MMHN December 2022 Update

The Galapagos departing F Appleton Dock, Port of Melbourne

Action at last – hopefully! Parks Victoria has commissioned GML Consultancy to investigate heritage aspects of the problem of this essential community maritime infrastructure. The MMHN Williamstown Special Advisory Group has been invited by PV and GML to participate in on-line discussions mid-January. In essence the work is to do a heritage review of five piers/jetties within the Williamstown Local Port Area (Ferguson Street Pier, Workshops Pier, Gem Pier, Commissioner’s Jetty and Boyd Street Pier). GML is seeking input from all key stakeholders about the heritage significance of each structure, including the current community connections and uses of these structures. While GML acknowledges that this inquiry is yet another in a long line of such inquiries, MMHN understands that this time, the historical development of the five piers/jetties is to be investigated. For example:

• Significant material changes which have been made to the structures, such as lengthening, widening or rebuilding.
• Significant or notable individuals, groups or events which are associated with these structures, past or present.
• Significant or notable uses which are associated with these structures, past or present.

MMHN obviously acknowledges the importance of identifying accurate heritage aspects of maritime infrastructure but notes that process of identifying past works may frustrate many in the community who have been clamouring for months for new works to commence so that piers may be accessible over summer.

It is pleasing to note an election promise by local Williamstown re-elected State member Minister Melissa Horne that the ALP would commit $6 million to the restoration of Workshops Pier.

MMHN is pleased to note that the essential, and very dangerous work, of seafarers was acknowledged on public ABC Radio774 Conversation Hour ‘Meet the seafarers’ in November. Importantly, the interviews illuminated what Australia needs to do in order to halt the dangerous decline of our national seafaring capability. “the unsung and unknown front-line workers, moving essential cargo, keeping the nation’s wealth and health literally afloat.”See: https://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/programs/theconversationhour/the-conversation-hour/14026436

MMHN is delighted to note news from the Public Records Office (PROV) which is, of course, the repository of a wealth of maritime heritage material. Extracts from the latest issues of PROV’s journal. Provenance 2022 | PROV:

• The two fishery inspectors
  MMHN member David Harris delves into The Outward Letter Book, Inspector of Fisheries and Game 1885-1894. Rather than the expected matter-of-fact administrative tone, the letters, memos and reports preserved in the Letter Book carry a clear sense of the authors as they express their opinions over a range of matters to do with the fishery. Both inspectors came from maritime backgrounds, so there is strong sense of identification with the commercial fishers with whom they regularly worked. At the same time, there is a palpable resonance with current concerns about the marine environment, species extinction and destructive fishing practices—matters that concerned both commercial fishers and the inspectors. Finally, the Letter Book captures a period of significant change in commercial fishing in the colony, as the older, pre-industrial remnants of artisanal fishing, brought to the colony by commercial fishers during the gold rush, gave way to an imagined industrial fishery with dreams of a Bass Strait trawling industry”.
• Ladies Harbour Lights Guild of the Mission to Seafarers
  Lucinda Horrocks writes about records left behind by the Ladies Harbour Lights Guild of the Mission to Seafarers. The deeds of this remarkable group of women were almost forgotten until 2007, when a set of dusty old boxes were discovered stored under the mission’s theatre in the 90-year-old state heritage–listed building at 717 Flinders Street. The boxes held an archive filled with documents and photographs related to the activities of the LHLG from its foundation in 1906 to its demise in the 1960s. In recent years, a dedicated team of volunteers and staff at the Mission to Seafarers has been gradually digitising, identifying and cataloguing the guild records. A reminder that there is a marvellous video about the Ladies Harbour Lights Guild on YouTube. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86UP6s6uGOo

You may wish to subscribe to the PROV free publications.
See:  https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/provenance-journal/provenance-2022

