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History of Shipbuilding - Harry Harding - 8 July 1989
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SummaryInterview by Esther Galbraith in 1989 with retired Director of the NSW State Dockyard Harry Harding about the history of NSW Government shipbuilding and ship repairing activities in the port of Newcastle.
Harry was born in Newcastle in 1913 and served his apprenticeship with engineering firm Morison & Bearby acquiring marine and mechanical engineering expertise.
He recalls his parents taking him to Walsh Island in 1920 to witness the launching of the "Eurelia", little did he realise he would become involved in that industry years later.
Harry describes changes to the state dockyard over the decades, specifically the move from Walsh Island to Dyke Point and how equipment was either demolished, dismantled and loaded onto barges and floated down the river to the new location. When Harry is asked "Do you think we can do it again ?" He replies "I am hopeful that we will see the industry come together again although we
will never see it as being as large and as active as my period of operation."
In 1913 Walsh Island was developed by the Federal Government as a dockyard, mostly because of ships needed for WWI. It was built in an area of the harbour that was reclaimed and where BHP would be later built. Mostly "D" and "E" class ships were built there. The dockyard was in decline from 1975 after conditions of a contract was refused, and there was further decline when the state government decided to close the industry in 1986.
SubjectHarding, HarryNSW State DockyardWalsh Island Dockyard Morison & BearbyApprenticeshipEngineeringShipbuildingPersonGalbraith, EstherHarding, HarryInterview logCollectionFortress Newcastle CollectionDate Created8th July 1989Location[1] IdentifierA6965(v)_Harding
Harry was born in Newcastle in 1913 and served his apprenticeship with engineering firm Morison & Bearby acquiring marine and mechanical engineering expertise.
He recalls his parents taking him to Walsh Island in 1920 to witness the launching of the "Eurelia", little did he realise he would become involved in that industry years later.
Harry describes changes to the state dockyard over the decades, specifically the move from Walsh Island to Dyke Point and how equipment was either demolished, dismantled and loaded onto barges and floated down the river to the new location. When Harry is asked "Do you think we can do it again ?" He replies "I am hopeful that we will see the industry come together again although we
will never see it as being as large and as active as my period of operation."
In 1913 Walsh Island was developed by the Federal Government as a dockyard, mostly because of ships needed for WWI. It was built in an area of the harbour that was reclaimed and where BHP would be later built. Mostly "D" and "E" class ships were built there. The dockyard was in decline from 1975 after conditions of a contract was refused, and there was further decline when the state government decided to close the industry in 1986.
SubjectHarding, HarryNSW State DockyardWalsh Island Dockyard Morison & BearbyApprenticeshipEngineeringShipbuildingPersonGalbraith, EstherHarding, HarryInterview logCollectionFortress Newcastle CollectionDate Created8th July 1989Location[1] IdentifierA6965(v)_Hardingloading google map....
History of Shipbuilding - Harry Harding - 8 July 1989, [A6965(v)_Harding]. Living Histories, accessed 02/06/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/76832