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Papers of Thomas Charles Ward relating to his apprenticeship as an engineer at Mort's Dock and Engineering Works Ltd

Date1925 - 1930

Object numberANMS0196

NameArchive series

MediumPaper

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Barrie Ward

Terms

DescriptionThis collection of 18 personal papers belonged to Thomas Charles Ward and relate to his apprenticeship as an engineer at Mort’s Dock & Engineering Works Limited. The series consists of one permission slip to change or terminate employment; one Indenture of apprenticeship document; one certificate of discharge; one photograph of the Mort's Dock Foot Brawlers; one photograph of Thomas Ward and the other apprentices; two reference letters; ten student progress reports and class reports from the Department of Education; and one letter regarding Ward’s application for apprenticeship at Mort’s Dock & Engineering Works Limited. The collection spans the period 1916 – 1945.HistoryMort's Dock & Engineering Co. Ltd was one of the two most important ship building and repair operations in Sydney for almost a century. Mort's Dock at Waterview Bay Balmain was established in 1854 by Thomas Sutcliffe Mort. The dock was enlarged and the company, was formed in 1872. In 1899 Morts had a new graving dock excavated at Woolwich. By 1917 the company employed 1500 people and occupied 18 acres. It had a 640 foot dry dock, three patent slipways and two floating docks in Johnstone's Bay, Balmain. In 1924 it bought Chapman's Slipway, renamed Chapman's Branch, and in 1925 bought Rowntree's Floating Dock. Well known Sydney pilot boats, the CAPTAIN COOK I, II, and III were built at Mort's , as well as numerous ferries. During World War II the yards at Chapman's, Woolwich and Mort's were fully occupied in servicing merchant ships and in the conversion of ships for war purposes. A series of corvettes were built for the Royal Australian Navy. Mort's languished in subsequent years, was weakened by poor labour relations, and was wound up in 1959.