HMAS-Bungaree mine layer and naval stores carrier berthing at Darling Harbour Sydney 1946
HMAS Bungaree, mine layer and naval stores carrier, berthing at (Darling Harbour) Sydney 1946
by Allaster K McDougall
Curtesy of the Australian National Maritime Museum
The artist, Allaster McDougall, was a Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Naval Reserves. He gifted this painting to the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Allaster McDougall used oil on paper for the above painting. This medium allowed him to achieve rich textures and subtle tonal variations, ideal for capturing the industrial atmosphere of the harbour and the naval vessel’s imposing presence.
The small size of the painting is perfect for detailed brushwork and controlled composition. McDougall was able to blend technical accuracy with artistic sensitivity.
Additional resources for Allaster McDougall
Works – Allaster K McDougall – People – collections.sea.museum/
TNABS_No_44_WEB.pdf
Additional reading on HMAS Bungaree
- About Allaster McDougall
Allaster K. McDougall
Allaster K McDougall born in 1924 in Walgett, NSW. Died on 30 May 2018.
Allaster K. McDougall attended The Armidale School and in 1942 during World Ward ll joined the Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Reserve. He attained the rank of Lieutenant and served on the sloop HMAS Warrego and minelayer HMAS Bungaree in the East Indies (now Indonesia), Timor, New Guinea, Manus Island and into the Pacific.
He was a talented Australian marine artist and his work vividly captures naval scenes, particularly from World War II and post-war Australia. His artworks are part of the Australian National Maritime Museum's collection, showcasing his contribution to preserving naval history through art.
His artistic style is traditional figurative, with a strong emphasis on naval and maritime subjects. His works often depict ships, harbours, and wartime scenes with meticulous attention to detail and atmosphere, reflecting both his personal experience in the Royal Australian Naval Reserves and his deep appreciation for maritime history.
Oil painting was his primary medium, allowing for rich textures and layered compositions. His style suggests a documentary approach, capturing historical moments with accuracy.
McDougall also had an interest in bookplate design, which involves intricate line work and printmaking techniques like linocut and drypoint. He painted this bookplate of HMAS Warrego on the front endpaper of Practical navigation for the professional and the amateur by Master Mariner Thomas Gilchrist, published in Melbourne by Robertson & Mullens in 1943.
Additional resources for Allaster K. McDougall
Works – Allaster K McDougall – People – collections.sea.museum/
TNABS_No_44_WEB.pdf - About HMAS Bungaree
In September 1940, the War Cabinet approved a naval mining policy which included the acquisition of a 3000-tonne merchant vessel as an Auxiliary Minelayer. The coastal cargo ship Bungaree was requisitioned for this task on 10 October 1940 and began conversion in Sydney. Bungaree was named for the Indigenous guide, interpreter and Aboriginal community leader who lived in the Port Jackson area (c. 1775–1830).
More reading
- Additional resources for HMAS Bungaree
