Bob Barber
Sometimes written up as Barbour, Bob was a serial builder of 18-footers which he sailed himself. Neither the boats nor Bob were champions, but he was a stalwart of the Sydney Flying Squadron and won a fair share of prize money in handicapped races, so he was popular with the punters. His Arakoon was built on the Macleay River (where the town of Arakoon is, SW Rocks, N.Coast NSW), so Bob may have hailed from up that way.
Eighteen -footers:
1913 Eagle
1925 Alert
1927 Rene
1929 Arakoon*
1932 Waratah I
1937 Pandora
1941 Zephyr
Eighteen -footers:
1913 Eagle
1925 Alert
1927 Rene
1929 Arakoon*
1932 Waratah I
1937 Pandora
1941 Zephyr
Bill Barnett
Born 1915 into a boatbuilding family. Started building and racing canvas 12 footers in the 1930's. Built 11 planked eighteen footers from 1948 and many laminated ones after 1954. Champion skipper as well. Went on to build and skipper many other classes of yachts after the mid-1950's. Interviews with Bill were invaluable in preparing the construction section of the Open Boat book.
Shed: Berry's Bay
Planked 18 ftrs:
1948 Hy Flyer, Myra (later Coralie III or Coralie Too)
1949 Aloma
1950 Myra II (Too) (later Merle 1951, Minnawatta II 1955)
1951 Myra III (later Margaret 1952, Tiger Too 1954)
1952 Apex for and with Len Heffernan, and Nymph (later Sea Nymph 1954, Supertrex 1955)
1953 Can Can, Jan, Chris Webb III (later Chance 1956)
1954 M.G.
Shed: Berry's Bay
Planked 18 ftrs:
1948 Hy Flyer, Myra (later Coralie III or Coralie Too)
1949 Aloma
1950 Myra II (Too) (later Merle 1951, Minnawatta II 1955)
1951 Myra III (later Margaret 1952, Tiger Too 1954)
1952 Apex for and with Len Heffernan, and Nymph (later Sea Nymph 1954, Supertrex 1955)
1953 Can Can, Jan, Chris Webb III (later Chance 1956)
1954 M.G.
W. Beattie
Early 1900's builder of several 18-footers in Cameron St Balmain.
18's built:
1900 Elsie
1904 Vision
1911 Hero
18's built:
1900 Elsie
1904 Vision
1911 Hero
Charlie Crowley
Brisbane builder of several 18's in the late 1930's.
1936 Poinsettia
1937 Malvina -A champion boat.
1938 Ardath
1938 St George- re-named Gloria 1939. This boat is still afloat, modified into a small cabin yacht.
1936 Poinsettia
1937 Malvina -A champion boat.
1938 Ardath
1938 St George- re-named Gloria 1939. This boat is still afloat, modified into a small cabin yacht.
Edgar Dearing
Sometimes spelt 'Deering', Edgar was a prolific builder of all classes of open racing boats. Mentioned as being in Carey St Drummoyne in 1894 (Street is gone, it was where the ferry wharf now stands at Birkenhead Point immediately North of the Western side of the Iron Cove Bridge).
Boats built:
1880 Uranus 22'
1894 "A number of ten-footers" before 1894.
1894 Stella 18' -an immediate champion amongst the earliest 18's, 7'2"beam, 2'2" deep, destroyed by fire 1895.
1895 Planet 10' for T.Cuneo, 5' beam. 23" depth, nearly 6" spring in keel. Last mentioned sailing in late February 1930. More details and picture on TEN-FOOTERS Page.
1896 Wonga 22'*
1898 Kyeewa 18'
1904 Jessie 14' -retired 1921
1905 Blanche 18' -became Ethel 1916.
1906 Viking 18'
1913 A 16'skiff for Newcastle, either 60 or 80 pounds with two sets of sails.
1914 Boronia 18' -renamed Loris 1924.
Boats built:
1880 Uranus 22'
1894 "A number of ten-footers" before 1894.
