In 1940 Lars Halvorsen Sons Pty Ltd purchased a five-acre property on the Parramatta River at Ryde, intending to build what was at the time the largest boatyard in the southern hemisphere.

The site grew to consist of an engineering section, blacksmith and lumber shops, stores, machine shop, plumbers shop, sheet metal shop, fueling facilities and five slip-ways for craft up to 90 feet and 100 tons.

Halvorsens built 1,299 vessels, including motor cruisers, launches, tenders, yachts, tugs, mission boats, fishing boats and military craft.

Halvorsen boats were a prominent feature on many Australian waterways. 237 vessels were also built...Read More

In 1940 Lars Halvorsen Sons Pty Ltd purchased a five-acre property on the Parramatta River at Ryde, intending to build what was at the time the largest boatyard in the southern hemisphere.

The site grew to consist of an engineering section, blacksmith and lumber shops, stores, machine shop, plumbers shop, sheet metal shop, fueling facilities and five slip-ways for craft up to 90 feet and 100 tons.

Halvorsens built 1,299 vessels, including motor cruisers, launches, tenders, yachts, tugs, mission boats, fishing boats and military craft.

Halvorsen boats were a prominent feature on many Australian waterways. 237 vessels were also built for the Allied forces during World War 2. The business and occupied the site until the 1970s.