The SS "Awarua" is a large and impressive model of a New Zealand steam tug. It is 9 feet (3.57 m) in length and was built by Mr Harry F. Allen of Carlton, a Sydney suburb, in the 1940s. Awarua is a Maori mytholgical creature.

The full size steam tug was built in Scotland in 1932 by the Glasgow builders Lobnitz for the Bluff Harbour Board. Bluff Harbour is on the Foveaux Straight at the southern end of New Zealand's South Island.

The "Awarua" left the Clyde ship yards on 23 August 1932 and steamed the 13,000 km to New Zealand via Algiers, Malta, the Suez Canal, Colombo, Sabang in Indonesia, and Albany in Western Australia. The little steam tug made the voyage in 73 days calling at ports on the way for coal, with Captain F. Donovan as master. The vessel went well in bad weather and shipped no water.

The vessel was registered in Invercargill, New Zealand, in 1932, with the official No. 128,594. It had the international code signal letters ZMJV. Its dimensions were length 131.2 ft (40 m), breadth 32.1 ft (9.8 m), depth 13.9 ft (4.2 m), and gross tonnage 411.

The tug replaced the "Theresa Ward" which had entered service in Bluff Harbour in 1900. The "Awarua" was used in around the Bluff port, said to be one of the most dangerous harbour mouths in the world. It was not only used as a harbour tug, but pilot boat and salvage tug. The tug was sunk as a dive wreck in December 2008.

http://www.woodenboat.net.nz

Margaret Simpson
Curator, Science & Industry
July 2009

This model was completed in 1947 by Mr Harry. F. Allen at his home in Carlton, a southern Sydney suburb. Mr Allen was encouraged to offer his model to the Museum by Albyn A. Stewart who sold the Museum numerous models over the years and the Museum's Director, A.R. Penfold. Mr Allen had to temporarily give up his job for three months and work on the model "night and day" in order to finish it.

Museum files 1946/646; 1946/699.

This ship model was purchased by the Museum in 1948.

Ship model, New Zealand steam tug SS "Awarua", timber / metal / rope, made by Harry F. Allen, Carlton, New South Wales, Australia, 1940-1947

This large model has a planked hull fitted with a single screw three-bladed propeller. It is fitted with masts; rigging; deck rails; companionways; cleats and bollards; a single funnel with ladder; whistle; navigation lights; and safety valve extension pipes. The deck is of Indian teak and the wheelhouse of cedar. The deck details include knotted rope bow, stern and side fenders; anchors; deck winches; deck lights; ventilators; and buckets. There is a wheelhouse with ship's wheel, binnacle and telegraphs. Other details include water tanks; tow hooks; and two covered ship's boats in davits. The model is finished in green for the lower hull and black for the upper hull. There are copper and brass fittings throughout. The tug is fitted with a surface condensing steam engine with link motion. It is mounted on a stand in a glass case.

Made: Allen, Harry; Carlton, New South Wales; 1947

No marks

H4940

1947

1510 mm

820 mm