Boat Shows - Moreton Bay Wood On Show

The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) has announced the inaugural Queensland Wooden Boat Heritage Show (QWBHS) will be held onsite at Manly in May 2012.

Dedicated to celebrating the history and heritage of the State’s wooden boats, the QWBHS is shaping to be a major tourism drawcard to the Manly region, organisers said. Supported by some of Queensland’s most notable boatbuilders, including Peter Cavill and Bill Wright, the event we're told aims to provide “quality not quantity”.

“There is such a strong history of wooden boats on Moreton Bay and as one of the oldest Squadron’s in Queensland, we want to celebrate this history,” said Paul Hughes, RQYS general manager.

The event will be held every two years so as not to clash with Hobart’s biennial Australian Wooden Boat Festival, and feature many carefully selected boats showcasing Queensland’s boating history. The show also offers boatbuilding demonstrations, exhibitions, crafts and family entertainment.

Only a few minutes stroll along the boardwalk from the Lota or Manly train stations, the QWBHS is easily accessible to the greater Brisbane region.

“We believe there is a market for a family-friendly day by the water that will not only be a lot of fun, but also cater to the history buffs, boaties and anyone just wanting a day out with the kids,” said RQYS rear commodore, Matthew Hill-Smith.

“This show will deliver to Brisbane an exhibition that we can be proud of, with a wide range of diverse activity and one that will become a regular biennial event,” he said.