By David Nicolson
This story about warship models, photographs and exhibitions is the result of a conversation between the Naval Historical Society’s president and WA Chapter president, David Nicolson about naval related activities going on around Australia that members may be interested in. Advice from members and readers about such events is always welcomed by the Society.
There is a phenomenon called the “Butterfly Effect”. What it proposes is that a seemingly inconsequential act can lead to significant effects down the track. I believe I was the subject of this effect which started because of a chance encounter with Gerry Westenberg at the Fremantle Maritime Museum in 2018. Gerry is the volunteer model maker in residence at the museum and spends one day a week building models and showing the public how it is done. As a keen photographer, I was visiting the museum to see a display of press photographs which was close to where Gerry was working. I am a collector of model ships so was interested to talk to Gerry about his method of construction. During the conversation I asked him if anyone was photographing his ships. (I had previously photographed and published a book of models made by the late Brian Lemon.) Gerry said that he might be interested in recording his work and so I left him with my phone number with little hope that anything would come of this meeting.
A week later Gerry called me and indicated that he would be pleased to have me photograph his models. There are two things which surprise you about his models: first the incredible detail of the work, and secondly, the enormous number that he has built. There must have been at least 80 finished ships to be photographed and another 20 in various stages of construction. I set up a temporary studio with light boxes etc and systematically shot all the models. Each image was then etched on to a white background using Adobe Photoshop. I must admit the finished images looked pretty good, and Gerry was very pleased with the result.
I put it to Gerry that with all these models, why not ask the museum if he could put on a display. He already had a couple of his models in the gallery displaying naval ships, but this was only a small fraction of his total collection. To our surprise and delight, the museum management agreed to have a display of the models over a long weekend in June 2019. The location for the exhibition was a room in the Shipwreck Museum. It turned out to be perfect. The sand-stone walls and excellent lighting gave a great feel to the area. The exhibition exceeded everyone’s expectations with over 800 people passing through the display in four days. To complement the event, we published a book with all the ships and chapters on how Gerry went about his craft. From my perspective, I was please to get an article in the 2019 May edition of the UK “Model Boats” magazine where I was able to show off my pictures of Gerry’s creations.
The Museum, having recognised the interest the general public had in Gerry’s models, commenced planning on another display of a much longer duration. The second was opened in 2021 by the Hon. Kim Beazley AO. This had more models and was open for three months. Nealy 100 models were on display. It should be noted that was probably the largest display of ships in one place by a single constructor ever in Australia! A second book was also printed featuring only ships from the Royal Australian Navy.
As further proof of how one thing leads to another, as a result of Gerry’s successful exhibition, he was approached by the TV channel, Disney + to build models for their upcoming show, “Shipwreck Hunters”. This required the building of such diverse models as the Koombana, and the aircraft destroyed in the WW2 raid on Broome.
A third exhibition was opened by the Hon. Paul Papalia CSC in 2023. This time 120 models were on display, and it was estimated that at least 16,000 people attended over the three-month duration. A third book was also published with photos of the ships Gerry had completed in the intervening period. I was able to take advantage of the updated photos to get another article printed in “Model Boats”, the front cover of which featured his magnificent model of HMS Hood.
While Gerry and I were in discussion over the upcoming third exhibition, I casually asked what the chances were of have an exhibition of my photos taken around the Victoria quay area. I was totally surprised when I was told that such an exhibition was possible through their “public involvement program”! It was decided that I could display 50 photographs on a reserved section on the mezzanine floor. I was delighted. So, on the 2nd of February 2022 I had my first ever public exhibition of my photography. The only problem was that it was in the middle of the Covid restrictions, but even so, the museum and I were happy with the number of people who saw it. It was very exciting!
Through my connections with The Australian Army Museum of WA, I introduced Gerry to the curatorial team with the idea of having a display of Gerry’s models alongside relevant military actions of WW1, WW2 and the Vietnam war. This concept was taken up enthusiastically resulting in a unique joining of the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy.
Following consultation with the museum, it was decided that a fourth exhibition would open in February 2026 and run for four months. This was going to be bigger and better than ever with 171 models on display utilising purpose-built display stands to accommodate the increase in ship numbers. The museum’s curatorial department produced information panels, QR codes for each of the ships, an audio-visual presentation and large original photographs of the ships on display. The end result could only be described as “spectacular”. The exhibition was opened by the CEO of the West Australian Museum, Alex Coles, OBE FRSA and was met with universal acclaim. Included in the collection were the 16 models made for the two Disney + TV documentaries, “Shipwreck Hunters”.
(Third image) The fourth exhibition, 2026 with a display of 171 of Gerry’s models.
To keep up with Gerry’s prodigious output, a fourth book was printed in time for the event. This included a further 54 ships including the ill-fated R101 airship.
With all this going on I took the opportunity to ask if the museum would be prepared to give me a second exhibition showing my collection of ship photographs from around the world. This was agreed to and my display of 50 photographs went on display on the 9th of May 2026 and was scheduled to run for three months.
This completes the story so far. From a casual conversation in 2018, five exhibitions. four books, two TV involvements, two international magazine articles and two photographic exhibitions have resulted. I think the “Butterfly Effect” has be well and truly proven.
