Ken Warby in SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA in driveway
Photographer
David Watson
Date1976
Object numberANMS0532[297]
NameNegative
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Tumut and Adelong Times
DescriptionKen Warby seated in cockpit of SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA at Pidsley Brothers Marine yard at Tumut.HistoryKen Warby, SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA's designer, builder and driver, achieved his world water-speed records on a shoestring budget. The boat was built over two years in the backyard of his suburban Sydney home, using stringers, brackets, stock bits of timber, plywood, screws and epoxy, and launched in 1974.
Warby first claimed the world record in 1977, taking his home-made hydroplane to a speed of 464.44 km/h and breaking American Lee Taylor's ten-year-old record of 458.98 km/h. But where Lee Taylor's record had cost close to $1 million in 1967, Warby built his boat in a suburban backyard with a military-surplus jet engine that cost $65. In 1978 he returned to Blowering Dam in the southern highlands of New South Wales and pushed his record to 511.11 km/h (317.68 m/h), where it still stands.
Warby was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in recognition of his achievement. More information about SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA's construction, configuration and condition can be found on the Australian Register of Historic Vessels www.anmm.gov.au/arhv.SignificanceThe town of Tumut was an early supporter of Ken Warby's attempt to set a new world speed record. They encouraged Warby to select the nearby Blowering Dam as the record site and he made guest appearances at the local primary school and other occasions. Warby broke both the 300 mph and 500 km/h speed barriers in two record runs in 1977 and 78 on Blowering Dam and after 35 years these records still stand.