Classic Wooden Launches at Kawau Island
Back in the good old days, Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island was the spot to be if you owned a launch in Auckland. I suspect it had something to do with the presence of a licensed watering-hole (pub) on the island 🙂
The two photos above come to us from – Heritage Images via Nathan Herbert. We talked about a competition to name the launches but it would be too hard to judge. So woodys enjoy the photos.
A question – is it Christmas yet?
Help Needed
If you have any photos you want to share – send them in, I’ll be looking for stories over the xmas / ny break. Send to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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My take on the launches in the top image, starting from the far left inshore, & more or less following a line through to the foreground is as follows;
ROYAL FALCON, SUNRAY, JULIANA, AWARUA,TIROMOANA, LADY EILEEN,NAVAL H.D.M.L. TIED TO WHARF, MANANUI, ATLANTA (ROTOITI), FANTASY, MARO, LADY JOAN, WINSOME II, KARAMA (THETIS), MARO, TAUFALE, MARGARET S
i believe this image as taken around 1950 as SUNRAY had had her change from tram top to bridgedecker which _ looked like the back end of an early 1930s car, at the back), & was done around 1948/49
The only boat I can ID in the lower image is the bridgedecker VARLENE, (originally LADY SUNSHINE), in her early days, pre 1947, as I saw Com Hardley, the owner of the day, fit the stainless steel curved decorative handrail type fittings, to the rear of the bridgedeck, which she still has today, in the winter of 1947, on the hardstand at Okahu Bay, & therefore I believe this image was taken several years before the upper image. — KEN R
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I can get 15 at this stage — will list them tomorrow when I get a minute if Alan wishes — too late at night right now — bed time — KEN R
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I can name 13 in the first shot… beat that 😜
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