State Library of South Australia

The 'Yatala' [B 9316] • Artwork

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Summary

Watercolour painting of HMCS 'Yatala', with the signature and date 'E. Magraith 1904' in the bottom right hand corner. It has been painted directly onto the board, with the following inscriptions under the actual painting: on the bottom left is 'To Arthur Searcy Esq / President of Marine Board / from G.H. 1904'; in the centre is 'HMCS "Yatala" / After a painting by H.C.R. 1849'. The painting depicts the 'Yatala' just off land, in full sail and with a blue ensign flying from one of the spars. Notes on the back of the photograph state: "'Yatala' schooner. The South Australian war schooner, Yatala, 107 tons, pierced for 6 guns was built in Port Adelaide and launched 29 July 1848. Her first voyage was to the wreck of the "Tigress", near Noarlunga, 30 September 1848 during which her masts were shortened five feet. She was employed on Government marine coasting duties until May 1864 when she was sent to the Northern Territory. She was soon dispatched to Timor for repairs and was condemned there in November 1864 and was sold for 233 pounds."

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Physical description

Artwork (watercolour); 30.6 cm x 39.6 cm (image), 39.9 cm x 50.3 cm (board)

Dates / Publication details

Approximately 1904

Artist

Magraith, E

Collection

Part of Ship Collection

Subject

Yatala (Ship)

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

General notes

The painting was reproduced in 'The Observer', Adelaide, Saturday, June 15, 1918 under the caption 'War schooner Yatala'. The explanatory note reads: 'This is a photograph of a drawing lent to us by Mr A.T.Saunders, who writes:- "The South Australian war schooner Yatala, 107 tons, pierced for six guns, was built in Port Adelaide and was launched July 29, 1848. Her first voyage was to the wreck of the Tigress, near Noarlunga, September 30, 1848, when she was deemed to be over-masted and her masts were shortened five feet. She was at the time of her launch, the largest vessel built at Port Adelaide, and was employed on Government marine coasting duties till May, 1864, when she was sent to the Northern Territory. She was soon dispatched to Timor for repairs, and condemned there in November, 1864, and was sold for 233 pounds. She was built departmentally by daily labour, and cost over 3,200 pounds, including 536 pounds for law costs."

Historical information

The artist, Ernest Lovell Magraith, was born on 26 February 1865 in South Australia. He lived for the most part at Avenel Gardens Road, Medindie, and died 1 February 1953 at Broadview. [Information supplied by grandson David Magraith.] The initials 'from G. H.' may belong to George Halsey. The log book of the Government Schooner Yatala shows that George Halsey joined the crew in May 1864 (hence the gifting of the painting 40 years later). George served in the Royal Navy, was former keeper of the Port Adelaide powder magazine, and was described by Searcy as a 'faithful government servant for over 50 years' (see PRG 280/1/44/96). The painting can be seen hanging in several images of Searcy's office (eg PRG 280/1/5/122). (information supplied by a researcher).

Digitisation information

Date

17/04/2008

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

6,070 x 4,829 pixels (29.3 MP)

Size

87.97 MB

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