Lars Halvorsen Sons

Last updated

Lars Halvorsen Sons
Industry boatbuilding
Founded1925
FounderLars Halvorsen
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
Subsidiaries Kong & Halvorsen Marine & Engineering Company

Lars Halvorsen Sons was an Australian pleasure craft and boat building company, described as "one of the most famous [names] in Australian marine engineering". [1]

Contents

Early history

Halvorsen Boats traces its roots to 1887 when Halvor Andersen, a farmer, launched his first wooden craft near Arendal in the south of Norway. His son Lars followed in his father's footsteps and became a boat builder. After Lars lost his fortune in the post WW1 recession, with the sinking of his uninsured sailing ship Nidelv- the first of her voyages not to be insured, Lars moved from Norway to Cape Town, South Africa in 1922 to start over. Lars built a successful boatbuilding and repair business but, with five sons, realised there would not be enough business there to create the family business he envisioned.

History

Lars and his eldest son Harold moved to Sydney, Australia, in late 1924, and the rest of the family arrived at the end of December. From 1925 through 1976 the family enterprise built 1,299 craft, the first, Sirius, from a slipway in Drummoyne and then from yards in Neutral Bay before moving to larger premises in Ryde. Their skills made the 'Halvorsen' name an Australian byword for quality and style." [2]

During World War II, many Halvorsen built pleasure cruisers served in the Volunteer Coastal Patrol and later Naval Auxiliary Patrol. Eight of their larger luxury cruisers; Penelope, Miramar, Nereus , Sea Mist , Silver Cloud , Steady Hour , Toomeree and Winbah were commissioned into the RAN as Channel Patrol Boats (CPB) and formed part of the 'Hollywood Fleet' in Sydney. [3] [4] The Halvorsens built more than 250 boats for the American, Netherlands, and Australian armed forces, employing a staff of over 350 tradesmen. [2] During World War II, 178 air-sea rescue Halvorsen craft were built [1] Halvorsens also built 16 112-foot Fairmile B motor launches for the war effort. These saw active service in the north of Australia and in the New Guinea area.

When Lars died in 1936, his family (including his widow, Bergithe, and daughters) shared ownership, equally, of the business. Eldest son Harold took over as managing director of the newly formed company, Lars Halvorsen Sons Pty Ltd, and continued as designer for most of the wartime vessels as well as commercial and pleasure boats, while his four brothers took responsibility for other areas of the business. In recognition of his contribution to the war effort Harold was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2000, [5] while previously Carl Halvorsen had been made a Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit by King Harald in 1991. [2] Others received the Australian Sports Medal.

After World War II the company acquired a lease at Bobbin Head located north of Sydney in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The family built a fleet of hire boats. The hire boat operation was the southern hemisphere's largest privately owned fleet of its time. [5] On 9 April 2000, ninety of their classic boats held a regatta on the Hawkesbury River to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the family in Australia and Harold Halvorsen's 90th birthday. [1] Harold died in November of that year.

America's Cup

In 1962, Lars Halvorsen Sons built 12-metre yacht Gretel for Frank Packer, the first Australian challenger for the America's Cup. Magnus and Trygve Halvorsen crewed in the challenge, Trygve becoming the team's manager.

Sydney to Hobart

In 1963, 1964, and 1965, Trygve and Magnus Halvorsen, as joint skippers, won three Sydney to Hobart races, on handicap, while sailing Freya, designed by Trygve and built by Lars Halvorsen Sons. As of 2019, this achievement had not been equalled.

Global expansion

In the 1960s Harold's son Harvey Halvorsen became the company designer, and in 1975 formed Kong & Halvorsen Marine & Engineering Company, a joint venture between Lars Halvorsen Sons and Joseph Kong, former general manager of American Marine Company, in Hong Kong to design, build and market a new range of pleasure boats worldwide. [6] Over the next two decades, hundreds of craft ranging from 30 to 134 ft (9.1 to 40.8 m) were built under the Kong & Halvorsen, Island Gypsy, and Halvorsen brand names.

Over 900 Halvorsen Boats have been built in China and exported worldwide. In 2000, Kong & Halvorsen Marine's 20-year contract with the Chinese government expired, and the factory was closed. However, Harvey and his son Mark Halvorsen continued to build boats by contracting to approved yards where they launched two additional new models, the Gourmet Cruiser and the Solo, a passage maker.

