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Collection of 363 photographs of Halvorsen vessels

Photographer Brendan Read

Date2000

Object numberANMS1079

NameArchive series

Medium35mm coloured photographic slide

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis collection of 363 colour transparencies were taken by Brendan Read in 2000. They were taken as part of a sail past commemorating Harold Halvorsen's 90th birthday.HistoryLars Halvorsen (1887-1936) was a Norwegian boat builder who, after struggling to create a successful boat-building business, migrated firstly to South Africa in 1922, and then after hearing favourable comments about Sydney Harbour, arrived in Australia in 1925. Halvorsen began working from a small rented boat shed in Drummoyne with his eldest son Harold. His first commission was a yacht, and Halvorsen quickly received more work constructing cruising racers. He also began building the first of several ‘Missionary boats’ for the Seventh Day Adventist church. Needing larger premises, the fledgling business moved to a boat shed at Careening Cove, and in 1927 to Lloyd’s yard at Neutral Bay. In 1928 Lars Halvorsen built Sydney’s first trailer boat - a dinghy with an outboard motor. In the same year, Halvorsen was given the commission to build the MIRAMAR II. Lars Halvorsen trained his sons to be shipwrights from the age of fourteen and they progressively joined the company. Following the death of Lars Halvorsen at the age of 49 in 1936, Lars Halvorsen Sons Pty Ltd was formed with Harold as Chairman, Managing Director and principle designer, and Carl as Sales Director. From 1926 to 1976 the Halvorsens built 1,299 vessels including motor cruisers, launches, tenders, yachts, tugs, mission boats, fishing boats and military craft. Halvorsen boats were a prominent feature on many Australian waterways, and the Halvorsen cruiser was a favourite pleasure craft for many holiday makers. They were widely respected vessels and are well remembered by those who owned or worked with them. This collection of 363 photographs features the following images of the Hon. Gordon Samuels AC, Governor of NSW, and Harold Halvorsen; pictures of the Halvorsen family; a photographer in a helicopter; Halvorsen vessels at the Halvorsen Boatshed at Bobbin Head; the landscape at Bobbin Head; a number of Halvorsen vessel name plates; a Halvorsen Island Gypsy 36' and the following vessels AQUITANIA, ARIZONA, BARANA, BUCANEER, CADMUS VI, CARIAD, CASTAWAY, CHARISMA, COLORADO, CONSTELLATION, COORANGA, CUMANA, DAWDLER, DESTINY, ECHO, EMMA, ENDEAVOUR, ENTERPRISE, EVENING LIGHT, EVESONG, FREDA, GYPSY, HALCYON, HALCYON DAYS, HELEN, HELENA II, IDLE TIME, ILLOORA, ISOBEL-T, JASMIN, JAY BEE, JILL, KALIMNA, KANGAROO, KARANI, KU-RING-GAI, KWEENA, LADY BIRD, LADY H, LOUISE, LUNARIS, LYNDALL II, MAHNALA, MARLAINE, MAUD, MINOCQUA, MIRAMAR, MONTANA, NABILA, NAIAD II, NEMESIS II, NEMESIS III, NICKY-O-DEE, NOOROO, NORDIC, NYNGAN, OLENA, PALMYRA, PATIENCE, PEER GYNT, PETWA, QUAMBY, ROBYN, RYEENA, SALACIA, SALAMANDER, SARAWANA, SEA FOLLY, SEA SPRAY, SEAWAVE, SEAWAVE, SEIKO, SEPTEMBER SONG, SEPTIMA, SILVER ARROW, SILVER CLOUD, SILVER CLOUD II, SILVER MIST, SINABADA, SINANA, SIRIUS, SONYA, STELLA, THE VIKING, TOORONGA, TRINA, WALAHNEE II, WHITE HEATHER, WILLOW and WINDARRA.