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Halvorsen Boats 2

Date1920-1960

Object number00038529

NamePhotograph album

MediumPhotographic prints on paper, cardboard, fabric

DimensionsOverall: 570 x 450 x 70 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Harvey Halvorsen and Judith Lynn Vigo

Terms

DescriptionThis photographic album is covered in black fabric and features gold printed text on the front cover reading 'Halvorsen Boats Photographs 2'. The flyleaf features a typed list with the names of the boats photographed and dimensions, with the corresponding page number handwritten in pencil. Together with images of Halvorsen boats and shipyards, the album contains photographs of the Halvorsen family and personalities of the period.HistoryVessels and subjects photographed in the album include: SIRIUS auxiliary 30 ft, Prince class yacht 28 ft, MAUD 26 ft, LADY LUCK 30 ft, ENTERPRISE 34' 6", CHRISTINA auxiliary 33 ft, COLIN ARCHER auxiliary 36 ft, various SDA mission boats, Burns Philip & co 28 footers, Hawkesbury store boat 40 ff, SDA mission 30 ft, Neutral Bay premises, PATTERSON ketch 45 ft, cargo vessel 45 ft, POTERO 70 ft, PANUCO 70 ft, CASIANO 58 ft, CHINAMPA 58 ft, NIAD 22 ft, BL II 27 ft, Morris engines at Neutral bay, Ryde premises and staff, Bobbin Head, various launches and small cruisers, VIXEN tug 39 ft, various mission boats for SDA, Halvorsen skis, GULL trawler 48 ft, towing skids 50 ft, rescue launches 26 ft RAAF, Halvorsen 38's AAF, Halvorsen 38's US Army, Halvorsen 38's under construction, Halvorsen 38's Australian Army, Halvorsen 62's US Army, Halvorsen 62's under construction, Halvorsen 62's Australian Army, Halvorsen 62's deck views, Halvorsen 62's interiors, 112 ft Fairmiles construction and launching. In 1925 the Norwegian born Lars Halvorsen began working from a small rented boat shed in Drummoyne with his eldest son Harold. Needing larger premises, they moved the fledgling business to a boat shed at Careening Cove, and in 1927 to Lloyds yard on the site of Ben Boy's wool store at Neutral Bay. Continuing a family tradition, Lars Halvorsen trained his sons to be shipwrights from the age of fourteen. Following this apprenticeship the sons progressively joined the company; Carl in 1927, Bjarne in 1930, Magnus in 1932, and Trygve in 1934. His daughter Elnor joined in 1928, working with her mother Bergithe and the youngest daughter Margit, who worked as the secretary from 1939. Following the death of Lars Halvorsen in 1936, Lars Halvorsen Sons Pty Ltd was formed with Harold as Chairman Managing Director and principle designer, and Carl as Sales Director. Lars Halvorsen Sons Pty Ltd purchased a waterside property with five acres at Waterview St, Ryde, and production moved from the Neutral Bay boatshed, which was retained as a service branch, to the new boatshed in 1940. The Ryde facility was the largest in the southern hemisphere, with an engineering section, blacksmith and lumber shops, stores, machine shop, plumbers shop, sheet metal shop, fueling facilities, five slip-ways for craft up to 90 feet and 100 tones, a three tone crane and an electric oxy-acetylene welding plant. During World War II owners of boats over 40 feet in length were asked to hand over their vessels over for the war effort. At the Ryde boatyard these civilian boats were refitted for military use. Boats built by Lars Halvorsen Sons were also deployed by the Australian, United States and Dutch forces during the war. The momentum of this war time production continued into the 1950s with the manufacture of cruisers and the subsequent establishment of the large hire fleet at Bobbin Head in the late 1940s and early 1950s. From 1926 to 1976 the Halvorsens built 1,299 vessels including motor cruisers, launches, tenders, yachts, tugs, mission boats, fishing boats and military craft.SignificanceThe photographs contained in this album are an important document of the Halvorsen family's boat building business and the vessels on which they worked.