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RUBY CHARLOTTE off Gloucester Island , Queensland, around 2002
Ruby Charlotte
RUBY CHARLOTTE off Gloucester Island , Queensland, around 2002
RUBY CHARLOTTE off Gloucester Island , Queensland, around 2002
Private Collection

Ruby Charlotte

Vessel numberHV000158
Sail NumberA65
Official Number196370
Vessel Registration NumberOB529Q
Date1957
DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 20.73 m x 4.42 m x 1.98 m, 34.45 tonnes (68 ft x 14.5 ft x 6.5 ft, 35 tons)
Registered Dimensions: 15.6 m x 4.39 m x 1.98 m, 25.39 tons (51.2 ft x 14.4 ft x 6.5 ft)
DescriptionRUBY CHARLOTTE was built in 1957 by Watts and Wright at Bulimba in Brisbane, Queensland. They may have designed it themselves; otherwise it could have been drawn by Ron Wright (a cousin). It was called NADINE when launched, and the owner was H.O. and R.N. Hockings Pty Ltd from Thursday Island. Reg Hockings was one of the founding operators in the Thursday Island pearling industry in the early 1900s, working closely with James Clark.

The hull was strongly built with oregan planking on spotted gum frames and remains in excellent condition, with the original layout and rig configuration.

Under the name NADINE it worked out of Thursday Island until 1974, when it was sold to Badu Island. There it continued pearling and beche-de-mer collecting, as well as taking on general cargo work amongst the islands in the area. Badu Island's chief Joey Nona renamed the craft RUBY CHARLOTTE after his daughters Ruby and Charlotte who were Torresian princesses.

In 1984 Badu Island sold the vessel and it went into private ownership. Plans were made to have it restored and become a feature at the Cairns Maritime Museum but this did not eventuate. Instead the current owners bought RUBY CHARLOTTE in 1991 to use as a cargo vessel to service Middle Percy Island on the Great Barrier Reef near Mackay Queensland. It was an excellent vessel for this task, carrying diverse items such as bricks, grain, goats and even a Landrover four wheel drive vehicle. It also did some salvage work and was the ferry for some of the guests and visitors to and from the island.

In 2007 RUBY CHARLOTTE is a private vessel and home for its owners, no longer doing cargo work, but still sailing and motoring along the Queensland coast where it is very well known amongst the locals.
SignificanceRUBY CHARLOTTE is a wooden pearling lugger built in Queensland. It is now one of the last of the Thursday Island type of pearling lugger and was built in the 1950s.
Vessel Highlights
TRITON on the slips in 2014 and still in survey
Hansen and Collis
1952
TRIXEN was restored by William Leonard, MRINA, in 2001 and placed on display in the Western Aus…
Streeter & Male
1904
PENGUIN on display in a new cradle in 2010 at the Queensland Maritime Museum
Tsugitaro Furuta
1907
PS RUBY on the Murray  about 2004 after initial restoration work.
Commander Hugh King
1907
SONGTON in 2010
Alf Hansen
1956
STEPHEN DAVIES in 2019
Norman R Wright and Sons
1952
Water Baby after its restoration
FA Gore & JP Purcell
1878
MURIEL racing
1917
ANTONIA  in Townsville 2005, about to begin restoration by removing added deck superstructure.
Norman R Wright and Sons
1956
THISTLE under sail in 2005.
J R Jones
c 1903
Sisterships ANNIKI and ANTONIA rafted up at Thursday Island in the 1960s.
Norman R Wright and Sons
1958
ISE PEARL on the Great Barrier Reef.
CE Crowley
1956