SHANGRI LA

Description:

Ok this is a very brief history on the Shari-La. First of all the Shangri-La is a National Heritage listed vessel here in Australia. Here are a few reasons why. The Shangri-La was first built in 1938 for Harold Arnott (of Arnotts Biscuits) as a 17.3 meter long motor cruiser. In 1940 it was sold to MR V.B.Smith who enlisted in the armed forces and volunteered the Shangri-La for wartime service. In 1942 Shangri-La was requisitioned by the Commonwealth Government for the coastal patrol of NSW and was sold to the United States Army. During this time Shangri-La was requisitioned by General Douglas MacArther and was used a s his personal craft for river transport. The Americans gave Shangri-La a samll refit in this time and used Shangri-La in many other war operatons. After the war ended in 1945 it was salvaged and returned to Australia in 1946. In 1946 it was purchased by Tom McLean and used for tourist charters. In 1976 Shangri-La celebrated 30 years of the tourist industry of Queensland. In 1981 Shangri-La wa purchased by Peter Davoren and was used as a personal vessle untill it was sold to Tim Berrigan in 2003. Tim set about restoing Shangri-La to its former glory and returing it to the tourisum industry running commercial chatrters. Sadly Tim passed in 2010 and the Shangri-La was re-sold. In 2011 Shangri-La was purchased by my dear friend and current owner Sharron with her partner Phil.Who is working tirelessly to complete the work that Tim had started and who also commissioned the piece I'am proud to be working on right now.