1894 Stella 18' -an immediate champion amongst the earliest 18's, 7'2"beam, 2'2" deep, destroyed by fire 1895.
1895 Planet 10' for T.Cuneo, 5' beam. 23" depth, nearly 6" spring in keel. Last mentioned sailing in late February 1930. More details and picture on TEN-FOOTERS Page.
1896 Wonga 22'*
1898 Kyeewa 18'
1904 Jessie 14' -retired 1921
1905 Blanche 18' -became Ethel 1916.
1906 Viking 18'
1913 A 16'skiff for Newcastle, either 60 or 80 pounds with two sets of sails.
1914 Boronia 18' -renamed Loris 1924.
Joe Donnelly
Joe Donnelly (1839-1917) was considered by most to be Sydney's finest boatbuilder. He was born in Ireland but arrived in Sydney as a child and became apprenticed to Andrew Reynolds whose shed was at the bottom of Duke St Balmain (the same building George Ellis*worked out of later). Early on he built a reputation as a builder of fine competition rowing skiffs and was a keen competitive rower himself. He built several early boats of the class of 24' fishing boats but made his reputation as a designer and builder of racing boats when he convinced patron S.H.Hyam that he could build him the fastest boats in two emerging classes, the 19' and 22'skiffs, in 1875. His 19' Florrie was competitive but his 22' Ettie dominated the class and led to him building more boats for Sol Hyam as well as many other customers. His boats were wider aft than had been the usual rule, and he remained a keen design experimenter throughout his career. He had a dominant role in the evolution of the 24' fishing boats into a racing class, then built the best 22 footers which established most of the features that typify the Australian Open Boats from the 1880's until well into the 20th Century and paved the way for the emergence of the 18 footers as the dominant class. He was not a skipper but crewed at least occasionally, as his name is recorded (along with his then partner Sullivan) in the crew of Carlotta in a match race in the late 1870's with Lottie, both 24 footers that he had built for Sol Hyam.
A better craftsman than a businessman, he was in financial trouble from time to time, and was described as 'feeble' in 1910 when a benefit was held for him. He established his business on the waterfront in Glebe in the 1870's, but was working in Woollomooloo during moat of the 1880's, but spent the last 20 years of his career at the bottom of Cook St Glebe (now a park). His wife had died at a young age, and he retired in 1914 and went to live with his sister in Leichhardt, where he died in 1917 aged 78 and was buried in Rookwood cemetery. The Australian Historical Sailing Skiff Association discovered that his grave site was unmarked and raised money and installed a commemorative plaque for this great man. See www.historicskiffs.org.au
Incomplete list of boats:
1870's King of the Ring, Big Berry 24 foot fishing boats
1875 Florrie 19' skiff, Ettie 22' skiff
1876 Lottie 24'*
1877 Carlotta 24'
1878 Anthea 19' skiff
1879 Victor 24', another 19' skiff, an outrigger rowing skiff for champion rower Trickett
1880 Rosetta 22', another 24', a string-test gig (rowing skiff)
1881 St Crispin 22'
1880's Angela, Clytie, Petrel, all 20', plus at least six 16' skiffs and several canvas and wood 14' dinghies
1883 Asteroid 36' half-decker
1888 Irex 22'
1891 Susie, Ida both 24'
1894 Ariel 18'
1896 Wanda 14' wood dinghy
1898 Donnelly 18'*, Plover 22'*
1905 Zena 18'
1906 Scot 18'*
1907 Oweenee 18'
1911 Donnelly 2 18'*
