 the organization moved to a lakeshore alternative to Deep Eddy and the boats were moved to Bill Miller's Duplex Advertising Building just south of the Congress Avenue Bridge.
In the fall of 1982 expanded its impact on the community by conducting the first Austin Community College course and becoming involved in the City of Austin's Task Force for Olympic Development. Plans for the Heart of Texas Regatta for the Spring of 1983 also began, bringing competitive rowing back to Town Lake. The Heart of Texas Regatta is an annual event held in March that has expanded to not only include college crews, but Masters, Open and Junior events as well. Almost 700 boats competed at the 2009 Regatta for a total of over 1,000 competitors.
After several moves the Austin Rowing Club found permanent facilities at the Town Lake Rowing Center built by Southland Development Corporation (the boat house was given to the City of Austin and is managed by the Austin Rowing Club) in the 1990s. Along with providing services to its own members and classes to the Austin community the Austin Rowing Club has been a host to Texas Crew, who continues to use the grounds and docks, and currently hosts St. Edwards University Crew, who rows under the ARC membership and uses ARC equipment and facilities.
From the guide to the Austin Rowing Club Records AR. 1992. 032., 1980-1995, (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, )
