Before 1902 there was no need for life savers because it was illegal to swim at Australian beaches during daylight hours. People could only swim in the early morning or late evening. Men and women were not allowed to swim together. This changed in 1902 when a man called William Gocher went swimming during the day at Manly Beach in Sydney. He was arrested, but he wasn't charged. Soon others began swimming during the day and it became a popular way to spend summer days.

The water was sometimes dangerous. A group of volunteers set up the first Surf Life Saving Club in the world at Bondi Beach in Sydney in 1906. Today there are many Surf Life Saving Clubs on beaches right around the Australian coast. Life savers choose an area of the beach where the water is relatively safe and calm and they set up their flags. If people get into trouble, life savers are ready to come to the rescue.

The life savers often rush into the water to save people. Some days they are very busy. For example, on February 6, 1938 the weather was hot and thousands of people were enjoying the cool, refreshing water when suddenly a series of large waves hit and swept hundreds of people out to sea. In all 300 people were rescued including several life savers!