The Halstead Family and Boat-Building

The Halstead family in Southminster, Essex

The Halstead Family in Sydney, Australia

Lavender Bay, circa 1900, which lies on the north shore of Sydney Harbour. The Halstead family settled in this area and the Halstead boat shed was on the bay (below the 'V' marked). Lavender Bay lies immediately to the west of the present-day Sydney harbour bridge.

Laban, Sarah and their five children arrived in Sydney in January, 1875. Laban's brothers Samuel and James were already in Australia. James Halstead started a boat-building business based in Lavender Bay.

I've traced 8 vessels built by Halsteads: Centennial, Chelmsford, Esther, Indignant, Irresistible, Minx, Oceana and Vixen, but the companies started by James Halstead built many more, including ferries which crossed Sydney Harbour. James Halstead's early life in Australia is well documented in the Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery Biographies Volume 1.

Details of some of the Halstead-built vessels

Irresistible IRRESISTIBLE S ss tug, 136 g, ON87172, 109.0 x 21.0 x 9.0, B.1883 Edwards & Symes, Cubitt Town, (London) Comp.eng.90 hp Owners: J. Halstead, reg.Sydney: Feb.1885 Pt.Jackson S.S.Co.Ltd:Sept.1898 J & W Brown. Scuttled 4.05pm, 6 miles N.E. of Newcastle, NSW Aug. 27, 1931. Source: Scuttled and Abandoned Ships in Australian Waters
Oceana Type : Wooden screw steamer Launched  : 1885 Builder : J Halstead, Lavender Bay, NSW Gross weight : 34 tons Dimensions : 61.60 x 15.70 x 5.80 (feet) Passenger capacity : 240 Speed : unknown "Oceana was in service for the Watson's Bay & South Shore Steam Ferry Company in the late 1880's and early 1890's. She is notable in that she is the only ferry (?) built by the company that would eventually become famous for making fast wooden speed boats in the 1930's. She ended her days as a launch on the Manning River at Taree where she was wrecked on October 7th, 1903". The following 4 vessels were located at: www.wrecksite.eu
Ship:	Esther
Registered:	Sydney No. 111/1884
Propulsion:	Steamer
Weight:	37 tons
Date lost:	4/11/1920
Details of loss:	Off Sydney Harbour
Built:	1883
Builder:	James Halstead
Owner:	Roland Hill McKenzie
Ship:	Indignant
Registered:	Launceston No. 4/1888
Propulsion:	Steamer
Weight:	69 tons
Date lost:	-
Details of loss:	Ran aground off George Town, Tamar River on voyage from George Town, Tasmania
Built:	1881
Builder:	T. Halstead
Owner:	E. Patterson
Ship:	Minx
Ferry steamer 'Minx' at Hobart Wharves, Tasmania
Registered:	Launceston No. 1/1889
Nationality:	New Zealand
Propulsion:	Steamer
Weight:	57 tons
Date lost:	-
Details of loss:	On voyage from Boobyalla, Tasmania to Launceston, Tasmania with cargo of salvage and crew of 4 when she was lost off Waterhouse Island, Bass Strait.
Built:	1878
Builder:	James Halstead
Owner:	Union Steamship Co., New Zealand
Ship:	Vixen (Ferry)
Registered:	Melbourne No. 15/1888
Propulsion:	Steamer
Weight:	-
Date lost:	20/7/1917
Details of loss:	Foundered (no known reason) near Melbourne.
Built:	1886
Builder:	James Halstead
Owner:	Westernport Bay and Flinders S.S.Co.

Sarah Ann Everett

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