The vessel “Wildflower” is a 28′ double-ended fishing boat, constructed by the renowned Blunt family boat works in Victoria and is believed to be one of the oldest continually operated commercial fishing vessels in Australia. Until its gifting to the Albany Maritime Foundation (AMF) for preservation, the boat had been in the continuous ownership of the Mouchmore family for over 114 years and had spent its entire working life fishing and sailing on the waters of Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound.

Deterioration of the hull in recent years led to arrangements to place the vessel into the custodianship of the AMF for preservation and display. The project, including restoration and research and finally public display has widespread community support and has been welcomed by the West Australian Maritime Museum.

AMF’s intention is to restore the vessel to a displayable condition under the guidance of an experienced local shipwright together with input from the Blunt family (the original builder located in Victoria) and  the West Australian Maritime Museum.

The boat named “Wildflower” was built in Queenscliff, Victoria and launched on the 11th July, 1889. Twenty-six feet long and built with New Zealand Pine the boat is a ‘double ender’ with clinker sides and a carvel bottom.  The mast is also the original. Its age (134 years as of 2023), its original condition and the continuous association with the Mouchemore family since the day it was built makes the vessel of great significance to Albany’s maritime heritage.  

The Mouchemore family, Henry and Mary and their seven children, arrived in Albany from Queenscliff, Victoria, on the Steam Ship “SS Maracura” in 1895.  Another son was born in Albany in 1896. The family fishing boats “Wildflower and Wildwave” were also shipped with them. The family soon established their fishing business, mainly supplying visiting Mail Ships and also the Kalgoorlie and Perth markets via rail transport each afternoon.

Eventually spreading their business interests into a Fish Shop in Kalgoorlie and also a plumbing business in Albany called Mouchemore & Co. They purchased the Mouchemore Cottage on the Princess Royal Harbour foreshore in 1905. Ideal for a fishing family as the boats could be anchored close by – The Wildflower was anchored in this area of the harbour for 108 years and still in daily use by the Mouchemore family as a working fishing boat up to 1997. The Fishing License ending in 2003. At the time this was the oldest licensed fishing boat in Western Australia and maybe Australia, 114 years licensed to fish and supply thousands of people throughout WA, with great Albany fish.

A total of 5 Mouchemore men, from three generations were the only men to fish professionally in the Wildflower. Henry, Philip, Barnard, Les, Edward (Ted) who is still fishing today in the 21st Century. 

The Wildflower won the Albany Regatta in 1898 and was last sailed in 1995 at the age of 106 years old. The Wildflower is very important to the fishing history of Albany. A part of Albany for so long, a real landmark for the locals. When working, the Wildflower was a tourist icon, busloads of tourists would stop briefly in front of the Residency Museum and contemplate the age of the small grey boat moored beside the haul road, and see the old fisherman bringing in his catch on a drizzle-soaked morning, they must get a sense that this is a small bit of life that goes back to earlier times. This sense of tradition is important for Albany and WA’s tourism.

For more information about how you can be involved in this project contact Peter Wilson handhewn@wn.com.au or 0407 533 606.