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MARGHERITA under sail in 2007.
Margherita
MARGHERITA under sail in 2007.
MARGHERITA under sail in 2007.
Private Collection

Margherita

Vessel numberHV000117
Vessel Registration Number3349QD
Date1955
DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 15.85 m x 15.24 m x 3.96 m x 1.98 m (52 ft x 50 ft x 13 ft x 6.5 ft)
DescriptionMARGHERITA was launched as BRITON in 1955 from the Hansen and Collis yard in Cairns, North Queensland. It was one of at last four luggers that were built by Alfred Hansen and Harold Collis and all had names that ended in '...ton' . The other three were called SONGTON, TRITON, and WINSTON.

It was used in the pearling industry around Thursday Island as well as for collecting trochus shell. It has since been retired form this type of work to become a charter boat.

The 15.85 metre long hull has a transom stern and is a typical carvel construction, using all Queensland timbers. Along with many of the later Queensland luggers MARGHERITA still retains a modest-sized sailing rig.
SignificanceMARGHERITA is a wooden pearling lugger built in North Queensland in 1955. It was one of the last of the Thursday Island or Torres Strait type of pearling lugger, a variant that dates back to the 1890s, and represents the last period of construction for this style of pearling lugger.
Vessel Highlights
TRITON on the slips in 2014 and still in survey
Hansen and Collis
1952
SONGTON in 2010
Alf Hansen
1956
ANTONIA  in Townsville 2005, about to begin restoration by removing added deck superstructure.
Norman R Wright and Sons
1956
Sisterships ANNIKI and ANTONIA rafted up at Thursday Island in the 1960s.
Norman R Wright and Sons
1958
Waitoa
1904
STEPHEN DAVIES in 2019
Norman R Wright and Sons
1952
GRAFTON out of the water at Cairns Queensland.
Tsurumatsu Shiosaki
1907
ISE PEARL on the Great Barrier Reef.
CE Crowley
1956
KRAIT restored for the 75th Anniversary event on 26th September 2018 at the ANMM wharves.
c 1934
MV Beth at the Maritime Museum of Townsville in 2023 following restoration work
Hansen Brothers
1950
PENGUIN on display in a new cradle in 2010 at the Queensland Maritime Museum
Tsugitaro Furuta
1907