WAIWERA in 2007 showing the recent superstructure built over the original hull.

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WAWERA out of the water for repainting, the area below the main sponson is the original hull pr…

Waiwera

Vessel numberHV000262

Vessel Registration NumberJD28N

Previous owner Taylor Bros. Ferries

Previous owner Phillips Oysters

Date1908

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 12.19 m x 10.97 m x 3.58 m x 1.07 m, 11.81 tonnes (40 ft x 36 ft x 11.75 ft x 3.5 ft, 12 tons)

DescriptionWAIWERA is 12.19m (40 ft) long, with a plumb stem and counter stern, built from New Zealand kauri planking on Australian hardwood frames and longitudinal members. The builder is unknown, but the New Zealand name WAIWERA suggests a connection to the William Holmes firm at Lavender Bay, Sydney. Holmes came to Sydney from New Zealand, where he had been a shipwright. He is recorded as having built ferries of this type and size, some with Maori names.

It is believed WAIWERA went from Sydney to Wyong either in 1908 or 1910. Although records have been lost, WAIWERA was owned by ferry operators Taylor Brothers who also had camping grounds on Tuggerah Lakes. WAIWERA was one of at least four ferries the Taylors used to take holiday-makers from Wyong station to the their properties on the lake shores.

Buses took over the ferry routes in 1937 and WAIWERA was sold to Huey Thurlow, who took the vessel by sea to Port Stephens via Stockton, where he continued to use it as a ferry.

During World War II it was sold to oyster farmer Stan Phillips. His other craft had been requisitioned for the war effort, so WAIWERA became Phillips' workboat and maintained his oyster business. Phillips raised the topsides, changed the cabin configuration, and removed the superstructure in 1965. WAIWERA continued to work into the 1990s, its hardworking life evidenced by the fact it was then on its third diesel engine, along with new decks and other cabin changes.

In 2008 it had been substantially rebuilt as a private motor launch, but the original counter-sterned hull remains clearly evident, along with much of the original hull structure, including 95% of the kauri planking. The deck is now marine plywood in place of planking, and it has another new superstructure. The current engine is a Cummins diesel; however in 1948 it is known to have had a Kelvin diesel.

In its heyday WAIWERA was registered to carry up to about 50 passengers, it is now a spacious family cruiser.
SignificanceWAIWERA is a wooden ferry, probably built in NSW. It dates from about 1908, and was operated on Tuggerah Lakes and the Central Coast of New South Wales. In its long working life, it operated variously as a passenger ferry for holiday-makers, an oyster farm workboat and most recently a private motor launch. After a working life of more than eighty years the original hull remains intact but with superstructure modifications.