The Towns Brothers, boat-builders of Dempsey Island
For over eight decades the Towns family of Dempsey Island were noted builders of fine small boats: racing skiffs, surf boats and watermen's boats. George Towns senior started the business in 1869, married Emily Jane Taylor of Ash Island, and taught all seven of his sons the craft.
The eldest, George Towns junior, twice champion sculler of the world, grew up racing his fellow islanders on the Hunter: the Ford, Hughes, Dempsey, Croese and Schuck boys among them. A river full of working boats made a very good training ground.
Newspaper engraving, 1890s
“Barry has challenged TOWNS to a sculling match on the Thames for 200 pounds a side.” The Mercury, Hobart, 1897
Dempsey Island was reclaimed in the late 1950s and early 60s. In 2020 the only remnant of the family's property is the date palm on the right-hand side of Cormorant Drive heading north, worth a glance next time you drive onto the island.
- Researched and written by Cherylanne Bailey for the Ash Island history archive; her credit travels with this page.
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