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Gurrugal

Vessel numberHV000837

Date1948

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 10.97 m (36 ft)

Terms

DescriptionGurrugal was constructed at Goat Island in 1948 as a launch for the Maritime Services Board. It is one of the Sydney Harbour ‘G’ class wooden workboats and bears similarity to GARGARLE (HV000372). Gurrugal is 36 ft long, with a carvel hull, and a timber planked deck over plywood. It is currently fitted with a 1970 ford diesel engine.

Different designs for the ‘G’ class workboats were used depending upon the requirements of the MSB, and it is thought at least ten sister boats, about 11 metres long, were built to the same design as Gurrugal. They were heavily constructed to suit a potentially tough working life, coming alongside wharves and vessels many times each day, in all weathers. The craft carried passengers, supplies or small cargo items, did the pay run, pushed and pulled small barges and handled lines from ships when required. They were versatile and unpretentious, simply doing their work on a daily basis. One specific task was acting as a ferry between Circular Quay and Goat Island for the people who lived and worked on the island.

Gurrugal is now privately owned. It is currently undergoing deck repairs, the plywood and original deck being removed and relayed. Rot in the aft knees of the vessel has been attended to and the entire back deck structure has been rebuilt following original documents.
SignificanceGurrugal was constructed in 1948 by the shipwrights at Goat Island as a launch for the Maritime Services Board. It is one of the Sydney Harbour ‘G’ class wooden workboats and bears similarity to GARGARLE (HV000372). These craft were the workhorses of the harbour supporting the MSB tradesmen and carrying out general duties every day. The 'G' stood for Goat Island and the names of all the workboats also began with 'G'. Around ten or so of this design were built and many still survive.