New acquisition Jenny Wren in a class of her own New acquisition Jenny Wren in a class of her own  

Tim Barlass

The Museum is proud to announce details of its latest acquisition, the historic gaff cutter Jenny Wren.

Built in Sydney in 1889 to a design by Walter Reeks, Australia's first full time professional naval architect, it is the only surviving racing yacht of his design.

It is one of the oldest deep-keeled yachts built specifically for racing and a rare example of a very early yacht built to meet new Waterline Length and Sail Area rules. The racing rules underwent a significant change in 1886 when the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) in the United Kingdom adopted a new rule based on waterline length and sail area, promoted by English naval architect Dixon-Kemp.

The Australian authorities began to adopt this rule in 1887 and in Australia, the Reeks designs Era, Volunteer and Isea were the amongst the first yachts of their size to be designed and built to this rule in both Australia and the rest of the world. 

Acquisition of the vessel is thanks to the kind donation of owners Neville and Madeleine Olliffe who purchased the boat for $10,000 in 1993 after it was advertised in the Trading Post. A management plan to restore the boat to, as near as possible, the original launch specifications, has been made possible by a generous donation from benefactors David and Jennie Sutherland.  

It all came about through a chance meeting at the book launch for Walter Reeks: Naval Architect, Yachtsman and Entrepreneur by Nicole Mays and David Payne at the Australian National Maritime Museum in 2023.

Jennie said husband David was seated next to Neville and Madeleine Olliffe at the book launch.

“Neville and Madeleine mentioned they had the gaff cutter Jenny Wren,” Jennie told the museum. “We discussed the future of the boat and the Olliffe’s told us they were pondering its' future. “David and I loved the story Neville and Madeleine told us and I loved the name because it was what my father called me as a child.

“David spoke to them and offered to support and help maintain the boat through The David and Jennie Sutherland Foundation if the museum wanted to acquire the boat.” 

In the Vessel Management Plan for the boat, honorary research associate for the museum David Payne states: ‘The name Jenny Wren has an English origin. A wren is small bird found in both Europe, England and Australia. In England it had long been considered in folklore as the female partner of the male robin red-breast, and along with its attractive song this gave rise to them being given a feminine gender with the name Jenny or Jennie attached to it.

‘Jenny Wren is also a character in Charles Dickens’ novel Our Mutual Friend, and a name used in many other situations to denote femininity. In the circumstances of how these small 2½ raters were initially viewed as diminutive yachts compared to their larger counterparts, the name is very appropriate for the yacht.’ 

Neville Olliffe told the museum he had enjoyed many hours sailing the cutter. “In 1993, old yachts were not revered as they are today,” he said. “Ever since I was a small child, I admired beautiful yachts. When I saw Jenny Wren, it was a dream.” 

According to his records of previous owners, the vessel has a colorful history. The yacht was built in 1889 for first owner Harry Stevens. It apparently had a very successful initial season of racing. Stevens sold the yacht just a few years later when interest in 2½ Raters was waning.

Ownership passed to a William (Bill) Hodges and the boat was kept in the vicinity of Half Moon Bay at Drummoyne. He frequently sailed to Pittwater, and at least once to Port Stephens.

In the early 1940s a Paul Waites purchased the yacht with his ownership lasting about five years. He had recollections of sailing during the war years, including passing through the submarine boom-gates.

One report suggests that in the 1950s or 60s Jenny Wren is believed to have been raised from Mosman Bay where it had been ‘scuttled, sunk or abandoned’. One owner is said to have taken his new wife on honeymoon on the Jenny Wren. 

Neville Olliffe, who worked in the chandlery at the Cruising Yacht Club at Rushcutters Bay, said: “It was quite slow to react to the tiller because there was so much boat in the water. When you were out there and amongst a whole lot of other yachts you had to manouvre it to give way and that caused a few anxious situations. We sailed in quite a few gaffer's days. Not all of them, but we were there for most. And we did quite well too.”

Declining health and the maintenance workload were factors in donating the boat to the museum, he said.  

Apart from the Jenny Wren, other well-known Reeks designs still in existence include the Edwardian gentleman’s schooner Boomerang (1903) maintained by the Sydney Heritage Fleet, as well as the beautifully restored motor yacht, Ena, donated to the museum by former museum chair John Mullen.