The TOM FISHER of Sydney, 74 tons, J. Beattie master, built by Messrs Beattie and Settree at Balmain, 1884
Date1884-1890
Object number00054275
NamePainting
MediumWatercolour on paper, timber frame
DimensionsOverall: 810 × 975 × 60 mm
Image: 410 × 615 mm
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis painting by William Forster of the schooner TOM FISHER was painted in 1884 and represents the vessel sailing out of Sydney Harbour, close to South Head with the light ship marking the Sow and Pigs reef in the background astern of the vessel.
HistoryThe schooner TOM FISHER is a coastal vessel which operated in the NSW and Queensland coastal trade out of Brisbane carrying general cargo, coal, rails, timber and suppliesin the late nineteenth century and early twentieth centuries. It may have been sold to New Zealand in 1909 while its registration was cancelled in 1912 on the advice that it had been sold to French foreigners in Tahiti.
The TOM FISHER was built by Captain James Beattie for himself and Thomas Fisher in 1884 at Beattie's Balmain yard. Fisher and Beattie took out a mortgage of 1200 pounds to build the vessel but Fisher died that year, leaving his estate to the University of Sydney. The university called in the mortgage and the schooner was sold.
The work is signed and dated by the artist William Forster, one of colonial Australia's competent port painters and were most probably commissioned when the vessel was launched, to commemorate the event. Importantly this portrait was kept by the Beattie family, and along with other ship portraits and coastal shipping material, helps form a picture of the development of communities with shipping connections all along the Australian coastline.
SignificanceThis painting (and accompanying half block model) represent the work and aspirations of Sydney boatbuilders in building craft for this trade and especially that of the well-known Beattie family of Balmain, in partnership with the Settree family who are equally well-known in boatbuilding along the NSW coast.
