Merendino Family

Salvatore arrived in Fremantle from Capo D’Orlando in 1905, at the age of 15. He was sponsored by his oldest brother, Francesco, who had migrated to Australia as a 12 year old in 1896. Salvatore went to work with a Mr. Cicerello and by the age of 20 had bought his own 20 feet long fishing boat, the Marie. At the age of 24, Salvatore returned to Italy during World War I to serve in the Italian Navy. It was in Italy that he met and married Giuseppina Composto. They gave birth to 10 children; 5 boys and 5 girls. 4 of the boys became fishermen. Salvatore returned to Fremantle after the War.

In 1926, Salvatore approached East Fremantle boat builders, the Gourley Brothers, and asked Robert (also known as Robin) and Harry Gourley to build him a fishing boat. Robin Gourley lived in East Fremantle at 40 Riverside Road, on the corner of Riverside road and Pier Street, near the Leeuwin boat shed. He had worked for Howson & Murray. The boat was built in Gourley's boat yard nearby on Riverside Road, near where the old H.M.A.S. Leeuwin (now Leeuwin Barracks) is situated.

The Gourley Brothers – Robin, Harry, Jim and Ernie, came to WA in 1887 from Tipperary, Ireland, and soon established an excellent reputation as boat builders. They went on to build about 50 vessels, including racing yachts which were unbeatable in their day. The Gourley-built fishing vessels Little Dirk, Britannia and Mafalda had particularly interesting sterns, which were almost circular in plan-view. This type of stern, called by the builder a “rim” or “cartwheel” stern, provided a fine working area for handling fishing nets. The stern also worked particularly well in a large, following sea. The Mafalda was built of New Zealand Kari with jarrah keel and ribs. When the vessel was completed, Salvatore named her Mafalda - a germanic version of the name Matilda which roughly translates to “strength in battle”. More than likely it was named after Princess Mafalda of Savoy, second daughter of King Victor Emmanuel III.

Salvatore and his fishing crew used to think little of rowing to Rottnest Island and back for a day’s fishing, even in the middle of winter. Working days would start before dawn and end late at night, often with the day’s catch thrown away because there were too few buyers. The price of fish was low. A dozen big tailor would bring only one shilling at the markets and the fishermen found the going tough to support their families. On some days they would head down to the Bouvards or over to the Southwest Bank, some 30 kilometres offshore, and if there was no wind they would have to row the vessel back to Fremantle. By the time they got home, despite an icebox, the catch would sometimes spoil. After a short sleep they would soon do it all again the next day.

After World War II, a 9-horsepower Penta engine was installed and Mafalda became involved in the Rock Lobster Industry. Later a chain-driven winch was installed. In 1947, Mafalda spent the year fishing around the Abrolhos Islands off Geraldton. The Fremantle Merendino family were related to the Abrolhos fisherman Vince Merendino, who was the son of Francesco, the oldest brother of Salvatore and the one who had sponsored him to come to Australia all those years earlier.

Francesco Merendino had migrated to Fremantle from Capo D’Orlando around 1896 when he was just 12 years old. He lined fished at Rockingham with a group of other Italian fishermen for a few years in what was known as “The Company” or “Campania”. After World War I he returned to Fremantle and purchased the 30-foot, single masted cutter Derna. He used this boat to fish from Fremantle and the Abrolhos Islands. He later had the Conti Ciano built at Fremantle and gave it to his son-in-law Gaetano Travia to skipper, with his son Vince Merendino as crew. Vince Merendino was a founding member of the Geraldton Fishermen’s Cooperative.

After retirement, Salvatore sold the Mafalda to Tony Larard who then sailed the vessel to Port Gregory and fished from there. In 1985, Salvatore’s grandsons, Joe and Terry Merendino acquired the Mafalda. In 1993 the Mafalda was purchased by two former Rock Lobster fishermen, John Williams and Rob Bennett. It was rebuilt and sailed regularly.

Gourley built similar vessels in the 28-to-32-foot range in the 1920’s including;
Lupa 1927, Amalfi and Filomena. These are listed as 29' x 9' 6" x 5', round stem with outboard rudder. Other similar boats included the Little Dirk, Wild Rose, Britannia and the Dorothy – Owned in Albany by a fisherman called Prideaux.

The Mafalda is the sole survivor of the Gourley boats built in that period, enduring for almost 100 years in original working condition.

None of the Gourley brothers had married, and some of the land they held was donated to the East Fremantle Council on the condition that it become a reserve or park carrying the family name. These days Gourley Park in East Fremantle is a dedicated nature based play space for children to explore. Their legacy also lives on in the form of the Mafalda, now a Project underway to restore it once again and make it available for the community to enjoy.