Alexander Macfarlane, Boatbuilder

1841 - 1917  (75 years)

• Name	Alexander Macfarlane  [1, 2, 3]
  Suffix	Boatbuilder
  Birth	19 Apr 1841	Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland
  Christening	2 May 1841	East Parish, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1861	Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland   [3]
  	Ships carpenter
  Residence	1861	Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland   [3]
  Immigration	1 Oct 1866	Australia
  Name	Alexander McFarlane  [1]
  Death	13 Feb 1917	Ralston St., Largs, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  Burial	Cheltenham Cemetery, Cheltenham, Charles Sturt City, South Australia, Australia
  Person ID	I23930	MacFarlane
  Last Modified	29 May 2024

  
  

  Father	Alexander McFarlane, AlM03,   b. Abt 1808, Rosneath, Dunbartonshire, Scotland d. 6 Nov 1868, Hyndford Pl., Govan, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland (Age 60 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Ann Duncan,   b. 1805, Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Scotland d. 1861, Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland (Age 56 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	26 May 1830	St Andrew's Church, cnr Ardgowan & Margaret St, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland   [4]
  Family ID	F8937	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Ann Tyzack,   b. 3 Jul 1845, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 29 Jul 1918, Largs Bay, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Age 73 years)
  Marriage	10 Jun 1867	Holy Trinity Church, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  Children	1. Mary Ann Macfarlane,   b. 21 Mar 1868, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 24 Mar 1868, Infancy (Age 0 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   2. Ann Duncan Macfarlane,   b. 5 May 1869, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 19 May 1962, Blackwood, Mitcham City, South Australia, Australia (Age 93 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   3. Alexander George Macfarlane,   b. 1 Feb 1871, St. Vincent St., Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 22 Mar 1875, Infancy (Age 4 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   4. William "Bill" McFarlane,   b. 11 Nov 1872, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 12 Dec 1941, Birkenhead, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Age 69 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   5. Samuel Tyzack McFarlane,   b. 29 Nov 1874, St. Vincent St., Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 12 Jul 1948, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Age 73 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   6. Christina McFarlane,   b. 8 Aug 1876, Cannon St., Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 29 Jan 1947, Woodville, Charles Sturt City, South Australia, Australia (Age 70 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   7. Alexander John Duncan McFarlane,   b. 21 Jul 1877, Glanville, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 27 Nov 1877, Aged 4 months (Age 0 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   8. Dora Spence Tyzack Macfarlane,   b. 20 Jul 1878, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 24 Oct 1878, Infancy (Age 0 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   9. Ernest David McFarlane,   b. 26 Aug 1879, Benson St., Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 28 Aug 1946, Largs Bay, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Age 67 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   10. Ethel May Macfarlane,   b. 14 Oct 1880, Benson St., Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 3 Apr 1881, Infancy (Age 0 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   11. John (Jack) Macfarlane,   b. 28 Feb 1882, Benson St., Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 29 Jul 1942 (Age 60 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   12. Percy Macfarlane,   b. 19 Apr 1883, Semaphore, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 28 Jul 1956, St. Peters, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Age 73 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   13. Clifford Kayser McFarlane,   b. 16 Jun 1884, Benson St., Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. Apr 1963, Woodville, Charles Sturt City, South Australia, Australia (Age 78 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   14. Olive Grace McFarlane,   b. 15 Jul 1885, Benson St., Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 17 May 1886, Semaphore, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Age 0 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   15. Thomas Alexander Hugh "Alex" McFarlane,   b. 2 May 1887, Benson St., Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia d. 1 Nov 1952, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia (Age 65 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F8932	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	29 May 2024

  
  

