Historic Ship’s Bell Gifted to Warkworth Museum
Early last month, the Warkworth Museum was honoured with a special maritime relic—a beautifully restored ship’s bell from the bulk cement carrier John Wilson. This generous donation was made by three descendants of the ship’s namesake, bringing a tangible piece of New Zealand’s maritime and industrial history back to the region.
The John Wilson was named for John Wilson, one of the proprietors of Wilson’s NZ Portland Cement Company and brother to company founder Nathaniel Wilson. The ship’s bell was presented in a small ceremony attended by Warkworth Museum manager Victoria Joule, museum president Brenda Yoxall, and local Wilson family representative Jill Harvey. The gift was formally handed over by John Wilson’s descendants—Susan Ewart, who had undertaken the restoration of the bell, along with her sister Heather Charles and cousin Cathy Wilson-Fry.
During their visit to the museum, the family members explored the Wilson Cement Exhibition and took a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility. Later, they connected with their newly discovered Warkworth relative, enjoying a visit to Riverina, Nathaniel Wilson’s historic home, and a scenic picnic at the Wilson Cement Works grounds.
The John Wilson: A Cement Carrier’s Legacy
The 81-metre steel vessel John Wilson was built in 1961 in Leith, Scotland, by the shipbuilding company Henry Robb. It was commissioned to carry cement for Wilson’s Portland Cement Co. of Whangarei, playing a crucial role in New Zealand’s industrial supply chain. In 1974, ownership transferred to Tarakohe Shipping Co., part of Golden Bay Cement Co., which later merged with Wilson’s in 1983. By December 1984, the vessel had reached the end of its working life and was scrapped by Pacific Steel. A year later, in 1985, the ship’s bell was gifted to Susan Ewart, the great-granddaughter of John Wilson.
The Importance of a Ship’s Bell
A ship’s bell holds deep maritime significance, far beyond its aesthetic and historical value. Traditionally, it was used to mark the change of watch shifts, helping to regulate daily operations aboard a vessel. More critically, the bell served as a vital safety tool, ringing out as a warning signal in foggy conditions to alert nearby ships. In fact, carrying a bell was a requirement for ships over 20 metres in length under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. The deep resonance of a ship’s bell ensured that it could be heard over long distances, especially in poor visibility, safeguarding lives at sea.
Wilson’s Cement and Its Maritime Fleet
Wilson’s Cement Company owned multiple vessels over the years to facilitate the transport of its products. Among the earliest ships in its fleet was Ronaki, an auxiliary ketch operating in the early 1900s. Later additions included the steamers Mahurangi and Herekino, which were active around the 1920s.
In 1958, a 350-tonne coastal cement carrier was built in Holland for Wilson’s Portland Cement Ltd. Designed to transport bagged cement from Whangarei to major New Zealand ports, including Auckland, Tauranga, Gisborne, and Napier, this vessel was named Nathaniel Wilson in honor of the company’s founder. Like the John Wilson, this ship also had a significant history; it was sold to an Australian company in 1974.
The Bell’s New Home
Now proudly displayed in the Wilson Cement Works exhibition at the Warkworth Museum, the John Wilson bell stands as a testament to the region’s rich industrial and maritime heritage. Thanks to the generosity of Susan Ewart and her family, this relic from a bygone era has found a home where visitors can appreciate its historical significance.
The museum continues to celebrate the enduring legacy of Wilson’s Cement and its contributions to New Zealand’s development. This recent addition to the collection enhances public understanding of the intertwined histories of shipping and industry, ensuring that the memory of vessels like John Wilson remains alive for future generations.
