Team Member Profile – Jessie Guerin – Boat Builder
What is your role at Norman R. Wright & Sons? I completed my apprenticeship on the 5th of November this year so I’m now a fully qualified Boat Builder. I’ve been with NRW for 4 years and 9 months. Can you tell us a little about your background? My Pop had a 30ft Bay Cruiser […]
The Story of Avis
Avis In early 1916, Norm drew up the specifications and sketches for a 28ft launch for a G. W. Richmond Esq of Boyne Island (near Gladstone). Records show that Richmond had established a dairying and small crop farm on land bordered by Bray Park and would have had access to the Boyne River. The requirements […]
NRW and EV Maritime Partnership
Media Release 08/08/2023 Queensland’s Longest Serving Boat Builder Launches Partnership to Electrify Brisbane’s City Cat Ferries for the 2032 Olympic Games. Brisbane, Queensland — 13/07/2023 Queensland boat designer and builder Norman Wright & Sons and leading maritime electric design and technology business, EV Maritime, are excited to announce a strategic partnership focused on the electrification […]
Bill Wright on Lorellen, Kala Venturer and Tringa II
Lorellen In 1973, we were contacted by a Mr. Denny Porter of Sydney. He wanted to talk to us about a new pleasure boat. A week later he flew up to Brisbane to discuss the details. Even though I was only a second-year apprentice at the time, Dad asked me to the drawing office (in […]
Vale Shirley Wright OAM, 1925-2022
A loving, nurturing mother to Bindy, Bill, and Ian Wright, an amazing Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and loving wife to a Boat Builder. Born to George and Lily Caffyn in Toowong, Shirley was the youngest and only sister to Hubert (Bill), Greg, and Ron in Toowong. Shirley was not only respected for her athletic ability but […]
Team Member Profile – Sam Webber – Contracts/Project Administrator
How long have you been at Norman R Wright & Sons? I’ve been with NRW for 3 months now in the role of Contracts Administrator, which is a diverse role involving assisting with the management of overall project scheduling, resource allocation and tendering as well as liaison with clients. Prior to NRW, I spent 5 […]
Admiral’s Barge – Luxury Day Boat
The stability test was to happen the next night! Yes, we do all of our stability tests or what we call an inclining experiment at high tide, so we have slack water. The high tide just happened to be at 6.30pm. Ben arrived to watch the experiment and also, to my surprise, my old nemesis […]
Supplier Profile – Genix Group – Rick Mainwaring
Genix Group is a stainless steel and metal fabrication company based in South East Queensland. Founded in 2006, Genix Group has built a reputation for providing exceptional service to its customers, as well as producing the highest quality products. With two specialised teams in stainless steel fabrication, construction of new homes and renovations, and a […]
Team Member Profile – Paul Rudd – Aluminium Build Project Manager
How long have you been at Norman R Wright & Sons? I’ve been with NRW for 2 years managing the major commercial aluminium boat projects we have in build. Prior to that I spent 2 years as the Technical Sales Manager with Austal, and 20 years with Strategic Marine in various roles including Production Manager […]
Admiral’s Barge – Luxury Day Boat
Part 1 by Bill Wright. Early in the year 1992 a tender arrived on my desk for the Royal Australian Navy. This looked exciting. I opened the tender documents to see what sort of Naval vessel we would be required to build. On reading the requirements I found the vessel was for a new “Admiral’s […]