BINGARRA shows off its speed on a calm day on the Swan River in the late 1950s.

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Bingarra

Vessel numberHV000115

Vessel Registration NumberWA 516

Builder Stewart Ward

Designer Len Randell

Date1957

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 10.06 m x 9.45 m x 3.35 m x 0.91 m (33 ft x 31 ft x 11 ft x 3 ft)

DescriptionBINGARRA was a departure from the planked construction that was normal for motor cruisers in the mid 1950s. The plywood hull is about 10 metres long and Stewart Ward was a well known builder at that time. He was also father to Steve Ward, builder of the America's Cup winner AUSTRALIA II.

The designer Len Randell was one of Western Australia's first and subesquently most accomplished naval architects. He prepared plans for a wide variety of craft, and was always prepared to try new ideas and concepts.

The styling is very typical of the period, with a modest swept-back look accentuated by the curved and tapered trim on the cabin side. When launched it was powered by two FJ Holden petrol engines, but these have been replaced by 1960 model Ford Falcon engines.

There is a story that BINGARRA had the first autopilot device fitted to a leisure craft in Perth. The intention was to have an easy voyage home from Rottnest Island, just offshore from Fremantle. However the contraption was totally mechanical incorporating cogs, gears, gear chains and so forth, and when motoring home with a following sea, the course steered was more than a little erratic.

In 2012 BINGARRA remains in excellent condition, in regular use and is over 50 years old.

In 2024, its designer Len was honoured with an Order of Australia in recognition of his services to Sailing and Naval Architecture.
SignificanceBINGARRA is a wooden motor crusier built in Western Australia in 1957. It was one of the earliest plywood construction semi-displacement motor cruisers in Western Australia and was designed by Len Randell and built by Stewart Ward in 1957. It also trialled an early mechanical form of auto pilot steering.