A better craftsman than a businessman, he was in financial trouble from time to time, and was described as 'feeble' in 1910 when a benefit was held for him. He established his business on the waterfront in Glebe in the 1870's, but was working in Woollomooloo during moat of the 1880's, but spent the last 20 years of his career at the bottom of Cook St Glebe (now a park). His wife had died at a young age, and he retired in 1914 and went to live with his sister in Leichhardt, where he died in 1917 aged 78 and was buried in Rookwood cemetery. The Australian Historical Sailing Skiff Association discovered that his grave site was unmarked and raised money and installed a commemorative plaque for this great man. See www.historicskiffs.org.au
Incomplete list of boats:
1870's King of the Ring, Big Berry 24 foot fishing boats
1875 Florrie 19' skiff, Ettie 22' skiff
1876 Lottie 24'*
1877 Carlotta 24'
1878 Anthea 19' skiff
1879 Victor 24', another 19' skiff, an outrigger rowing skiff for champion rower Trickett
1880 Rosetta 22', another 24', a string-test gig (rowing skiff)
1881 St Crispin 22'
1880's Angela, Clytie, Petrel, all 20', plus at least six 16' skiffs and several canvas and wood 14' dinghies
1883 Asteroid 36' half-decker
1888 Irex 22'
1891 Susie, Ida both 24'
1894 Ariel 18'
1896 Wanda 14' wood dinghy
1898 Donnelly 18'*, Plover 22'*
1905 Zena 18'
1906 Scot 18'*
1907 Oweenee 18'
1911 Donnelly 2 18'*
Zena built by Joe Donnelly in 1905 for JM Firth.
Willis Douglass
Willis was a prolific builder of 16-foot skiffs but I don't have details of these. When the League started sailing more skiff-like 18's after 1934, Willis began to build 18-footers and became one of the most popular builders of 7'beamers in Sydney. He was based at Narrabeen on the Northern Beaches and many of his boats are named after Northern beaches suburbs. In the 1940's Jimmy O'Rourke started working for Willis and was one of my sources for how it was done in the day for The Open Boat book.
18's built:
1935 Dee Why -sailed by Jimmy Alderton with Brian Gale as for'd hand. Re-named Survey 1941, Mascotte II 1942.
1936 Collaroy -renamed Coronet 1938, Viking 1940, Desdemona II 1941.
1936 Lightning
1937 Aries -renamed Eileen 1938
1937 Gloria -renamed City Tatts 1939.
1938 Sydney -renamed Eileen II 1939.
1939 Narrabeen Lakes (SFS)
1940 Ada A
1940 City Tatts II
1940 Dee Why II
1941 Top Weight
1942 Trade Wind
1949 Chris Webb II One of the last 7'beamers built, the hull is currently in storage at the Sydney Heritage Fleet.
18's built:
1935 Dee Why -sailed by Jimmy Alderton with Brian Gale as for'd hand. Re-named Survey 1941, Mascotte II 1942.
1936 Collaroy -renamed Coronet 1938, Viking 1940, Desdemona II 1941.
1936 Lightning
1937 Aries -renamed Eileen 1938
1937 Gloria -renamed City Tatts 1939.
1938 Sydney -renamed Eileen II 1939.
1939 Narrabeen Lakes (SFS)
1940 Ada A
1940 City Tatts II
1940 Dee Why II
1941 Top Weight
1942 Trade Wind
1949 Chris Webb II One of the last 7'beamers built, the hull is currently in storage at the Sydney Heritage Fleet.
Charlie Dunn
Charlie Dunn came from a boatbuilding family. His father William Dunn was working on the North Shore (Berry's Bay at least as far back as 1864. Charlie and his brother Billy continued the business well into the twentieth century, building all sorts of boats from dinghies and skiffs to ferries and small coasters. Can't find his dates of birth and death, but brother Billy lived 1880-1953, and Charlie was still alive in 1945. Both brothers were top skippers, and Billy concentrated on this side more than on boatbuilding, steering many boats for different owners. Charlie mostly sailed boats he built for himself, including eight boats (10's and 18's) named Crescent and a number of 14 footers, including Clio. Starting his racing career in 10's and 14's in the 1890's he moved into 18's with Mascotte in 1901 and was still racing 18's in the mid-1930's.
