Images(2)

Yacht AKARANA

Photographer Henry King (1855-1923)

Date1890s

Object number00003018

NamePhotograph

MediumBlack and white photographic print on paper

DimensionsMount: 510 x 409 x 8 mm
152 x 202 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Wendy Smith

Terms

Description39-foot gaff cutter AKARANA sailing in Sydney Harbour. The yacht belonged to the Abraham family in Sydney in the 1890s. Photographed by Henry King.HistoryAKARANA was built in Auckland, New Zealand in 1888 by Robert Logan, an established boat builder in 19th century New Zealand. It was primarily built as a racing vessel and its name derived from the Maori transliteration of the English place name 'Auckland'. AKARANA was shipped by Logan to Melbourne specifically for the 1888 Centennial International Regatta to be held late in that year. In the Melbourne regatta, AKARANA won a lead up event and then one of the feature races on the programme but fared poorly in another two races when the gear failed early on each time. It then came to Sydney for the Anniversary Regatta in 1889, and won the race for its class on handicap. Logan then sold the boat in Sydney but the new owner and other subsequent owners used the AKARANA mainly for cruising. It was well-known on Sydney Harbour and Broken Bay, and sailed up the Hawkesbury River toward Windsor on one expedition. Over many years AKARANA underwent a number of changes to its keel, rig and layout. After having numerous owners, the AKARANA became neglected in Sydney Harbour up until 1987 and the New Zealand Government purchased the yacht. They funded a major restoration project and AKARANA became a Bi-Centennial gift from New Zealand to Australia in 1988. Previous owners of AKARANA: John S Abraham, 1889-1899 Calveley C McEwen, 1899-1901 Charles H Relph, 1901-1902 Kenneth I Love, 1902-1907 George Robinson, 1907-1909 James A Ingham, 1909-1910 Frederick R Poole, 1910-1913 Charles DW Wray, 1913-1915 Frank O Day, 1915 Henry V Carr, 1915 Henry C Pritchard, 1916 Jack, Mim and Roy Leigh, 1916-1938 Gordon Butcher, 1938-circa1942 Bill Gardiner, circa 1942 John Barber, 1949-1952 Eddie Kleeson, 1956-1984 John and Molly Beach, 1956-1984 Mark and Wendy Smith, 1984-1987 Andrew Bishop, 1987-1988 New Zealand Government, 1988SignificanceThis photograph not only displays early yacht-building techniques, it is demonstrative of the close ties between Australian and New Zealand yacht sailing during the late 19th century. AKARANA is also the only Australian example of a design by Robert Logan and shows his unique method of triple-skinned yacht construction.