John Wright and Son Shipyards

John Wright and Son was a former shipyard located in Tuncurry, Australia between 1875 and 1958.

The Tuncurry II

In partnership with Alexander Croll, John Wright built at least three ships at Bungwahl, before selling his share of the sawmill and shipwright business at Myall Lakes. In 1875, he was the first white settler of the area now known as Tuncurry.[1] He took out a 99-year lease on the waterfront land and built a timber mill, shipyard, slipway and associated buildings.

A wharf ran about 50 feet along the length of the waterfront at Tuncurry, with a receiving shed, with a skin shed at one end which housed cattle skins to be sent to Sydney.[2]

Vessels

His first boat built at Tuncurry was the "Stanley", which carried timber to Sydney and returned with general cargo. This was replaced by the first ship named Tuncurry.

John Wright built a number of vessels used on the North Coast including the Bellinger, Tuncurry II,[3] Our Jack and the Comboyne.[1]

After Wright's death in 1910, his son Ernest continued the business with the building of the Narani,[4] Wallamba, Glenreagh, Allenwood, Nambucca 1, Nambucca 2 and the Uralba. Additionally other craft were built, including small tugs, lighters, yachts and launches.[5] The company name was changed to E. Wright & Son.[1]

"List of ships built or owned by John Wright & co. Shipyards 1867-1954, Retrieved March 13th, 2018". Great Lakes Manning River Shipping NSW Flickr Group.

Fate

The business became un-financial in the 1950s. The 99-year lease was approaching finality, and John Wright junior decided to close the shipyard and return the land to the crown. In 1960 all buildings were demolished. In February 2018, the 'US Army WT85' - 'Protrude'/'Koolya', the last of the Wright ships sunk at its mooring at Gosford.

The water front land where the mill and shipyard stood at Tuncurry was gazetted as an area for public recreation and in 1962 was renamed John Wright Park.[6]

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References
  1. North Coast Run: Men and Ships of the New South Wales North Coast M. Richards P94 - 95 ISBN 978-0908031108
  2. Great Lakes Historical and Maritime Museum. "TUNCURRY'S WORKING WATERFRONT – Wright's mill and shipyard, Retrieved March 13th, 2018".
  3. "THE TUNCURRY, Retrieved March 13th, 2018". Trove National Library of Australia, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate.
  4. "Lloyds Register - 1945" (PDF). Plimsoll ShipData. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  5. Great Lakes Manning River Shipping NSW Flickr Group. "List of SHIPS BUILT OR OWNED BY JOHN WRIGHT & Co. SHIPYARDS 1867-1954, Retrieved March 13th, 2018".
  6. Mid Coast Council. "John Wright Park, Retrieved March 13th, 2018".

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