Many of his boats were narrower than the prevailing models, but he did build some big-beam champions as well, including Kismet*, Avalon and Pastime II, as well as supplying the moulds for Perth's Mele Bilo I & II. He was very popular interstate, especially in the 14' class, building boats for Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Shed: Berry's Bay, now part of Noakes Marine Centre. Incomplete list of open racing boats built: 1890's: Several 10 footers named Crescent. Several 14 footers including Clio. 1901 Mascotte 18' Unusual for having the top two or three strakes clinker with batten-seam bottom and being painted white. 1903 Qui Vive 18' 6' beam, sold to Perth 1904. 1905 Air Motor 14' for Botany Bay. 1905 Crescent IV 18' for himself, also 6' beam. 1905 Crescent V 18' 1906 Crescent VI 18' 1906 Acme 18' 1908 Crescent VII 18' 1909? Nereid 16' skiff, Champion that year. 1912 Desdemona* 18' for A.C.Roberts, sailed up until the 1940-41 season. 1912 Kismet* 18' for Ravell brothers, also sailed up until the 1940-41 season. 1913 Swastika* 18' 1916 Onda* 18' 1919 Mischief 18' for Cairns FNQ 1921 Crescent VIII 18' 1921 Endeavour 18' 1922 Avalon 18' 1927 Pastime II 18' |
The Dunn yard in Berry's Bay 1892. The Dunns had the shed and land to the right. The crowd is there for the launching of the Balmain ferry Lady Mary at the yard of Walter Reeks next door. Two yachts are visible on the Dunn slipway, one under cover without mast. The shed has more air than condition, I guess they took their tools home every night.
Fourteen foot dingy Clio built and sailed by Charlie and sometimes Billy, around 1897. The 14's were an unrestricted class and carried every sail their bigger sisters did, even squaresails up to about his date when spinnakers took over.
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George Ellis
George Ellis (18??-1924) was one of Sydney's most prolific boatbuilders, with a substantial business employing up to 15 hands (1889).
He built everything from canvas 14 footers to large yachts, and was one of the top skippers from the 1880's to the early 1900's. His building work slowed down in the early 1900's, presumably because he was earning enough as a professional skipper. He moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1907 to manage a yacht club's shed and died there in 1924.
Shed: Bottom of Duke St Balmain. Shed is still there, though rebuilt into guess what, apartments.
Incomplete list of boats:
1873? Aileen 24'
1870's 14 ftrs Olivette, Shadow, Vision, 16' Sophia, 18' skiff Lisel
1876 La Belle (6 ton yacht)
1878 Deronda 24', Naiad 18' skiff
1879 Lucia 19' skiff, Harpy 39'7" yacht
1880 Ouida 16' skiff, Dreamland 24'
1881 Velox 22', Tethys 25' half-decker
1880's Aileen 24', Wingadee 20'
1884 Elaine 20', Wanganella 20'
1886 Genesta 20'
1887 Genesta 8' canvas dingy
1889 Thelma 53' yacht, designed by Walter Reeks
1893 Kelpie 2 1/2 rater, at yard of Thompson and Co Drummoyne. Kelpie still sails on Sydney Harbour.
He built everything from canvas 14 footers to large yachts, and was one of the top skippers from the 1880's to the early 1900's. His building work slowed down in the early 1900's, presumably because he was earning enough as a professional skipper. He moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1907 to manage a yacht club's shed and died there in 1924.
Shed: Bottom of Duke St Balmain. Shed is still there, though rebuilt into guess what, apartments.
