Historical information

The whaleboat model was built for the 1988 Warrnambool Wunta Festival by Wally St John, of Melbourne. Its name comes from the port of New Bedford in Massachusetts, America. Coastal whaling in the area began in the 17th Century, and by the mid-18th century, it was performed on a large scale. The town is renowned for the author, Herman Melville, who sailed out on the whaler "Acushnet" in 1841. When he returned, he published his book about the great white whale "Moby Dick".

The Wunta Festival began in 1985. In 1988, it was sponsored by the Warrnambool City Council and Mr. Alan Lane, a Warrnambool businessman who served on the Council for 18 years. The festival is held on the first weekend in February and involves the whole community. One of the activities is the Whaleboat Race.

International whaleboat racing began in 1805 with a race between America and Britain. The City of Warrnambool Rowing Club started the whaleboat race in 1986 as part of the Wunta festival, and a Whaleboat Club was soon formed. The race is held on the Hopkins River.

Significance

The ship model of the whaleboat, New Bedford, is significant because it represents vessels used in the early industry of whaling in southwest Victoria.
It is also representative of the centuries-old craft of ship model making.
It is important for its connection to the Wunta Festival, a Warrnambool community event.
It is connected to Mr. Alan L Lane, whose estate generously funded the Alan Lane Foundation for the continuous support and funding of local community events and activities.

Physical description

Ship model of a whaleboat. The boat has two fabric sails, a tiller, and four wooden oars with blue and white sections painted on the blades. The model is mounted on a wooden stand inside a glass case with a wooden frame. Two gold embossed black plaques are on the base of the case, on the front. The plaques have decorative borders and inscriptions.
The model of the New Bedford Whaleboat, built by Wally St John, Melbourne, was made for the 1988 WUNTA Festival in Warrnambool.

Inscriptions & markings

Left plaque: "THE NEW BEDFORD WHALEBOAT / Built by Wally St John Melbourne"
Right plaque: "]Logo of a Triangle with "WUNTA festival" "Proudly sponsored by Mr. ALAN LANE for the City of Warrnambool and 1988 Wunta Festival"