Ken Warby on SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA accepting congratulations
Photographer
David Watson
(deceased)
Date8 October 1978
Object numberANMS0532[066]
NameNegative
Copyright© Luke Watson
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Tumut and Adelong Times
DescriptionKen Warby, Robert Apathy and representatives from the Oriental Hotel in Tumut who had promised Warby a Methuselah (six litre bottle) of sparkling wine if he broke the 300 mph barrier.HistorySPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA is an Australian designed and built jet-powered, wooden, 3-point hydroplane that has held the world water-speed record since 1977. Breaking both the 300 mph and 500 km/h barriers, SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA raised the world record to 511kph in 1978 at Blowering Dam near Tumut NSW.
Ken Warby, SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA's designer, builder and driver, achieved his world water-speed records on a shoestring budget. Warby built his hydroplane over two years in the backyard of his suburban Sydney home, using stringers, brackets, stock bits of timber, plywood, screws, epoxy and a military-surplus jet engine that cost $65. He eventually launched the boat in 1974.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.
