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Photographs relating to brothers George and William Clark
Photographs relating to brothers George and William Clark

Photographs relating to brothers George and William Clark

Date1930s
Object numberANMS0385
NameArchive series
MediumPaper
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Bill Gale
DescriptionThis archive series numbered [001] - [052] consists of photographs relating to brothers George and William Clark of Sydney. The 51 silver gelatin prints depict Eric and June Gale, MATHANA moored at Shell Cove and on Sydney Harbour, holiday camping and caravan trips, the Clark brothers sailing, views of the New South Wales coastline and the countryside, fishing boats, Mr and Mrs Dickinsons, yacht MALUKA racing, pelicans, views from Bradleys Head, Pittwater Basin, and Store Beach.HistoryGeorge and William Clark were introduced to sailing by Cliff Gale in 1929, and pursued it as a leisure activity after moving to Sydney in 1930. They purchased BELLBIRD and joined the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club in 1930, winning the Kelly Cup in 1931. In BELLBIRD they sailed the Myall Lakes, Broken Bay, Port Hacking and Jervis Bay. The Clarks sold BELLBIRD in 1932 and commissioned the building of the cruising yacht MALUKA, in which they undertook cruises to Tasmania, the Great Barrier Reef, Lord Howe Island, and a five month cruise to Queensland in 1933. During their second trip to Queensland in 1935 - 1936, they struck a cyclone on the return from Lord Howe Island, an event which was described in "The loss and discovery of Maluka". Their second cruising yacht was called MATHANA. The Clarks also sailed to China by ship.SignificanceThis collection is significant in documenting, through personal accounts, club records, photographs and newspaper clippings, a picture of Australian racing in Sydney in the period between the wars, especially the growth of cruising in the 1920s and 1940s.