Walter Reeks

Walter Reeks
Born 25 February 1861
Christchurch, Hampshire, England
Died 2 October 1925
Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation Naval Architect

Walter Reeks (1861-1925) was one of the earliest naval architects in Australia and is known for designing many yachts and ferries.[1]

He was born in Christchurch, England and migrated to Australia in 1885.

Reeks apprenticed with Alexander Richardson and at shipbuilders George Inman & Sons in England. He became an expert at yacht design and propulsion.[1]

He was active in the Sydney yachting community on arrival in Australia and joined several of the yacht clubs and engineering associations. He was Rear Commodore for the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron from 1906 to 1910.[2] He was president of the NSW Engineering Association in 1914.[3]

He designed a number of Sydney ferries including all 'Lady' series up to 1915. The Lady Denman is one example.[2][4]

Reeks married Mary Emma Kent in March 1889. They had a daughter, Thelma, and son, Thomas, together. Mary died in 1895 and Reeks married again in 1900. Reeks's son was murdered in England in 1914.[5][6][7]

Reeks died in October 1925.[8] Several of his yachts are extant as of 2018, including Boomerang and Ena in Sydney.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 Prescott, A. M. (1988). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  2. 1 2 Payne, David. "Walter Reeks". Australian National Maritine Museum. Archived from the original on 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  3. ↑ "PRESIDENT WALTER REEKS". Construction : Weekly Supplement To Building. XIII, (314). New South Wales, Australia. 11 May 1914. p. 7. Retrieved 31 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "WALTER REEKS". Construction : Weekly Supplement To Building. 11, (237). New South Wales, Australia. 26 August 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 31 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "MR. WALTER REEKS'S SON". The Sun (1115). New South Wales, Australia. 22 January 1914. p. 8 (FINAL ESXTRA). Retrieved 28 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Late Mr. Reeks". The Scrutineer And Berrima District Press. New South Wales, Australia. 28 January 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ Reek Murder Still Unsolved." Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser Manchester, England 11 Feb. 1914: 9. British Library Newspapers. Web. 28 Jan. 2018.
  8. ↑ "Mr Walter Reeks, Death Announced". The Sydney Morning Herald (27, 378). New South Wales, Australia. 3 October 1925. p. 16. Retrieved 31 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ Crafti, Stephen (2015-05-10). "Auctioning of the luxury steam yacht Ena designed by Walter Reeks". Financial Review. Archived from the original on 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2018-01-29.


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