The Ballarat schools have conducted their Head of the Lake since 1912. Except for war years and years without water, the race is conducted on Lake Wendouree.
School rowing has always been strong in Ballarat and this strength has has produced many Victorian and Australian representatives. It also has produced some of our finest coaches and administrators.
However the race had a rocky and controversial start. The first race in 1912 was declared a no race and further, Ballarat High School was barred from entering an entry. See the 1912 page for more details.
The Ballarat Schools' Association was formed in 1912 and comprised Ballarat College (Clarendon), St Partick's College and Ballarat Grammar.
Ballarat Grammar and St Patrick's raced in the first race and Ballarat College first raced in 1915.
2007 Captains of the Premiership Schools
Best Times
The best times for races (excluding 2007 & 2008 which were not raced at Lake Wendouree)
| Race | Time | School | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girls Year 9 Div 1 | 3:53.60 | BG | 2003 |
| Girls Year 9 Div 2 | 4:16.50 | BG | 2003 |
| Girls Year 9 Div 3 | 4:20.62 | BG | 2004 |
| Girls Year 10 Div 1 | 3:54.20 | BHS | 2003 |
| Girls Year 10 Div 2 | 4:08.14 | BG | 2003 |
| Girls Year 10 Div 3 | 3:54.04 | SPC | 2003 |
| Girls 10ths | 4:09.10 | BGS | 2002 |
| Girls 9ths | 4:02.87 | BHS | 2002 |
| Girls 8ths | 4:21.63 | BGS | 2002 |
| Girls 7ths | 4:10.59 | BGS | 2002 |
| Girls Open 6th | 4:03.26 | MC | 2004 |
| Girls 5ths | 3:59.15 | BG | 2003 |
| Girls 4ths | 3:58.15 | BG | 2003 |
| Girls 3rds | 3:47.80 | BG | 2003 |
| Girls 2nds | 7:42.70 | BCC | 2003 |
| Girls Head of the River | 7:25.55 | BCC | 2002 |
| Boys Year 9 Div 3 | 3:48.10 | BHS | 2003 |
| Boys Year 9 Div 2 | 3:49.07 | BG | 2003 |
| Boys Year 9 Div 1 | 3:29.54 | BG | 2003 |
| Boys Year 10 Div 3 | 3:35.04 | SPC | 2003 |
| Boys Year 10 Div 2 | 3:54.40 | SPC | 2003 |
| Boys Year 10 Div 1 | 3:29.20 | SPC | 2003 |
| Boys 10ths | 3:49.52 | BGS | 1995 |
| Boys 9ths | 3:39.00 | BGS | 2002 |
| Boys 8ths | 3:39.80 | SPC | 1985 |
| Boys 7ths | 3:38.28 | SPC | 2002 |
| Boys 6ths | 3:39.00 | MC | 2004 |
| Boys 5th | 3:27.62 | SPC | 2002 |
| Boys 4ths | 3:17.50 | BG | 2003 |
| Boys 3rds | 3:47.80 | BG | 2003 |
| Boys 2nds | 6:41.43 | SPC | 1994 |
| Boys Head of the River | 6:43.42 | BG | 2002 |
Summary of results by event
| 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | ||
| 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 |
| 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 |
| 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 |
| 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 |
| 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 |
| 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 |
| 1945 no race |
1946 no race |
1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
| 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 |
| 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
| 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 |
| 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
| 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
| 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 |
| 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 |
| 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| 2015 | 2016 |
Start of the Boy's Head in 2008
Start of the Girl's Head in 2008