The tender for MV BOOMERANG on display at Wharf 7 as part of the Sydney Heritage Fleet collecti…

Images(2)

The vessel is one of the two identical tenders on davits seen in this image. They are being car…

Boomerang's tender

Vessel numberHV000020

Previous owner Albert Family

Owner Sydney Heritage Fleet

Date1905

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 3.38 m x 3.2 m x 1.31 m x 0.46 m (11.09 ft x 10.5 ft x 4.3 ft x 1.5 ft)

DescriptionThe craft was used as a tender or lifeboat for the MV BOOMERANG, a petrol motor driven launch built in 1905 in Sydney that belonged to Frank Albert. Albert and his father had come to Australia from Europe and became well known with their music publishing business.

The lapstrake craft is a double ended dinghy, which is an unusual hull shape for such a small vessel, and possibly done in this manner to give the appearance of a ship's lifeboat of the period. It was one of two identical craft that were carried on davits aboard the MV BOOMERANG, suspended above the sheer, one to port the other to starboard.

The builder and designer of the MV BOOMERANG is noted as R.T. Wain in a report on motor boating in The Referee Nov 20 1905. The report's description of the vessel highlights the two identical tenders, so it is considered likely that R.T. Wain was also involved with the tender's design and construction.

In 2007 the vessel is now on display at the Sydney Heritage Fleet, Wharf 7 Darling Harbour.
SignificanceThe wooden tender for the motor vessel BOOMERANG was built around 1905 in NSW. Both vessels are associated with Frank Albert, owner of a number of vessels with the name BOOMERANG and a prominent identity in Australian yachting from the early 1900s. It is also an excellent example of typical wooden lapstrake construction, and noteworthy for its considered design.