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Yacht AKARANA
Yacht AKARANA

Yacht AKARANA

Photographer (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
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, 1988
SignificanceThis 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.