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Waitoa

Vessel numberHV000829

Previous owner Cleveland Company

Previous owner Bowden Pearling Company

Previous owner Waitoa Pearling Company

Date1904

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 16.8 m × 4.06 m × 2.2 m (55.12 ft × 13.32 ft × 7.22 ft)

DescriptionWaitoa was built in 1904 on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait for use as a pearling lugger. It is 55ft in length, with a hull of spotted gum planking upon spotted gum frames, and has a Queensland ash deck. The construction of Waitoa is attributed to a shipwright of Japanese descent. Its design aligns with other Thursday Island luggers of the period, with an elegant yacht like hull different to the shape of the luggers constructed in Broome Western Australia at the time. This shape was modelled of yacht designs of the 1890s, and the work of prominent designers such as Walter Reeks. The Thursday Island lugger is further characterised by its deep keel, elliptical counter stern, and ketch rig - in the case of Waitoa gaff rig also. Waitoa has both a main and a mizzen mast.

Waitoa was originally owned by the Cleveland Company, then the Bowden Pearling Company, and Waitoa Pearling Company. In 1942 it was immobilized at Thursday Island and lay idle during WWII without any maintenance. It was repaired after WWII and in 1950 took part in the annual lugger race at Thursday Island over a course of 30 miles. From 1958-1967 Waitoa was operational as pearling lugger once more. In 1975 Waitoa was purchased at Horn Island in the Torres Strait and sailed to Cairns where it was briefly used for trochus shelling. In 2002 it participated in the Logan Classic Yacht Vintage Regatta at Shorncliffe Queensland.

Waitoa is a significant vessel reflecting the early twentieth century pearling industry in the Torres Strait. Local Torres Strait communities and Japanese immigrant communities were both employed in this industry, leading to a considerable amount of cross cultural exchange. Before World War II luggers like Waitoa were typically crewed by Japanese workers, however after the war mixed crews were common and would have included Indigenous Torres Strait Islanders.

Waitoa is similar to Thursday Island Luggers Penguin (HV000396), Tribal Warrior (HV000408), and Grafton (HV000298) all constructed between 1899 -1907, and representative of an early period of Thursday Island lugger construction. Second to Tribal Warrior, Waitoa lays potential claim as the second oldest pearling lugger still extant. All of these early period luggers were constructed by Japanese shipwrights and were primarily manned by Japanese crew. Waitoa also shares similarities to later period Thursday Islander luggers, such as Antonia (HV000006) and Anniki (HV000089), both constructed in Queensland during the 1950s.

As of 2022 Waitoa is undergoing restoration at Emigrant Creek, Ballina Northern NSW. The owners intend to convert Waitoa to be a live aboard vessel. Waitoa’s hull is primarily original and in good condition, and sections of its deck have been re-planked. Waitoa’s current engine has been dated to the late 1930s, early 1940s, and it has been suggested that it was installed by defence forces.

Compiled with the assistance of the ANZ Ship Register

SignificanceWaitoa is a very significant early period Thursday Island pearling lugger, constructed in 1904 and operational as a lugger at Thursday Island from 1905-1940 and 1958-1967. It is 55ft in length with a hull of spotted gum and Queensland ash deck. Its hull is yacht like and has a elliptical counter stern, characteristic of the Thursday Island lugger style, and reflective of designs pioneered by Walter Reeks in the 1890s. It is a is a significant vessel reflecting the early twentieth century pearling industry in the Torres Strait. Local Torres Strait communities and Japanese immigrant communities were both employed in this industry, leading to a considerable amount of cross cultural exchange.

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