Incomplete list of boats:
1873? Aileen 24'
1870's 14 ftrs Olivette, Shadow, Vision, 16' Sophia, 18' skiff Lisel
1876 La Belle (6 ton yacht)
1878 Deronda 24', Naiad 18' skiff
1879 Lucia 19' skiff, Harpy 39'7" yacht
1880 Ouida 16' skiff, Dreamland 24'
1881 Velox 22', Tethys 25' half-decker
1880's Aileen 24', Wingadee 20'
1884 Elaine 20', Wanganella 20'
1886 Genesta 20'
1887 Genesta 8' canvas dingy
1889 Thelma 53' yacht, designed by Walter Reeks
1893 Kelpie 2 1/2 rater, at yard of Thompson and Co Drummoyne. Kelpie still sails on Sydney Harbour.
Billy Fisher
Billy Fisher was from a multi-generational boatbuilding family based at La Perouse on Botany Bay, C.A.M.Fisher and Sons. The business built everything from dinghies to yachts and trading vessels. Yachts include Ranger the original boat of the class, designed by owner Cliff Gale in 1933 (see Ranger Class Page on www.smithysboatshed.weebly.com for more information on the Rangers).
Billy was also a top helmsman winning a lot of races in his series of 18's named Australia in the 1920's and '30's.
Eighteen-footers built:
1921 Australia (I)
1936 Australia II
1937 Miranda (first 7'-beamer in the SFS that year)
1937 J.L.Glick
1938 Australia III
1944 Amy -became Advance in 1947.
1944 Spindrift
1946 Clovelly -became Valetta in 1947.
1946 Shamrock III -became Marjorie V in 1950.
Billy was also a top helmsman winning a lot of races in his series of 18's named Australia in the 1920's and '30's.
Eighteen-footers built:
1921 Australia (I)
1936 Australia II
1937 Miranda (first 7'-beamer in the SFS that year)
1937 J.L.Glick
1938 Australia III
1944 Amy -became Advance in 1947.
1944 Spindrift
1946 Clovelly -became Valetta in 1947.
1946 Shamrock III -became Marjorie V in 1950.
William Golding
Billy Golding (1855-19??) was a prolific builder whose business was almost exclusively open racing boats of all classes. From an early age he was also a champion skipper. His Gymea of 1889 was probably the first eighteen footer that we would recognise as having all of the characteristics of the class that soon developed. His boats spanned almost the whole period of the racing of batten-seam carvel eighteen footers, as Golding boats were still racing in the late 1930's. Several of his half-deckers (not listed below at this point) are still afloat.
Shed: Figtree Point, Western side of Balmain. He lived in a house in Broderick St nearby which still exists. Incomplete list of boats: 1872 Alpha 16' skiff, at 17 years of age, just out of articles of apprenticeship, also XLCR 16' skiff. 1870's-80's Our Own 16' skiff, Edith 18', Itonia 20', Vacuna 20', Leonie 22', Rosalind 23', Lizzie M 23', Pandora 24', Aeolus 24' 1880 Nereus 20' Burnt in Golding's shed fire in 1885. Golding and volunteer helpers built a new shed of 2 floors, 50' x 40'. 1886 Nyoola 22' for Brisbane 1889 Gymea 18' 1893 Olinda 18', Caneebie 22' for Brisbane 1894 Nereid 18' 1895 Yvonne 18' 1896 Vigilant* 22' 1897 Thalia 18' 1898 Federal 18' for Newcastle, sailed also in Sydney 1899 Question 18' 1903 Arline* 18' (later Australian II 1905) 1907 Eileen 18' (later Arline II 1910) 1909 Nimrod* 18' (later Mascotte 1918, Awaya 1923, Mascotte 1925) 1910 Golding 18' (later Life Saver 1923) 1912 Australian III 18' (later Langham 1919, Chasidern 1921, Australian 1925, Frank R. Perrot 1927 1913 Golding announced he was taking a holiday from boatbuilding and appears not to have built another boat. Charlie Hayes |
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Charlie Hayes was from a multi-generational Sydney boatbuilding family. His father James had been in partnership with Dan Sheehy building yachts and trading vessels in Woolloomooloo in 1867-70, but set up his own company J.Hayes and Sons after this and is mentioned at the bottom of Paul St in Balmain in 1879. Some time after this he moved to Careening Cove opposite where the Sydney Flying Squadron now stands, by which time Charlie was in charge of the business. As well as the commercial work of the yard, Charlie built several 18-footers. He was also a sought-after helmsman.
