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Nokomis

Vessel numberHV000851

(not assigned)

Designer John Easton

Builder Lawrence Boatbuilders

Date1923

Terms

DescriptionM.V Nokomis is a 40-foot timber river launch that was built and launched in Perth in 1923. It was commissioned by a prominent businessman, W.J. Winterbottom, then Commodore of the Royal Perth Yacht Club. M.V Nokomis was designed by John Easton and built at the W&S Lawrence and Sons shipyard located on Barrack Street. It was planned as a recreational English river motor yacht modelled on boat designs common during the late 1910’s and early 1920’s. “Nokomis” and Indigenous word derived from the Ojibwe nation in North America. It is the name of an important figure in the traditional stories of the Ojibwe.

M.V Nomokis has a carvel hull of New Zealand kauri planking with jarrah frames and stringers, its deck a mixture of Queensland Beech and Oregon Pine. The impressive cabin is made of Queensland Maple and Jarrah, with an Oregon Pine framework. The fore cabin has pressed copper ceiling linings, the interior finishings more broadly reflective of the Art Deco period. The current inboard engine is a c.1960 75 hp Perkins.
In the late 1930’s M.V Nokomis was sold to a prominent local accountant, Sinclair J. McGibbon. During World War II, M.V. Nokomis was requisitioned by the Commonwealth Government for use by the Royal Australian Navy. M.V. Nokomis Registration “427” was painted grey and it was fitted with a deck mounted machine gun and 25 lb depth charges on the aft deck. It was assigned duties to patrol the entrance of Geraldton Harbour. In 1942 the US Navy situated three Patrol 10 Catalina Flying Boats in Geraldton as part of the Indian Ocean Patrol, and M.V Nokomis formed part of a fleet to protect this base.

Upon return from Geraldton M.V. Nokomis was sold by auction at Fremantle on 10th November 1945 and purchased by businessman, Gordon (Gordie) Page Smith. Gordie, in company with his brother, Roland (Pollyanna), became a notable team participating in major boating adventures and both were regular visitors to Rottnest Island. M.V. Nokomis is reported to have been the survey vessel used by the brothers to navigate and open the western bays of Rottnest Island. A plaque commemorating the efforts of Roland Smith is located at Narrow Neck Bay on Rottnest Island.

Following the death of Gordie, M.V. Nokomis fell into disrepair and was in need of a major refurbishment. In 1991 M.V. Nokomis was offered for sale by the Smith Family estate. Craig Grundmann then purchased M.V. Nokomis as a recreational boat. Since 1991 M.V Nokomis has been gradually restored, with the goal of reinstating the vessel as much as possible to original condition. Significant structural repairs, internal linings, fittings, and fixtures have been undertaken, and several shipwrights have been involved - including those from the Endeavor replica team. Timber was purchased from Narangba, Queensland, decorative copper sheet linings from Ballarat, Victoria, and light fittings and bright work from London, England.

SignificanceM.V Nokomis is a 40-foot timber river launch that was built at the W&S Lawrence and Sons shipyard in Perth in 1923. It was designed by John Easton for the then Commodore of the Royal Perth Yacht Club, W.J. Winterbottom. M.V Nomokis has a carvel hull of New Zealand kauri planking with jarrah frames and stringers, its deck a mixture of Queensland Beech and Oregon Pine. The impressive cabin is made of Queensland Maple and Jarrah, with an Oregon Pine framework. The fore cabin has pressed copper ceiling linings, the interior finishings more broadly reflective of the Art Deco period. During World War Two M.V Nokomis was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy to patrol the entrance of Geraldton Harbour. In 1942 the US Navy situated three Patrol 10 Catalina Flying Boats in Geraldton as part of the Indian Ocean Patrol, and M.V Nokomis formed part of a fleet to protect this base.