Wooden Boats in Australia
As the largest island in the world, with a land area
of about 7.7 million square
kilometres, Australia qualifies as a continent in
its own right. It is also the worlds largest island
nation.
Surrounded by water, Australians naturaly have a
strong connection wth the sea, and with boats. The vast
majority of Australians live within 50km of the coast in
cities or towns, mostly river or harbour ports, the
gateways to our early settlement and subsequent economic
development.
As a relatively young nation
Australians are not too far removed from our pioneering past
and this instils a practical hands-on approach to how we do
things.
Given this
background it is not surprising that many Australians gained
early youthful experience with boats, often building and
sailing their own boats from a young age. Nor is it surprising
that boating in one form or another is a very popular
recreational pursuit for many Australians of all
ages.
For some, this
means high performance vessels using the latest technologies,
for others it is more about the beauty, the skills, the
materials and the hands-on involvement associated with wooden
boats. Wooden Boat Associations around Australia have formed
from enthusiasts dedicated to encouraging and supporting these
interests. These associations often work cooperatively with
Maritime Museums, providing skilled, dedicated volunteer
manpower to help with construction or restoration of wooden
vessels with some historical significance.
At a national level a number of important historical
replicas have been constructed with the combined resources of
government, commerce, maritime museums and enthusiastic
volunteers.
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