18-footers built:
1907 Maritana
1925 Yendys* (snub)
1927 Arawatta (snub) -re-named Cutty Sark II 1937.
1935 Minnawatta (designed by Frank Hayes, son?? of Charlie. Re-named Eileen IV 1943.
18-footers built:
1907 Maritana
1925 Yendys* (snub)
1927 Arawatta (snub) -re-named Cutty Sark II 1937.
1935 Minnawatta (designed by Frank Hayes, son?? of Charlie. Re-named Eileen IV 1943.
W.Holmes
Not much is known about W.Holmes at this stage.
Boats built:
1898 Ira 18'
1902 Arawa 18'
1903 Wandeen 14' - 6'4" beam, 2'deep, spring 5"forward, 4"aft.
Boats built:
1898 Ira 18'
1902 Arawa 18'
1903 Wandeen 14' - 6'4" beam, 2'deep, spring 5"forward, 4"aft.
James E. Hubbard
James Hubbard was based in Leichhardt St Glebe Point, where this picture has his 18-footer Ruby on the slip. You can walk along a public path on this shoreline today.
Boats built:
1889 Un-named 22-footer, would be ready for the Double Bay Regatta.
1889 Volunteer* 24' -plus possibly another 24', probably Mantura*.
1892 Aztec* 18'
1893 Another 22-footer on the lines of Volunteer and Mantura.
1893 Ethel 18'
1894 Un-named 18' x 7' 6" x 2'2" for George Holmes.
1894 Ruby 18' (pictured above). The picture was published in 1900 when Ruby was used as a hire boat, and several young men hired it, capsized it and two were drowned.
1897 Muriel 18' x 7' x 2'3" of Cedar on Spotted Gum, to be sailed by George Holmes Jnr.
1904 Un-named oil launch.
1905 40' x 10' fishing boat for Ulladulla (S.Coast NSW)
Boats built:
1889 Un-named 22-footer, would be ready for the Double Bay Regatta.
1889 Volunteer* 24' -plus possibly another 24', probably Mantura*.
1892 Aztec* 18'
1893 Another 22-footer on the lines of Volunteer and Mantura.
1893 Ethel 18'
1894 Un-named 18' x 7' 6" x 2'2" for George Holmes.
1894 Ruby 18' (pictured above). The picture was published in 1900 when Ruby was used as a hire boat, and several young men hired it, capsized it and two were drowned.
1897 Muriel 18' x 7' x 2'3" of Cedar on Spotted Gum, to be sailed by George Holmes Jnr.
1904 Un-named oil launch.
1905 40' x 10' fishing boat for Ulladulla (S.Coast NSW)
George Press
The Press dynasty, founded by H.C.Press ran a boasted in Wooloomooloo Bay, along with other marine-related businesses like ferries and waterfront pleasure (picnic) gardens. H.C.'s son George ran the family business as well as building lots of boats for hire as well as a whole series of 18-footers all named after his father. Chris Webb steered the first two most of the time with George as mainsheet hand, but by the late 1920's George had taken over the tiller himself, and all of the rest were steered by him.
