In this first post I want to introduce Longana by setting out what I know so far about her interesting past, thanks to the many people who have reached out and passed on records. Longana has an interesting history across many owners on the east coast of Australia.
There is conflicting information with respect to who actually built Longana. On Boatregistry.net she is noted alongside her sister-ship Leonie B as being built by Newport Marine Services (of Newport, Broken Bay), based on a Poole & Steele Ltd design. However, earlier owners who have shared her history with me suggest that the hull, deck and basic cabin was built by Poole & Steele Ltd. Shipwrights in Balmain, Sydney. Poole & Steele Ltd had transitioned to designing and building pleasure cruisers after focussing on Corvette and other small craft production during WW2. Longana was orignally fitted with a single 6-cylinder Chrysler petrol engine. There were two other vessels with similar hull lines with carvel Huon Pine hulls built by Poole & Steele: a 38 foot cruiser (location now unknown), and the 48 ft Leonie B, which at the time of writing is moored at Careel Bay, Pitttwater.
I'm also told that the owner who commissioned the vessel was a property developer, who took delivery in 1952 in a somewhat incomplete state, and lived aboard the vessel for two years on the Georges River. Longana was originally named "Brigadoon", but in 1954 Richard Ludlow Wills purchased the boat and re-named her "Longana". Wills was a senior naval purser with Burns & Philp Ltd during the second world war, and spent time in the south pacific, including Vanuatu (New Hebrides), from where that name "Longana" originates.
After Wills purchased the vessel, it was placed at Patten Slipway in Kirribilli for extensive works. This included the fitting or railings, bridgedeck and helm, galley and bathroom and canvas. In 1962 Longana was fitted with an 86hp Ford Thornycroft diesel, and I'm told it was replaced again in 1967 with a 130hp engine, and then with another Thornycroft diesel in 1974.
Wills became a member of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (R.P.A.Y.C) (Newport), and later the Royal Motor Yacht Club (Broken Bay), and Longana served as the flagship of the Pittwater Regatta for many years. On as many as six occasions, Sir Roden Cutler was on board Longana for the opening of the R.P.A.Y.C. racing season, and as pattron to the Club fired the starting and finishing pistol salutes.
Longana was part of the Cottage Point Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol (RVCP), now known as Marine Rescue NSW. Longana was crewed during its years in the RVCP by Wills and Geoff Crocker. Longana was take each year to Port Stephens for three weeks as part of RVCP duties. During her time in that service, Longana most notably was one of 3 vessels that escorted the Krait from Brisbane to Sydney for Anzac day in 1964. The Krait was then used by the Pittwater RVCP as a training vessel for the next 20 years, before ending up in the Maritime Museum in Sydney. I'm yet to find a photograph of Longana alongside the Krait, but hope to do some deeper digging at the Maritime Museum and in the archives of Pittwater Yacht Clubs.
Longana also participated in Legacy events in the 1950s. One article written by Wills' suggests that on one occasion, she carried over 100 passengers back from a Legacy event on the Hawkesbury. Below are a series of images, believed to have been taken in the 1970s (I presume 1970s, because Longana retained her varnished superstructure in the images, which I am told were painted white after Wills sold the boat in 1978).
The next owner purchased Longana from Burkenhead Mattina, and took her up the east coast, eventually to Cairns and Port Douglas, where it resided for a number of years. This owner added electric fans to the interior, and a small canvas canopy - but most notably had the varnished sides painted over white.
During Wills' ownership, Longana became quite well known in the Pittwater area. When I've attended the RMYC timber boat show, its surprising how many people have approached and informed me they spent a lot of time on the boat when they were a child.
Longana was part of the Cottage Point Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol (RVCP), now known as Marine Rescue NSW. During her time in that service, Longana most notably was one of 3 vessels that escorted the Krait from Brisbane to Sydney for Anzac day in 1964. The Krait was then used by the Pittwater RVCP as a training vessel for the next 20 years, before ending up in the Maritime Museum in Sydney. I'm yet to find a photograph of Longana alongside the Krait, but hope to do some deeper digging at the Maritime Museum and in the archives of Pittwater Yacht Clubs.
Longana also participated in Legacy events in the 1950s. One article written by Wills' suggests that on one occasion, she carried over 100 passengers back from a Legacy event on the Hawkesbury.
The ownership of Longana supposedly changed in 1978 when it was sold to North Shore Power Laundry Pty Ltd of Chatswood NSW. Although I question whether these record reflect an actual ownership change given that Richard Wills was also the managing director of that company.
Below are a series of images, believed to have been taken in the 1970s where Longana retained her varnished sides (which were later painted white)
