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

Bingarra

Vessel numberHV000115
Vessel Registration NumberWA 516
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 When launched it was powered by two FJ Holden petrol engines, but these have been replaced by 1960 model Ford Falcon engines.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.
AUSTRALIA II when on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum in the 1990s.
Steve Ward
1982
NAUTILUS II in 2009
H Maumill
1912
MISS NYLEX when it was on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum, suspended above t…
Len Dobson
1971
DAWN WIND OF KIRRIBILLI's lovey stern shape
Les & Barry Steel
1965
Veteren yachtsman Peter Mounsey aboard SMOKY CAPE at the AWBF 2017
Cec Quilkey
1973
LOT 41 in 2010, in its configuration and colour scheme for the voyage.
Rob Feloy
2007
JANAWAY  in 2011
Sid Perry
1938
CAMILLE OF SEAFORTH off Bayview opposite the RPAYC in 2023.
Wally Ward
1964
CARRONADE in south-east Asia in 2010.
Swanson Bros
1964
HDML 1321 in Melbourne in 1956
Purdon and Featherstone
1943
Four views of O-DEAR before and after restoration.
Jack Abbodine
1961