18's built:
1913 Intrepid (possibly by or with HC)
1913 HC Press 18' (possibly by or with HC)
1921 HC Press II*
1925 HC Press III *-a snub design, renamed Argo 1932, Shamrock II 1934.
1933 HC Press IV* -renamed Gwenyth 1935, HC Press IV 1936, X-Press 1941.
1935 HC Press V -renamed Cornstalk 1936.
1941 HC Press VI -renamed Bounty 1944.
1944 HC Press VII -at 6'3" beam, the first under 7' at the SFS.
1948 HC Press VIII -renamed Torres 1951, Marjorie VI 1953.
1950 HC Press IX
1953 HC Press X
18's built:
1913 Intrepid (possibly by or with HC)
1913 HC Press 18' (possibly by or with HC)
1921 HC Press II*
1925 HC Press III *-a snub design, renamed Argo 1932, Shamrock II 1934.
1933 HC Press IV* -renamed Gwenyth 1935, HC Press IV 1936, X-Press 1941.
1935 HC Press V -renamed Cornstalk 1936.
1941 HC Press VI -renamed Bounty 1944.
1944 HC Press VII -at 6'3" beam, the first under 7' at the SFS.
1948 HC Press VIII -renamed Torres 1951, Marjorie VI 1953.
1950 HC Press IX
1953 HC Press X
George Robinson (Wee Georgie)
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Wee Georgie was the son of Jack Robinson who raced and built several 18 footers. He was the Balmain Tigers First Grade Rugby League halfback in 1919 when he built Britannia* the replica of which is the focus of the construction section of the Open Boat book. He raced Britannia until 1944, then steered Aberdare* for several years, then became the starter for the SFS (with Britannia as the starter boat at first) for 28 years.
Incomplete list of boats built: 1915 Britannia 6' 1916 Australia 6' 1919 Britannia 18' 1922 Waitangi 30' yacht (recently restored by Rick Wood) 1930 Jean* 10' for Mr McFarlane 1947 Scamp 18' for and with son Ron 1960's Brit 20' clinker launch as replacement starter boat (still afloat) |
Robert Stephens
Often spelt Stevens, Robert was possibly the son of W.Stevens who had a boatshed at the foot of Pyrmont Bridge in 1860.
Robert was reported prior to 1891 as next to Pyrmont Baths in Point Street. In fact he was selling out of those premises, but still built many boats after that.
Boats built:
1880's Ettie 16'
1888 Idothea*24' for HC Press, 9'6" beam, 30" deep, tuck 7'10", Oak and Blackwood seats, Rosewood deck!
1889 Iolanthe 24', Isadore 24' for Press, Enterprise 24', possibly for himself.
1893 Rosamond 18'
1896 Figtree 22' -1/2-decked, 8'7" or 9'7" beam, 2'9" deep, hollow garboards amidships.
Another 22' Violet in the mid-1890's.
Robert was reported prior to 1891 as next to Pyrmont Baths in Point Street. In fact he was selling out of those premises, but still built many boats after that.
Boats built:
1880's Ettie 16'
1888 Idothea*24' for HC Press, 9'6" beam, 30" deep, tuck 7'10", Oak and Blackwood seats, Rosewood deck!
1889 Iolanthe 24', Isadore 24' for Press, Enterprise 24', possibly for himself.
1893 Rosamond 18'
1896 Figtree 22' -1/2-decked, 8'7" or 9'7" beam, 2'9" deep, hollow garboards amidships.
Another 22' Violet in the mid-1890's.
Alf (Toby) Whereat
Toby Whereat was the son of Brisbane boatbuilder J.H."Jack" Whereat, and as well as working in the family boatbuilding business he was a builder and skipper of many successful 16-footers in the early years of that class in Brisbane. He is believed to be the first boatbuilder to delete the heel or skeg on the 16-footers, a design feature that took over in that class within a few years. He was the Australian Champion in 16-Footers for several years in a row with his boat named Aberdare. In 1932 he built an 18-Footer named Aberdare* along the lines of his successful 16-footer including having no heel and of only 7' beam, and this boat began to win from the first, and led to other boats copying it which eventually led to the splitting of the sport in both Sydney and Brisbane over beam restrictions. The whole story is covered well in Robin Elliott's book Galloping Ghosts (available at Boat Books in Sydney) and design details are covered in my book The Open Boat.
Boats built:
Many 16-footers for himself and others in the 1920's.
