Club History

The present day Southport Sharks Swimming Club started from a small group of swimmers, gathering at the Southport Olympic Pool in October 1994, all with a similar aim of participating in a friendly and social environment. 

From this beginning the club numbers steadily increased during 1995 when they were joined by members from the Gold Coast Marlins Winter Swimming Club and local other swim clubs.  In 1995 the club became affiliated with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) Swimming Association which is generally based around the Sydney and NSW regional areas.  In that year the club competed at its first National AIF Championship at Grafton NSW. The club was then known as the Southport Strokers Swim Club and was being sponsored by the Southport RSL.

As the numbers continued to increase the club moved to a new swimming venue, at Southport (St Hilda's school).  Due to the support provided by the RSL and the affiliation with the AIF Swimming Association the club was renamed the Southport Diggers Swimming Club in 1996. 

The club became successful in many of the local Zone and Inter Zone Swimming Carnivals during this time.  In 1997 the club not only hosted the National AIF Championships but came away winners.  The club has participated at all national carnivals since that time and has been national champions continuously since 1999. 

The club has also hosted the national titles at Southport in 1997, 2002, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021.  The club is now the biggest and most successful in the AIF Swimming Association.

In October 2002 the club became affiliated with the Southport Sharks Australian Football Club.  As a result the club was renamed the Southport Sharks Swimming Club.

Then in mid 2018, the Club again moved to its present home at Somerset College, Mudgeeraba.   Southport Football Club sponsorship ended during the COVID years and the club is now seeking new sponsorship.

Whilst names, venues and faces have changed the club goals have remained the same - they are to: conduct and promote all swimming and social activities in a friendly atmosphere for the enjoyment and benefit of all members; provide all members with a competitive and social swimming program; and promote the club as a competitive swimming team at all competitions.