William Joseph Goddard

William Joseph Goddard was born in 1871 in St Leonards NSW, the son of William Reuben Goddard (1847-1916) and Bridget McGrath (dates unknown).

William married Ada D'Arcy in Hurstville in 1897. They had three children - Walter (1899-1974), Arthur (1901-1960) and Marjorie (1905-1998).

Like his father before him, William Jnr became a well-known Sydney boat builder.

William bought land at Palm Beach near the southern end of the golf links in 1917. He constructed a house by transporting all the materials from the city by his launch.

In 1919 he constructed a boat shed and began boat building. William J. Goddard & Sons was building boats between 1928 and 1939.

In 1932 William Goddard commenced a regular ferry service to the western foreshores of Pittwater, running from Palm Beach to Coasters Retreat, The Basin, Stiles' Wharf at Little Mackerel Beach and Great Mackerel Beach Wharf.

In 1942 he sold the business to the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company. Included in the sale were a general store with a liquor licence, marine repair facilities and ferries. Also included was a small motor launch "Falcon" (later "Elvina") built by William in 1928 (likely later sold to the Church Point Ferry Service).

Records from the NSW Ship and Boat Builders Register (www.boatregister.net) record that William J. Goddard (and later William J. Goddard & Sons) was based in Palm Beach and specialised in fishing boats, yachts, launches and ferries. They built 11 boats between 1902 and 1938 including Grace, Gulnare, Beacon, Natoma, Idler, Kimba, Reliance, Venture II, Viking, W.J., W.J.G. and Wongawill.

William died in North Sydney on the 23rd November 1944.