Physical description

William White (1826-1901) arrived from his home on the Isle of Wight in 1852, visited New Zealand and then went onto the Bendigo Gold Fields. He then settled in Williamstown and started building skiffs and dinghies from about 1854 on a site adjacent to the present Blunt's Boatyard, now the site of the Naval Cadet's clubrooms and jetties. He was joined by his brother George in 1856 and they formed W. & G. White Boat Builders, commonly referred to as ‘White’s Slip’. The brothers first ship was Elizabeth which was still afloat as a powder lighter 50 years later. In 1857 William White was commissioned by the Harbour Master, Charles Ferguson, to construct four of Victoria's first lifeboats. The business was the best known for producing schooners, tugs, lighters, light boats, and steamers for the NZ west coast trade and was one of the most productive of the early medium scale boat builders.

The company also constructed the Gellibrand Lightship in 1860, which was replaced by the pile lighthouse. The superstructure of the Gellibrand Lightship was removed from the hull and placed on a platform supported by 36 piles.
White was also an outspoken Councillor who served the town from 1860-1864.