South Channel Pile Light: World Ship Society member Mike Carolin has alerted us to this fascinating example of maritime infrastructurebuilt between 1872-74 and a functioning light for 111 years until 1985. Mike writes “I recently came across this photo of the South Channel Pile Light, which along with two other piled lights, were historic and unique to Port Phillip. The light was the front lead (along with the rear lead: the Eastern Light at McCrae), which together formed a lead for the South Channel, from where vessels turned off the Heads, to Rye. As built a number of vertical piles were driven into the sandy bottom, and tied together by horizontal timbers. On top of the pile structure was a self- contained room for the lighthouse keeper(s). The room contained a living/lounge area with a fire place and chimney, a bedroom with 4 bunks, an office/store room, and a tank for collecting rain water. The toilet was a round hole in the timber decking! Above the room as the light apparatus which was originally kerosene, and later acetylene. I am told there was a dingy for rowing ashore for stores etc, otherwise the keeper lived on the structure till 1924. By the mid-1990s, it was very dilapidated due to lack of maintenance. In an incident on 2 May 1993, the containership Berlin Express grounded after steering difficulties very close to the structure. The incident weakened the piles, and the lighthouse was in danger of falling over into the Channel. Due the cost of repairs for a non-working lighthouse, it was going to be scrapped. However due to the howls of protest and petitions ashore, eventually the structure was handed over to Parks Victoria in 1998. The room and lighthouse were taken by barge to Melbourne and refurbished. It was repositioned on a new pile structure about 3km away near Rye (out of the way of big ships!). The remaining piles at the original site were left there as they had become home to a colony of seals that were attracting a lot of tourist interest.

See: https://archives.novascotia.ca/communityalbums/agesail/archives/?ID=200

Image: Sourced by Mike Carolin WSS

Seaworks Maritime Centrereports that restoration works on the Gellibrand Pile Light (rust removal, repainting, reglazing, replacement weathervane, interpretive signage) are now complete and on view at Seaworks together with an ‘augmented reality experience’ (https://maribyrnonghobsonsbay.starweekly.com.au/news/gellibrand-pile-light-finds-her-way-back-home/). The restored pile light was in effect ‘re-launched’ in November and may now be seen at Seaworks which reopens on Wednesday 4 January 2023.

Polly Woodside: Those maritime enthusiasts who have observed with growing anxiety the absence of adequate maintenance of the Polly will be pleased to learn that the ‘sacrificial anodes’ have now been replaced! For the non-technical amongst us, Anodes are metal rods that are submerged in the water, that help protect the metal of the ship hull from corrosion by attracting whatever threatens corrosion. The replacement and proper functioning of anodes is critically important for the long-term survival of the Polly. In the future, replacement will be biennial. More good news: quotations are being sought for new canvas for the deck-house roof, due to be completed by the end of summer.

HMAS Otama: Given that the vessel is waiting to be scrapped in Perth, strictly speaking this heritage vessel is no more. However, the valiant struggle to retain some of her artifacts continues. Items to be returned for display include tools, fin, bow, control room. For further information contact VMC at Crib Point See: https://www.maritimecentre.com.au

Wyuna: has a temporary at berth at the Australian Maritime College and is engaged in negotiations with TasPorts for another berth. The Wyuna is a wonderful former Melbourne-based pilot ship which has been deteriorating at anchor in Launceston for many years. The Wyuna would be of interest to the public if brought back to Victoria as planned next April with assistance from veterans, and fully restored. A suitable berth site is now being sought. Without doubt the Wyuna would be a marvellous addition to the Heritage Fleet. If anyone has any suggestions for a berth, or would like to become involved in ‘repatriating’ this marvellous vessel, contact Max Bryant VMC: maxbry@tpg.com.au or see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWlS6OuBgs

For your diaries: all States are to align celebratory efforts in Navy Week 2023, to be held between 23 February and 23 March. The theme of Navy Week 2023 is Safeguarding Australia’s Economic Wellbeing On and Under the Sea since Federation. It is important to note that on 1 March 2023, the Navy will celebrate its 122nd birthday.

An important reminder that historically the strength of Navy, especially for our island nation, is about security of our seas and also security of our maritime industry and trade supply chain. The Navy website is most interesting, see https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/navy-news. In December more than 1000 RAN personnel and six ships sailed home from maritime training exercises with regional partners with port visits to more than 16 countries throughout the Indo-Pacific region:

• guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart returned to Fleet Base East in Sydney after more than three months away.
• HMAS Ships Stalwart, Anzac, Arunta and Adelaide returned to their respective homeports following similar integrated regional deployments;
• Adelaide and Anzac, along with 500 soldiers of the Australian Amphibious Force, worked with Indonesian marines to conduct a joint amphibious capability demonstration for the first time.
• HMAS Brisbane will return from the Pacific later this month.