Present

In 2004–05, the Australian National Maritime Museum held an exhibition on Halvorsen Boats entitled Dream Boats and Work Boats – The Halvorsen Story. [7] Mark Halvorsen owns Halvorsen Boat Sales in Sydney Australia which has largely become a boat importing business and specialist in the restoration of vintage Halvorsen Boats. Mark still designs and has his boats built in various yards in southern China. His father Harvey sold off the family marina in Australia in July 2006. Harvey Halvorsen died in March 2021. [8]

A 134 ft (41 m) Kong & Halvorsen Motor yacht called Yecats appeared in the 1987 film Overboard starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. The same boat renamed Attessa appeared in the 1993 film Indecent Proposal starring Woody Harrelson, Robert Redford, and Demi Moore.

The 36 ft (11 m)Kangaroo periodically appears in Australian television series Home and Away as The Blaxland. [9]

Yacht collection

Below are some of the yachts in the Halvorsen collection.

Related Research Articles

The Defoe Shipbuilding Company was a small ship builder established in 1905 in Bay City, Michigan, United States. It ceased to operate in 1976 after failing to renew its contracts with the United States Navy. The site of the former company is now being developed for business and housing on the bank of the Saginaw River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damen Group</span> Dutch shipbuilding company

The Damen Group is a Dutch defence, shipbuilding, and engineering conglomerate company based in Gorinchem, Netherlands.

Fairey Marine Ltd, latterly known as FBM Marine, was a boat building company based on the River Hamble, Southampton, England. The company was created in the late 1940s by Sir Charles Richard Fairey and Fairey Aviation's managing director, Mr. Chichester-Smith. Both were avid sailing enthusiasts along with Chichester-Smith's good friend and former Olympic yachtsman, Charles Currey.

DMS Maritime, formerly Defence Maritime Services, is a company providing port services to the Australian Defence Force and Marine Unit. It is a subsidiary of Serco.

Stevens Brothers Boat Builders and Designers company, an American boat designer, began in the back yard of brothers Theodore and Robert Stevens. Their boatbuilding firm in Stockton, California operated from 1902 to 1987. Over the years the company became famous for its elegantly designed pleasure craft, including sailboats, speedboats, cruisers and private yachts. Stevens Bros. also built many vessels for the U.S. military, especially during World War II. The company's first vessel was the sloop Dorothy, in 1902.

The 1953 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 9th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

The 1954 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was won on handicap by Solveig, making her the overall winner in 1954. She had obtained line honours in 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thompson Brothers Boat Manufacturing Company</span>

The Thompson Brothers Boat Manufacturing Company of Peshtigo, Wisconsin was a manufacturer of pleasure boats and canoes. Founded by brothers Peter and Christ Thompson in 1904, the company became prominent in the field and built boats for nearly one hundred years. The Thompson Antique & Classic Boat Rally celebrates the company's history with a boat show every other year and in 2013 the Thompson Brothers canoe was celebrated at the Annual Assembly of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1962 America's Cup</span>

The 1962 America's Cup, the second to be sailed in 12-metre yachts, marked the first challenge for the Cup from a country other than Great Britain or Canada, and was the first challenge from a country in the southern hemisphere. An Australian syndicate headed by Sir Frank Packer, representing the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, challenged with their yacht Gretel. Although the New York Yacht Club won the regatta four races to one represented by the yacht Weatherly, the challenger, Gretel won the second race, beating the Americans for the first time since the 1930s, and only lost the fourth race by twenty-six seconds. The NYYC was so shocked at the closeness of the contest that they immediately changed the rules to ban the use of American design and technology by Cup challengers.

de Havilland Marine was a division of Hawker de Havilland Australia Pty. Ltd. which is now owned by Boeing Australia and known as Boeing Aerostructures Australia.

HMAS Toomaree was formerly a luxury motor cruiser, commissioned as a channel patrol boat and operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War II. She was one of thirteen similar vessels, known to Sydneysiders as the 'Hollywood Fleet'.

HMAS Silver Cloud (52) was a luxury motor cruiser, commissioned as a channel patrol boat operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War II. She was one of thirteen similar vessels, known to Sydneysiders as the 'Hollywood Fleet'.

HMAS <i>Steady Hour</i> Patrol boat of Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Steady Hour (12) was formerly a luxury motor cruiser, commissioned as a channel patrol boat and operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during the Second World War. She was one of thirteen similar vessels, known to Sydney siders as the 'Hollywood Fleet'.

