• Mullins Reels had its beginnings in 1943

    Kirra Surf Life Saver Jim Mullins began making Surf Reels after having been asked to repair a Surf Reel.

  • Mullins Reels had its beginnings in 1943

    Kirra Surf Life Saver Jim Mullins began making Surf Reels after having been asked to repair a Surf Reel.

  • Mullins Reels had its beginnings in 1943

    Kirra Surf Life Saver Jim Mullins began making Surf Reels after having been asked to repair a Surf Reel.

  • Mullins Reels had its beginnings in 1943

    Kirra Surf Life Saver Jim Mullins began making Surf Reels after having been asked to repair a Surf Reel.

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The Best Surf Reels

Shortly after Jim began making reels, he became widely acknowledged as the best ‘surf reel maker’ of all time. He donated his expertise to the Kirra Club, and over the years, meticulously made, donated and maintained 14 of the finest surf reels of their time to the Kirra Club. Jim was awarded an Honorary Life Membership of Kirra in 1955. His reels were utilised by Kirra’s Australian and Queensland Champion R&R and Belt teams in their respective successes from 1947. Jim’s reels continued to be used long after his death in 1974 and are still in use today. Kirra’s double at the 1979 Australian Titles in the Senior and Junior R&R Championships were won using Jim’s reels.

Jim had joined the Club at the commencement of the 1943-44 season and obtained his Bronze on 19th December 1944. His services soon became much sought after, and not just by the Kirra Club. Jim Mullins had a part in the development of the top quality surf reels which can now be seen in every State of the Commonwealth, and which have been used in South Africa and displayed as far away as Tokyo.

A Pioneer in Surf Life Saving

Jim’s talents resulted in improved buoy and anchor fittings, and he is on record as having produced a special type of ‘Eve Rocker’ resuscitation outfit and a utility First Aid stretcher that was in use by the Surf Life Saving Association for many years. He was the designer of the inflatable swimming and boat buoys.

At his home in the Brisbane suburb of Yeronga Jim began to set up the ultimate workshop of the era enabling him to hand craft Surf Reels from start to finish. Jim selected the use of Australian Surian Red Cedar Timber complimenting it with the pristine appearance of Australian Silver Ash.

As the commendation of Jim’s craftsmanship spread he was sought after by other local clubs, Interstate clubs and also exporting to South Africa, New Zealand and Japan.

With business booming Jim set out to create a unique and state of the art design, incorporating chrome features with his hand crafted reels. Jim created foundry boards and plans to ensure that each and every reel was identical and within Surf Life Saving specifications.

To this day, Mullins Reels uses those same boards and plans with every build.

Jim’s passing in 1974 was a loss in the Surf Life Saving Family.

Jim’s son, Jim Mullins Jnr, took control of the business and continued creating reels in his fathers’ honour.

Currently, Surf Life Saving Reels are still used for R&R (Rescue & Resuscitation) competitions, Belt Racing and March Past events.   Although not used by beach patrols anymore, the traditional Reels will forever hold a part in the Surf Life Saving world.

Mullins Reels is still a family business with their reels hand crafted, just like in 1943 and made locally in Queensland where to date over six hundred Reels Nationally and Internationally have been made for the Surf Life Saving industry.

Today, Mullins Reels has expanded to supplying clubs with Reels, Lines, Belts, Signwriting & covers.

Please feel free to Contact Us for any of your requirements.