Celebrating 110 Years

1909 – 2020

1906 - Commonwealth

First boat designed and built by N. R. Wright, at the age of 16 years.  She was launched in 1906 on a Saturday morning, and according to a press clipping from the Courier Mail, she raced later that afternoon and won the Australian Title.

1911 - Jannett

Oldest existing N. R. Wright boat. Lives in the Noosa River.

1919 - Thelma III

18ft Skiff Commssioned by Gilbert Forrest.  Skipper G. Crouch

1900's

The Wright Tradition started in 1909 when Norman Wright opened his own business in 67 Newstead Tce, Newstead. His first commission was ‘Superb’, a shallow draught gaff-rigged center board yacht, built for James Hogan Smith. The yard’s prestige grew rapidly, in part due to stream of exquisite vessels that swiftly poured forth from its slipways (including such boats as ‘Olivene’, ‘Pathfinder’, ‘Stradbroke II’ and ‘Juanita’) but also due to Norman Wright’s personal reputation built when he worked as a tradesman at the renowned Whereat’s yard.

1909 - The Original Shed

Norman R. Wright – Boat Builder The Original Shed at Newstead.

1914 - Ellen

First ferry built for the Brisbane Municipal Council.

Tenders received on 2nd June 1914 for ferry 29′ x 9’8″ – E. Beattie £100; A. Whearet £99/10/6; N. Wright £98; C. Gaskin £95. Tender N. Wright accepted Ellen registered 25th November 1914

1920's

During the following years, Norman Wright’s were involved with many projects that made history, including the building of Sailing Yacht ‘Francois’. This yacht was a 75 ft schooner and probably the largest racing yacht to be built by Wrights.

1926 - Francois

75ft Schooner designed & built by N. R. Wright. 

1928 - Stradbroke ll

Designed & built for Mr. W.G. Whatmore.
Length 94’ | Speed 11 knots

1930's

During the following years, Norman Wright’s relocated to a new yard in Bulimba .

1938 - Taree

18 ft skift designed & built by N. R. Wright. World Champion 1938

1936 - Relocated Quay St Bulimba

New Sheds and Slipway were built almost directly across the river in Bulimba and the yard was relocated.

1948 - Fairmile 815

Norman Wrights built 4 of these for the RAN

1948 - Norman R. Wright

Built with a Caterpillar Engine 114HP Length 56’ | Speed 10 knots

1940's

Following the outbreak of war in 1939, and particularly after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941, the building of recreational craft was suspended in the wake of a wholesale diversion of resources towards the military effort.

The military authorities engaged the Norman Wright yard to refit all types of small vessels for cargo work. The famous ‘Fairmiles’ was well known in war and the Navy commissioned Norman Wright to build four of their 112 ft patrol boats, known for their pace and effectiveness.

After the return to peace in the late 1940’s, there was a great demand for work boats such as trawlers, luggers, and vessels for the tourist resorts. During this period, the yard built boats for the Barrier Reef islands of Lindeman, South Molle, Orpheus, Magnetic and Hayman

1950's

By the 1950’s, Norman Wright’s sons had increasingly assumed responsibility for the day to day operation. Ronald Wright was already an experienced boat builder and completed a university degree in Naval Architecture to become Queensland’s first Naval Architect.

1956 - Ron, Norm Snr & Norm Jnr

Ron, Norman Snr & Norman Jnr at the Quay Street Office.

1964 - Bali Hai II

Designed & built for L. Mee. Cruised the South Pacific. Length 75’ | Speed 11.2 knots

1977 - Kala Venturer

Built for Kevin Alexander. Length 57’ | Speed 9.5 knots

1960's

The sixties saw the departure of the younger Norman from the company but also heralded an onslaught of innovation in design and construction as Ron took on more and more of the designing and management roles.

The yard produced yachts at the cutting edge of technology during this period, epitomised in the ‘Beryl May’ (later renamed South Pacific II) in 1961 and ‘Bali Hai’ in 1964.

Ron continued to assert his design talent, creating the first 24 knot pilot boats ‘Flinders’ and ‘Oxley’ which nearly exceeded their lifespan threefold in service and the streamlined motor yacht ‘Dolphin’. During this period he cemented his prominence in naval design, gaining the enviable reputation of being one of, if not the, finest naval architects in Australia.

1967 - Dolphin

Designed & built for Clyde Industries. First large cold moulded boat. Length 62’6 | Speed 20 knots

1980's

With the passing of Norman Senior, Ron’s two sons entered the business, working their way up through the yard, already showing promise with elder son Bill winning ‘Apprentice of the Year’ and younger son Ian displaying the outstanding sailing skills of his descendents.

In 1982 they assumed the role of the running the company with the construction of the 108 foot charter vessel ‘Elizabeth E II’.

Boats of such calibre as ‘Wyllaway’, ‘New Horizon’, ‘Laura J’ and ‘White Haven’ followed as the brothers stamped their mark upon the business.

1980 - Elizabeth E

Length 108 ’ | Speed 10 knots

1989 - Laura J

Built for Mr. John McPhee. Length 83.9 ’ | Speed 27 knots

1993 - Admirals Barge

Designed and built for Admiral John Hunt RAN. Still in operation. Length 39’ | Speed 19 knots

1999 - Whistler

Designed & built for the Peabody family. Length 101’ | Speed 28.9 knots.

1990's

The 1990s heralded a renaissance of boat building at the yard, with the production of such masterpieces as ‘Whistler’, ‘Restless’ and ‘Annabelle’, and foretold of the exquiste workmanship that would later be displayed on boats such as ‘Terna’, ‘Lionheart’ and ‘Bandanna’.

These projects are demonstrative of Norman Wrights endeavor to keep up with the ever-changing technologies available. The ‘pilot boat’ developments are another prominent example of this. These vessels evolved from boat to boat, receiving feedback from the operators and the prompt resolution of any problems that needed addressing.

The structure of the boats became stronger and lighter and the latest boats were designed to withstand “roll-over”. The developments from these boats spread into the boats built today.

1995 - Cambria

Restored for Dennis O’Neil and John David. Our brief was Day-Sailing on Sydney Harbour. Length 118’’

2000's

The company continues to maintain its pre-eminent position within the boat building industry, constructing multiple new generation City Cats, completing refits on a whole new scale and continuing to produce quality pleasure and commercial crafts of the highest quality. Bill and Ian Wright continue to strive to maintain this success and uphold the prestigious reputation their family business has built over a one hundred years of history.
Norman R Wright and Sons has produced a vast variety of boat builders who in turn established their own businesses.

2003 - Eagle

Designed & built for Adrian Yates. Length 58’ | Speed 34 knots.

2009 - Lionheart

Lionheart at the Sandhills, Moreton Island. Length 100 ’ | Speed 12 knots.

2002 - Quandamooka

Designed & build for Ian and Jen Holman. Length 62’ | Speed 11 knots.

2003 - Jenny lV

18 foot skiff built for Peter Cavill. Replica of a 1949 original design.

Celebrating 110 Years

2019 - AURA

 Length 60’ | Speed 40 knots plus

2019 - Rivergate Shed

Current Brisbane premises for Norman R. Wright & Sons with 54 staff.