HMAS <i>Nereus</i> Australian former luxury and patrol boat

HMAS Nereus (19) was formerly a luxury motor cruiser, commissioned as a channel patrol boat operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during the Second World War. She was one of thirteen similar vessels, known to Sydneysiders as the 'Hollywood Fleet'.

Norman R. Wright & Sons is an Australian shipbuilding company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logan Brothers</span>

Logan Brothers was a firm of boat and yacht design and builders. Although their Auckland yard lasted only from 1890 to 1910, it was the most significant yacht- and boat-building business in the Southern Hemisphere during its time, dominating the New Zealand market and exporting vessels to Australia, South Africa and to the Pacific Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Charles Morgan-Giles</span> England boat designer and builder (1883–1964)

Francis Charles Morgan-Giles was a boat designer and builder from Devon, England. He built rowing boats, dinghies, yachts and large motor cruisers. His boats were known for their high quality, elegance and craftsmanship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kneass Boat Works</span> Shipyard in San Francisco, California, United States

Kneass Boat Works was a shipbuilding company in San Francisco, California. To support the World War 2 demand for ships, Kneass Boat Works built: US Navy Sub chasers, US Army barges and tugboats. Kneass Boat Works was started by California native George Washington Kneass (1859–1923) in 1868, at 22 Mission Street, San Francisco. George Kneass started as an apprentice to boat builder Martin Vice. The two became partners operating a shipyard at Pier 70 at 671 Illinois Street, San Francisco. Business was good and in 1898 Kneass opened a second shipyard at 718 3rd Street, San Francisco. At its peak, Kneass employed 50 workers. George Kneass died in 1923 and his two sons, George Jr. and Webster, took over the shipyard. Kneass built small boats, launches, rowboats, barges, lifeboats), sailboats, and a few wooden cruisers. For World War 2, in 1941 the company built a small emergency shipyard. The shipyard closed in 1970, but the site is now the art studio of Ruth Kneass; she kept the boatyard name for her studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wooden boats of World War II</span> United States wooden boats used in World War II

Splinter fleet or Splinter navy was a nickname given to the United States wooden boats used in World War II. The boats served in many different roles during the war. These boats were built in small boatyards on the West coast and East coast, Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. They could be built quickly, in just 60 to 120 days. Most of the boats were built by boatyards that already had the tools and knowledge from building yachts, sailboats and motor boats. Many were built by craftsmen in family-owned small businesses. Under the Emergency Shipbuilding Program and War Shipping Administration contracts went out to over fifty boatyards across the country. The boats were built for the US Navy, the United States Army Air Forces, United States Coast Guard, and US Army. Some of the wooden boats went to Allied nations on the Lend-Lease program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astoria Marine Construction Company</span> Shipyard in Astoria, Oregon, and National Register of Historic Places

Astoria Marine Construction (AMCCO) was founded as Astoria Shipbuilding by Joe Dyer is 1929 in Jeffers Gardens of Astoria, Oregon. Joe Dyer's father was a pioneer of early Astoria and operated a family sawmill. Joe Dyer started by building wooden fishing boats at his shipyard. Then added wooden pleasure craft to his product line. Joe Dyer designed and built Columbia River One Design (CROD) boats and boats for the United States Navy. The shipyard was on the east bank of the Lewis and Clark River and the Jeffers Slough. Due to its historical importance the site is on the National Register of Historic Places in Clatsop County, Oregon. Astoria Marine Construction shipyard closed in 2013.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Halvorsen's dreamboats". The Sydney Morning Herald . 8 March 2004. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Svensen, Randi; Mellefont, Jeffrey (9 August 2014). "Carl Halvorsen's skills as a boatbuilder brought many admirers and an interesting life". Obituaries. The Sydney Morning Herald .
  3. ↑ "Lolita and the Hollywood Fleet".
  4. ↑ Svensen, Randi (2004). Wooden boats, iron men: the Halvorsen story. Halstead Press. p. 79. ISBN   1920831118.
  5. 1 2 "The Hallowed Name of Halvorsen" (PDF). Boating & Fishing. Peninsula Living. pp. 124–125.
  6. ↑ Halvorsen Marine Limited Hong Kong Business Directory
  7. ↑ Mellefont, Jeffery (9 July 2014). "Happy 100th Birthday Carl Halvorsen". Australian National Maritime Museum .
  8. ↑ "Harvey Halvorsen Death Notice - Sydney, New South Wales | Sydney Morning Herald". tributes.smh.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Kangaroo Halvorsen Boat Hire Sydney

Wooden Boats, Iron Men – the Halvorsen Story by Randi Svensen, 2004

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.