Reference to index of the correspondence, letterbooks, workdiaries and notebooks, specifications, photographs and sketches of John Wilson and Sons, boatbuilders, Cygnet

John Wilson (1842~1912), shipwright. served an apprenticeship with Colin Walker, boat builder of Gardners Bay. who built the Huon Belle in 1866. Wilson established his own boat building yard at Martins Point where his first Ship "Good Intent" was built in 1877. John Wilson and his sons, Walter and Sydney built many well known sailing ketches and schooners and some steam and oil engine powered vessels, including the ketch One and All for Andrewartha in 1878. Leilateah (McDougall's 1891). Birngana (1893). Lenna (1903 Risby’s). Lottah. Stanley and the Alice (1904). Doris and Rooganah (100 ton 3 masted schooner) for Jones & Co. The last ship built by John Wilson was the ketch Lialeeta for T.H.Spaulding launched in 1913. After his death in 1912 the business was carried on by two sons Walter William and Sydney. Their ships included Leeta May, Melba, Westward, Utiekah III (for I. E. Giles 1923-4), Huon Chief (1937), Jean Nichols (1940). Derwent Hunter (1943-6 for A.J. Drysdale) and Sir John Franklin ordered by Jones & Co. but taken over by the Navy in 1943 and sunk in New Guinea waters. Other famous vessels, such as the May Queen (built 1867, repaired and altered by Wilson 1899) passed through the Yard for repairs and alterations. John Wilson and his wife, Dinah, had 4 sons and 3 daughters and lived at "Brightside", Cygnet. He was known as a wit and composed humorous verse as did son younger members of the family. Walter Wilson was a designer and artist. He and his wife had several children, including Clifton, who assisted the boat building.