The Origin, Evolution and Construction of the Australian 18 Footer

The Australian Eighteen Footer has been a big part of Sydney Harbour, the Brisbane River and to a lesser extent Perth and a number of harbours up and down the NSW and Queensland coast for more than a century. But where did they come from? Folklore tells us that they evolved from working boats, but no-one ever traced the links and documented it. Now retired Sydney boatbuilder Ian Smith has done it. Ian's research will appear in this website and a book that is now available, see the next page, The Open Boat Book.  The website will have some details, and the book contains a thorough coverage of how these boats were built, with a how-to guide based on extensive interviews in the last decade with the last remaining builders of these boats before it all changed in the 1950's and Ian's record of construction of his 2002 replica of a Sydney icon, Wee Georgie Robinson's Britannia of 1919, pictured above with the British Red Ensign on the sail.
This site will be constantly added to, with information and images of these spectacular craft as well as the other classes of similar boats, the 24 and 22 footers down to the 16's, 14's,12's 10, 8's and six-footers, and there will be opportunities to contribute information about the history of the boats, and to order the book. Keep coming back! And if you have any photos or information on people involved that are relevant to the site, please get in touch through the Open Boat Facebook page or email info@sydneywoodenboatschool.com.au.