1932 Aberdare is his only 18-footer. Some sources credit him with building an Aberdare copy named The Mistake, but it was actually built by Toby's father Jack with assistance from Lance Watts as Toby died of pneumonia a little while after completing Aberdare. He lived long enough to see it dominate 18-footer racing on the Brisbane River.
Boats built:
Many 16-footers for himself and others in the 1920's.
1932 Aberdare is his only 18-footer. Some sources credit him with building an Aberdare copy named The Mistake, but it was actually built by Toby's father Jack with assistance from Lance Watts as Toby died of pneumonia a little while after completing Aberdare. He lived long enough to see it dominate 18-footer racing on the Brisbane River.
Sam Williams
Sam Williams trained with Joe Donnelly* and may have even built his first boat Australian* in Donnelly's shed in Glebe, but is mentioned as being "at North Shore" in connection with the launch of 22' Keriki in September 1898 and was in Lavender Bay in May 1890 building a half-decked 18-footer for J.G.Carter. By 1904 he was in his own shed in Bridge Street Pyrmont. He had only one leg. In 1921 he is described as Sammy Williams of Glebe but later in 1921 he is mentioned as building sailing skiffs while his brother Frank was building dinghies and motor boats on the Georges River (Kogarah Bay). he was definitely on Kogarah Bay when he built NSW for Harry Thompson.
Boats built:
1896 Australian (I)* 18'
1898 Keriki 22'
1904 Mavis 18' She was completely rebuilt in 1929 by Tom Tait and was re-named Eclipse II.
1909 Advance 18' for "Happy Harry" Thompson
1912 Quibree* 18'
1921 Joyce 16', Mona 16'
1922 NSW 18' a second boat for Harry Thompson.
Boats built:
1896 Australian (I)* 18'
1898 Keriki 22'
1904 Mavis 18' She was completely rebuilt in 1929 by Tom Tait and was re-named Eclipse II.
1909 Advance 18' for "Happy Harry" Thompson
1912 Quibree* 18'
1921 Joyce 16', Mona 16'
1922 NSW 18' a second boat for Harry Thompson.
Norman Wright Senior
Norman Wright set up a boatbuilding business on the Brisbane River which is still going, run by the third generation. As well as commercial work, Norm was a competitive sailor, and built the 10-footer Commonwealth in 1906, and several 14-footers and many16-footers as well as the 18-footers listed below.
18-Footers built:
1912 Vanity re-named Quest 1923
1915 Langham
1916 Thelma re-named Ou-La-La 1919
1918 Thelma II
1919 Thelma III re-named Keriki when sold to Lan Taylor of Sydney in 1920.
1937 Joyce III 18' re-named Flying Fish when sold to Mark Foy in 1938.
1938 Joyce IV
1938 Taree re-named Top Dog II 1940, Taree 1945, Heather 1947.
1946 Iris re-named Crows Nest (I) 1947
1947 Top Weight II
A complete list of boats built by the company can be viewed on the site www.wrightsons.com.au under 'Vessel Directory'.
The story of the Norman Wright Boatyard can be found in a book Boxer's Legacy by Lindy Salter, available by emailing lsalter@bigpond.net.au
18-Footers built:
1912 Vanity re-named Quest 1923
1915 Langham
1916 Thelma re-named Ou-La-La 1919
1918 Thelma II
1919 Thelma III re-named Keriki when sold to Lan Taylor of Sydney in 1920.
1937 Joyce III 18' re-named Flying Fish when sold to Mark Foy in 1938.
1938 Joyce IV
1938 Taree re-named Top Dog II 1940, Taree 1945, Heather 1947.
1946 Iris re-named Crows Nest (I) 1947
1947 Top Weight II
A complete list of boats built by the company can be viewed on the site www.wrightsons.com.au under 'Vessel Directory'.
The story of the Norman Wright Boatyard can be found in a book Boxer's Legacy by Lindy Salter, available by emailing lsalter@bigpond.net.au