William James FORSTER

Wairarapa - Steel Steamship - Off Hornby Light, Sydney Heads 1883
Watercolour, highlighted with gouache
310 x 495 mm
Signed and dated 1883.
Collection of the Edmiston Trust, New Zealand National Maritime Museum

"Wairarapa", built in Dumbarton, Scotland, 1882, was owned by the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand Ltd and was registered at Dunedin, New Zealand in the same year. Her specifications were 1786 tons, L.O.A. 285'2" x Breath 36'3" x Depth 23'7".

"Wairapapa" was wrecked on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand on the 28 October 1894. This was the third greatest loss of life in New Zealand waters. On her voyage from Sydney to Auckland, the ship ran onto rocks at Great Barrier Island in heavy seas and thick fog. Lifeboats and rafts were launched, but many people were swept off the decks by the waves. The next morning a steward swam a line to shore and passengers were hauled through the water. Survivors huddled on the rocks for over 30 hours before being rescued. 101 of the 186 passengers and 20 of the crew of 65 died.

In Fortser's painting we see the "Wairarapa" on one of her many successful journeys between New Zealand and Australia, just outside of Sydney.

WILLIAM JAMES FORSTER was born 1851, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England and died in Sydney, Australia in 1891. His paintings date between 1870s-80s.

Little is known of him, he was married with two daughters, one born in New Zealand, one in Sydney. Between 1885-1887 he was living part of the time in Balmain, Sydney. He was also recorded in directories and electoral rolls as in New Zealand at this time. In Wellington he lived in Nairn Street and Frederick Street. Wises for 1870s and 1880s lists a William Forster at Brightwater, Nelson, but it is not known if it is the same one

His Australian paintings are dated either 1883 or late 1880s and he painted New Zealand vessels around 1880-1890 (Una Platts book suggests 1878-1881).

Over 80 marine paintings are known to be by Forster and are in both private and public collections.