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Wangi Queen

Vessel numberHV000820

Previous owner Nicholson Brothers

Previous owner Stannard Brothers

Date1922

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 20.12 m × 4.88 m × 1.52 m, 80 tonnes (66 ft × 16 ft × 5 ft, 78.72 tons)

DescriptionWANGI QUEEN, originally MV ETTALONG, is a 66ft timber decked ferry built in 1922 in Empire Bay on the New South Wales Central Coast. It was built by Beattie Brothers’ Shipyard as a single screw diesel powered ferry for use on Brisbane Waters. Since 1975 WANGI QUEEN has been used as a charter boat on Lake Macquarie and Port Jackson.

The Beattie Brothers, led by Gordon E. Beattie, had a successful boatyard and built several yachts and small to medium sized boats since the early 1900s – drawing heavily on local materials. The Beattie Family’s Palermo property on Cockle Creek was the last of the old shipyards working at Brisbane Water. Timbers for MV ETTALONG, mostly spotted gum, were selected and cut by hand from the Wattagan Forest, west of Lake Macquarie, then dragged along rough tracks by bullocks to the Beattie Brothers shipyard, a two to three day journey. This timber formed the base of MV ETTALONG’s carvel planked hull, copper fastened and sheathed, with a full structured keel.

For the keel of MV ETTALONG Beattie ordered a straight iron bark log 80 ft in length. The frames of the vessel were made of spotted gum, the lodging knees, hanging knees, and breast hooks all grown timbers found amongst the Wattagan Forest. During the construction of MV ETTALONG Beattie was notified of a 1850s sailing ship that had been wrecked off North Head in Sydney Harbour, to which he purchased from a salvage company for usage in MV ETTALONG’s construction. The teak decking from this sailing ship was eventually used in MV ETTALONG’s superstructure and is most evident in its varnished window sashes.

From 1922 to 1938 MV ETTALONG served as a ferry on Brisbane Waters at a time when most residences were only accessible via water. During World War Two MV ETTALONG was renamed ETTALONG STAR and assisted with the movement of thousands of defence personnel between moored ships and wharves in Woolloomooloo Bay, Farm Cove, Sydney Cove, and Darling Harbour. Following the war the ferry was fitted with a General Motors Detroit 6-71 US engine found in an army store along the Parramatta River west of Sydney. This engine is still operational today.

Until the 1970s ETTALONG STAR operated as a ferry in Sydney Harbour, for a period also under the name MV PROFOUND. In 1951 an aft saloon was built on the vessel, and modifications were made to the gangway for increased efficiency in embarking and disembarking passengers. In 1974-5 a large majority of the deck was replaced by Graham Burgess using traditional methods and materials, and the cream and burnt orange colour livery was painted on the vessel.

During the 1980s the vessel was renamed WANGI QUEEN and it began its course as a charter boat on Lake Macquarie and Port Jackson. WANGI QUEEN played a central role in Graham Burgess’ project to clean up the shores of Lake Macquarie, hosting Mayor Ivan Walsh on a trip that spurred the bicentennial event Clean the Lake in 88. Throughout this event numerous community bodies contributed to the removal of 2,300 cubic metres of rubbish. This clean up transformed Lake Macquarie from an industrial junkyard to the scenic waterfront region it is today, and inspired Ian Kiernan to lay the foundations of Clean up Australia Day.

In 2012 WANGI QUEEN was purchased by Sydney Tall Ships and is primarily used for the Goat Island and Sydney Harbour tour Convicts, Castles and Champagne. In 2020-2021 the vessel underwent major structural repairs, with 80% of the sponsons replaced in spotted gum, 75% of the main deck beams replaced in iron bark, and 60% of the lodging knees replaced with grown knees from Tasmania and Northern NSW. A further 20% of the deck was replaced with quarter sawn old growth Oregon. It is undergoing restoration at White Bay Rozelle. In 2023 Wangi Queen started operating as a cruise boat off Lemon Tree Passage in Port Stephens. Lunch, sunset, and private cruises are offered in the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park region.

WANGI QUEEN remains a classic example of one of the few surviving early twentieth century wooden ferries.
SignificanceWangi Queen is a 66ft timber decked ferry built in 1922 by prominent New South Wales Central Coast builders the Beattie Brothers'. The timber used in the ferry's construction was hand cut from the local Wattagan Forest, west of Lake Macquarie. Wangi Queen was built for initial use as a ferry on Brisbane Waters, and for a period in the 1970s a ferry on Sydney Harbour. During World War Two Wangi Queen assisted with the movement of thousands of defence personnel between moored ships and wharves in Woolloomooloo Bay, Farm Cove, Sydney Cove, and Darling Harbour. Since 1975 WANGI QUEEN has been used as a charter boat on Lake Macquarie and Port Jackson. It remains a classic example of one of the few surviving early twentieth century wooden ferries.