THE BUILD & LAUNCH
The story of the 1978 Bounty replica begins with a film project and the ambition to recreate the appearance of the original HMS Bounty. These contemporary articles document how David Lean’s vision moved towards reality, how Whangarei Engineering & Construction Ltd. (WECO) secured the contract, and how the ship took shape in New Zealand.
Through newspaper and magazine reports, shipyard photographs, construction details and the people involved, this collection follows the replica from its conception through the building process to its launch in 1978.
The original publications are preserved as historical evidence, recording the decisions, skills and work behind one of the most distinctive shipbuilding projects of its time.
The collection grows as new sources are found and verified.
WECO: Building the 1978 Bounty
These contemporary publications document the story behind the construction of the 1978 Bounty replica in Whangārei, New Zealand. “Build Me the Bounty!” follows the film project that brought the ship into being, while “WECO, N.Z.’s No. 1 Shipbuilder, Builds the Bounty” records the shipyard, its workforce and the work involved in bringing the vessel from plans to reality.
Together, these pages preserve a valuable record of the decisions, craftsmanship, engineering and people behind the build, capturing a distinctive chapter in New Zealand’s shipbuilding history.
Archival note: Original publication details are being established where they are not visible in the supplied scans.
‘Bounty’ to Sail from Whangārei
New Zealand Listener ·
15 April 1978 · pp. 18–19
Written by Peter Trickett, this contemporary article records the building of the Bounty replica at Whangārei, New Zealand. Published in April 1978, it offers an early account of the project as the vessel was nearing its launch and departure.
The article provides a valuable starting point for tracing the people, work and circumstances surrounding the ship’s construction in New Zealand.
Archival note: Publication date and page references recorded from the supplied article. Copy sourced from the National Library of New Zealand.
Collection: The Build & Launch
Publication: New Zealand Listener, 15 April 1978, pp. 18–19.
Article: “‘Bounty’ to Sail from Whangārei” by Peter Trickett.
REBUILDING THE BOUNTY
Published in N.Z. Yachting & Power Boating, Max Avery’s illustrated report offers a rare contemporary glimpse into the construction of the 1978 Bounty replica in New Zealand.
Through photographs and detailed observations, the article follows the work taking place in the shipyard from the steel hull and traditional timber craftsmanship to the stern, cutwater, deck fittings and mechanical systems concealed within the vessel.
It also records the contribution of the skilled builders and tradespeople whose work brought the replica into being, including master boatbuilder T.C. “Ces” Watson and the WECO team.
Preserved here, these pages provide a window into the decisions, materials and craftsmanship behind Bounty’s creation in 1978.
Source: Max Avery, “Rebuilding the Bounty,” N.Z. Yachting & Power Boating, pp. 46–51.
Record type: Contemporary magazine article.
This article is preserved as part of the 1978 Bounty Living Library. The original text and photographs document the replica’s construction at Whangārei, New Zealand, and provide a contemporary record of the craftsmanship, people and engineering involved in her creation.
Archival note: Publication date and original issue details are to be confirmed.