A rare piece of Australian maritime history is being brought back to life in Fremantle, where All Marine Services is leading the ambitious restoration of a 1974 Halvorsen 70-foot wooden yacht. The project, now three years in progress, is transforming the vessel into a modern superyacht while preserving its original craftsmanship and Halvorsen heritage.
Originally launched in Sydney as Miss Michele, the vessel later moved to Adelaide before settling in Fremantle, where she was renamed Notre Dame. Under new ownership by a Sydney-based banker who purchased her in 2023, the yacht is being completely rebuilt and will soon re-emerge under a new name — Vagabond.
Managing Director of All Marine Services, Alex Scholz, describes the restoration as one of the most challenging and rewarding projects of his 35-year career. “It’s not often you get the opportunity to rebuild a vessel of this calibre with complete creative freedom,” Scholz said. “Our goal is to honour the Halvorsen legacy while delivering the performance and luxury of a modern superyacht.” Built by Lars Halvorsen Sons Pty Ltd, the vessel represents a proud chapter in Australian boatbuilding.
The Halvorsen family’s tradition dates back to the 1880s in Norway, when Halvor Andersen began crafting timber boats. After migrating to Australia in the 1920s, Lars Halvorsen and his sons established a Sydney shipyard that went on to produce some of the nation’s most iconic yachts and naval vessels. In Fremantle, Scholz and his team have stripped the vessel back to its bare structure, removing decades of wear before beginning a complete redesign.
“Every inch of her has been rebuilt,” Scholz said. “We’ve removed 40 years of bilge sludge, repaired extensive wood rot, replaced sagging decks, and fixed more than 100 through-hull fittings. It’s been a massive job, but the results are incredible.”
The restoration includes restructured decks and gunnels, redesigned cabins and galley, and a completely new helm station and flybridge. The timbers have been sealed with Dynel and epoxy for long-term durability, while the interior will feature mirror-finished teak and silky oak bulkheads. A new electrical system built to superyacht standards will complete the transformation. “The quality and finish we’re delivering is beyond anything we’ve done before,” Scholz said.
“The owner’s vision is to create something that will last for generations — a vessel that turns heads wherever she goes.” When completed in 2027, Vagabond will be based in Sydney, where she is expected to become a standout on the harbour and a talking point among classic boating enthusiasts. “Once she’s launched, I think the classic timber boating fraternity will be talking about her for years,” Scholz said. “She’ll be a showpiece — a perfect blend of history, craftsmanship, and modern design.”
To see the remarkable progress of this restoration, watch the exclusive video series documenting Vagabond’s transformation visit the YouTube channel.