• Notes

  1 - A Scottish Boat Builder from Greenock, Scotland to Birkenhead. S.A. Alexander McFarlane Junior was born in Greenock, Scotland on 19th April 1841 to Alexander McFarlane Snr and Ann (nee Duncan). He followed in his father's footsteps and became a shipwright and boat builder after serving his apprenticeship at the works of Simons, a well known dredge builders, at that time, in Glasgow. He left Scotland on 19th March 1866 for Australia on the "Egmont" as a Carpenter the destination was Mauritius, here he stayed for about two weeks and left there on the "Sarah" and was discharged at Port Adelaide on 1st October 1866. He meet and married Mary Ann (neeTyzack); Mary had been born in Port Adelaide on 3rd July 1845 to William Tyzack and Mary Ann (nee Kayser). Alexander and Mary Ann were married on 10th June 1867 at Holy Trinity, Adelaide. They first settled in Quebec Street, Port Adelaide and moved to Benson Street, Semaphore and Elder Road, Birkenhead. They had 15 children only 9 survived to adulthood being 7 boys and 2 girls. Not long after Alexander married he worked as a shipwright in several yards until he started a boat building business himself and as time went by his sons joined him. The business was known as A. McFarlane and Sons. Not sure of which boat but one day a person who was to own one of the boats that was on the slip , walked in to the business and went up the ladder, then walked on the deck of one of these magnificent boats; Alexander McFarlane saw this and came down from the loft and told him to get off! How dare he climb on the yacht with shoes on! and that he really did not own the boat until it was on the water. So I imagine that he was proud of the boats he was building. This business had several moves and is now in Jenkins Street, Birkenhead and is managed by his great grand son Andrew McFarlane. This is one of the businesses that will have to go with the new development of Port Adelaide. Alexander is reputed to have built the "Port Adelaide" being the first eight oar rowing boat to be built in the State. Also they built many small and large boats one being the ketch the "Yalata" and did repair and maintenance work to many boats that serviced the local Ports. In the 1890's he built with his sons several racing Yachts, there are three of interest; being the "Alexa", "Sayonara" and "Reverie" these were designed by a noted Scottish Yacht Designer William Fife lll of Fairlie, Scotland. William Fife lll (he was known as junior) designed and built yachts for Sir Thomas Lipton (Lipton Tea fame). Two being Shamrock l and Shamrock lll, with these yachts Sir Thomas Lipton competed in the America's Cup but both lost in 1899 and 1903. If any of William Fife's boats are discovered they are lovingly restored and brought back to their former glory and they bring high prices these days. The "Alexa" length 46 feet, was built for Mr.Wyly, the "Alexa" was named after the builder Alexander McFarlane. Mr. Wyly had great success with her, she was sold on several times and had many owners and had a great history and did win the Plympton Cup (a race between Glenelg and Kangaroo Island) sadly was wrecked in a fierce storm off Glenelg were she was moored in the 1940's, a sad end to a "Gaff Cutter" There is a street down at North Haven named after the "Alexa". The "Sayonara" length 57 feet was built for a Victorian Syndicate; the original sails were hand made on the Isle of Man England; they had great success with her and the "Sayonara Cup" is named after her and is held at the Royal Sydney Yacht Club (the race was held between Sydney and Melbourne boats). She was a pretty yacht similar to lines to the "Alexa" but much larger. "Sayonara" went to Sydney and during the war years; she was used as a pleasure yacht; taking sight seeing people around Sydney Harbour. In the 1970's a Mr. Handel bought her and was interested into restoring her he made contact with the family, they did not have the plans as they had been destroyed long ago. It turned out he was mainly interested in the rigging. The "Sayonara" was raced around the Whit Sunday Islands, Queensland and beat the "Gretel" which had sailed in the America's Cup for Australia in the 1960's. When last heard of in the later part of 2007 she was for sale in New Zealand for $800,000 The "Reverie" length 33 feet 6 inches was built for Mr. W. Fisher and he had great success with her. She was moored off the coast at Largs opposite his home (which is now called Lady Gowrie Drive) and near what is now the Largs Sailing Club. When she was sold in 1940's there had been unwritten agreement that when she was no longer wanted and to be sold that she was to be offered back to the McFarlane Family. A.J. (Jack) McFarlane and his life long friend Alan Cormack bought her and the sailed her with great success and won the Plympton Cup in 1946 Alan sold his share back to Jack as Alan had family commitments. In April 1947 whilst Jack was taking some friends on a week end fishing trip and was going along the Port River the Ketch "Annie Watt' ran into her and she sank to the bottom of the River. The next day Jack with his friend Mack Lawrie and the people from the Harbour's Board lifted her out of the water. She was slipped on Cruickshank's Corner (almost in front of the Birkenhead Tavern) and was repaired by Jack and his father "Tyz" McFarlane (who helped to build