Native
Vessel numberHV000784
Sail NumberV50
Designer
Kroger Brothers
Date1946
DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 5.99 m (19.65 ft)
Description
NATIVE was built in a fashion typical for the period. The hull is carvel planked in batten seam style, using Jarrah, Oregon and Huon Pine for the structure and planking. The only modification that NATIVE carries is a plywood/fibreglass pivoting centreboard; but this is to be replaced with a 5mm steel plate centreboard built to original specifications.
All the fittings on the boat are original and unchanged since the boat was built in 1946.They are all handmade and a principal feature of this sharpie. They were made by Bryan Cronin who was a skilled patternmaker by trade. According to friends and family Bryan was given invaluable advice while he was making the fittings from Ron Allatt and Stan Lenepveu - the two people who later on were responsible for establishing the world famous, Australian based RONSTAN boat fitting company in 1953. They were both active members at Black Rock for many years. The fittings are all drilled out to make them lighter and many resemble RONSTAN fittings still being manufactured currently.
NATIVE also achieved fame as was one of the boats used in the feature film 'On The Beach' filmed in and around Melbourne in 1959. The movie starred Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner. The film was about a post nuclear war period where the northern hemisphere had been destroyed, and the cloud of radiation was heading to the southern hemisphere and Australia. Even with this knowledge the public remained free of panic and continued their daily life, and a sailing and beach scene was included, where NATIVE’s boomerang insignia on the sail and its sail number V50 can be clearly seen in the background.
NATIVE was sailed at Black Rock Yacht Club and was among the first Victorian representatives in the Class at national level - representing Victoria on five occasions. NATIVE won at State and local club level on a number of occasions and was part of the fleet which raced for selection as Australia's representative in the class for the 1956 Olympic Games.
Subsequent owners were Bob Brown, John Holstock, Bruce Taylor and then Keith Ross.
NATIVE remains in its original condition with only its paint scheme changed from when it was launched in 1946.
SignificanceNATIVE is a wooden racing dinghy built in Victoria in 1946. It is an International 12 Metre Sharpie class dinghy built in Melbourne by its first owner Bryan Cronin. NATIVE features a number of unique home –made fittings that all remain in place. There are less than ten of these so-called “heavy weight” sharpies still extant in Australia and NATIVE is probably the most complete in respect of its original integrity.
1952
1959
