Lady of the Lake: 52ft Dunning scow

Everything We Know About Lady of the Lake

Lady of the Lake was one of the first scows built in New Zealand and would become known as one of the “lake series” of scows which included Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake St Clair and Lake Superior.  She was built in 1876 by Rufus Dunning in Mahurangi.  Like most of the early scows she was a schooner-rigged deck scow but unlike the others she was one of the first scows to have a pointed bow.

Rufus Dunning would become not just Lady of the Lakes builder but also one of her first owners with James Watt Darroch and her skipper.   His ownership ended in 1877 when Hugh Falconer Anderson joined.  In 1880 Robert Queen purchased her for one year.  Then Daniel Fallon took ownership until 1883.  Rice Owen Clark Junior purchased her in 1883 and owned her until 1898 when James Stephens, John Erikson and Peter Bryant took over.  From 1899 until 1919 Bryant would be Lady of the Lakes sole owner until Alfred William Bryant took ownership for one year.  After Bryant it is unknown who owned her.

In 1920 Lady of the Lake was converted into a barge and was still being used this way in 1926.  It is believed she was later broken up and buried at St Marys Bay.