her in the 1898 in the family business), so the Reverie was back to her former glory. Jack continued to sail her until he died in 1951. The "Reverie" was sold on and had many owners some looked after her and some did not; a young chap bought her and whilst he was being restoring her at the North Arm she caught alight and was burnt out. A very sad end to a pretty "Gaff Sloop" that sailed well for many years and bought much delight to many people. What I can remember about the "Reverie" was that she was a beautiful yacht with varnished decking and polished timbers below and had bunks for five people to sleep, a Galley, a folding dining table everything was so compact and a place for everything and you had to put it away. I always loved going out in her and was so sad when we had to sell her all those years ago. Alexander and his Sons continued to build boats and do repair work at the old Cruikshank Corner. Alexander passed away at his daughter's Mrs. Ann Ward of Ralston Street, Largs on 13th February 1917. He had stopped working at the Slip several years earlier due to poor health. We can not name all the boats he built as there are no lists; all records were destroyed many years ago. His sons Bill, Tyz, Ern and Jack (John) continued to work together there until the partnership was dissolved 2nd July 1918. Then Bill, old Ern, Jack (John) continued the business other brothers helped at times, they built the "Queenscliff" Rescue boat in the 1920's until there was only two grandsons managing the business being young Ern and Neil (sons of old Ern) then young Ern's son Ian and Neil's son Andrew continued to keep the family name going. The business moved from Cruikshank corner in the 1930's due to the new bridge being the last boatbuilding business to move. There is a Silver Snuff Box owned by Alexander McFarlane's Family (Possibly owned by Alexander McFarlane Snr) Presented to Mr. Alexander McFarlane As a Mark of respect By the Shipwrights of Messsrs W. Simons & co Glasgow 1854 (compiled by Janet Marsh great grand daughter December 2007) 2 - Alexander McFARLANE married Ann (nee Duncan) and had at least 4 sons Alexander (my great-great grandfather), Ian, Roderick and Neil. He was born in Greenock 19 April 1841, died in Adelaide, Australia 11 February 1917. He immigrated to South Australia arriving aboard "Sarah" 1 October 1866. My great-great-great grandfather Alexander was born somewhere around 1810-1820, however, I do not know in which order his sons were born so it could even be before that. I have been told that the family was involved in ship building in Greenock but I have not been able to find any information confirming that. The Alexander McFARLANE that immigrated to Australia built racing yachts so the ship building link could definitely be something. [http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,196819.new.html#new] 3 - I am a descendant of Alexander McFarlane born on 19th April 1841 Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland and over the last 20 years my 2nd cousin and I have been collecting information about this family. Our great grandfather was a shipwright and boat builder and the old family business is still (for the time being) working at Port Adelaide and just recently there was a yacht for sale in Wellington, New Zealand and was built here by Alexander and some of his sons in 1897. The going price was $800,000, must be absolutely gorgeous. I have just written an article about the William Fife designs that were built there in the 1890's and the Sayonara was one of his designs.. He married a Port Adelaide girl Mary Ann (Tyzack) in the 1860's and they had 15 children only 9 survived to adulthood one being my grand father Samuel Tyzack McFarlane. There are about 200 descendants from this union. [E-mail from Janet Marsh (nee McFarlane) rec: 25 Feb. 2008] (Research):Name Alexander Mcfarlane Gender Male Christening Date 02 May 1841 Christening Place EAST PARISH, GREENOCK, RENFREW, SCOTLAND Father's Name Alexander Mcfarlane Mother's Name Ann Duncan https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMS9-G89 Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950 Indexing Project (Batch) Number C11956-2 System Origin Scotland-ODM GS Film number 1041060, 1041061 Name Alexander Mcfarlane Gender Male Christening Date 02 May 1841 Christening Place EAST PARISH, GREENOCK, RENFREW, SCOTLAND Birth Date 19 Apr 1841 Father's Name Alexander Mcfarlane Mother's Name Ann Duncan https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTNP-S2G Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950 Indexing Project (Batch) Number C11956-2 System Origin Scotland-VR GS Film number 1041061 Reference ID - 2:18HT7K9

  
  

• Sources

  [S43] Clan MacFarlane Worldwide, Clan MacFarlane Worldwide Genealogy Form, for Anita Margaret Renfrey rec: 8 Jun 2013. [S82] Find A Grave, (Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: http://www.findagrave.com/index.html;;;;;), 161589888. [S87] 1861 Census, (Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: The 1861 Census for Scotland was taken on the night of 7/8 April 1861. The following information was requested: place, name, relationship to head of family, marital status, age, gender, profession, birthplace, and whether blind, de;). [S101] Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, International Genealogical Index.