Largest Huon Pine vessel ever built joins fleet for Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2023
The largest Huon Pine vessel ever built will return to Tasmanian waters after over 20 years cruising on the mainland.
The Dennison Star was built in 1960’s by visionary naval architect Ray Kemp in Woodbridge, Tasmania after initially sketching her design on the back of a cigarette packet.
The Dennison Star was built for use on the Gordon River, on the West Coast of Tasmania as a cruise boat, after the Morrison Family realised their vessel J Lee M wasn’t big enough for the high volume of tourists interested in the area.
The timbers used for construction were sourced by Reg Morrison out of the high country above the Gordon River on the West Coast of Tasmania, the keel being a single piece of 90ft Blue Gum. Timber cut was rafted together and towed down river to Strahan, then milled at Morrison Bros sawmills then freighted to Woodbridge.
Since 2002, the vessel has been in mainland waters and will return to Tasmania to attend the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in 2023 after significant restoration and preservation works by current owners in Victoria.
The Dennison Star will be open daily, during the AWBF for visitors. It will be the largest boat aside from Tall Ships at the event, which has not occurred since 2019 due to covid.
