Yacht MORNA on Sydney Harbour between Bradleys Head and Point Piper

Photographer William James Hall (Australian, 1877 - 1951)

Designer William Fife III

Datec 1920

Object number00011589

NameGlass plate negative

MediumEmulsion on glass

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Transfer from the Mitchell Library

Terms

HistoryThe cruising yawl MORNA was designed by William Fife III and built by Morrison and Sinclair at Long Nose Point, Sydney, for Sir Alexander MacCormick in 1913. At the time MacCormick was Commodore of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. MORNA went on to have a variety of distinguished owners including Frank Packer and Sir Claude Plowman, who bought the vessel from Packer in the 1940s. Plowman and his wife entertained many foreign visitors onboard MORNA during regular Sunday cruises through Sydney Harbour, however during WWII the vessel was used by the Air Training Corps to instruct members in seamanship. Under Plowman's ownership MORNA was re-rigged as a Bermudan cutter and raced under a blue and gold racing flag that represented Lady Plowman's Swedish heritage. Between 1946 and 1948, Plowman skippered MORNA to three successive 'first across the line' wins at the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, an event he had helped establish. Under new owners, the Livingston brothers who renamed MORNA to KURREWA IV, the vessel was first across the line in four more Sydney-Hobart races for a total of seven line honours between 1946 and 1960. SignificanceThe Hall photographic collection provides an important pictorial record of recreational boating in Sydney Harbour from the 1890s to the 1930s. The collection documents the lively sailing scene in Sydney during this period and features images of vessels ranging from large racing and cruising yachts to the great array of skiffs and the emerging technologies of motorboats. Images of many of Sydney Harbour's iconic vessels, such as MORNA, are also included in this visual record.