« Previous 1 … 9 10 11 12 13 … 15 Next »View by:lightboxlistTMA2021.00168; Photograph, "Peter Bee" ; Unknown; Boat Builder; “Peter Bee” – The keel for “Peter Bee” was laid in Stockton and completed by Jack and Ken Barry in their back yard at Fingal Bay in 1966. She was fitted with a 140 hp Rolls Royce motor and was launched at Wanda Head, Salamander Bay. “Peter Bee” was moored in Shoal Bay and worked the reefs off Final Bay for lobsters and trawled for prawns and fish. For more information on the Barry family, see "Clatterbang". ; 1966; Oceania, Australia, New South Wales, Stockton; Fishing VesselTMA2021.00167; Photograph, "Clatterbang" ; Sheppard; Boat Builder; “Clatterbang” Ken Barry arrived in Fingal Bay in 1930 at the age of 18 months. His father Jack joined the local fishermen and also worked the Myall Lakes for prawns before turning his hand to providing the local community with fresh eggs and free range chooks, 5,000 of them. However, when Ken turned 16, he decided to become a professional fisherman. Five years later he had saved enough money to purchase a 16-footer with a 6hp Clay engine, upgraded later to a 7hp Lister diesel. Built by Sheppard at Stockton the boat was so named because of the noise it made when at full throttle. ‘’Clatterbang’’ fished for mullet, bream, luderick, whiting and salmon as well as lobsters. ; 1949; Oceania, Australia, New South Wales, Port Stephens; Fishing VesselTMA2021.00161; Photograph, "Nora" ; Massy, Reg; Boat Builder; "Nora" - A 37-foot fishing trawler built by Reg Massey at Norah Head and launched in the surf at Nelson Bay in 1946. She was worked by the Harris family in Stockton Bight prawning, before being sailed to Bundaberg in Queensland in 1958. The boat originally had a 30hp Lister but a new 54hp Freedom Lister was installed prior to sailing to Queensland. Two years later a further refit of a 90hp 3-cylinder, 6 piston Rootes Lister engine was installed to give extra power that was required in the northern waters. In 1984 “Nora” was at the end of her useful working life and was burned to the ground at Yeppoon on Cracker Night 5th November. Bruce Harris spent much of his working life on ‘’Nora’’ and at the end, in spite of being asked, refused to light the match on that day. Note: The early 1960s was a significant period in the history of the prawn trawling industry as quality prawns were found at Mooloolaba by a 70 foot survey trawler, the “Challenge”, skippered by Evans Padden out of Evans Head on the North Coast of NSW. The survey, sponsored by the Queensland Government, discovered the prawns in 1961 and resulted in many Port Stephens fishing families relocating to the warmer and more productive Queensland waters. ; 1946; Oceania, Australia, New South Wales, Central Coast, Norah Head; Fishing VesselTMA2021.00160; Photograph, "Auderle" ; Mitchell, Jack; Boat Builder; “Auderle” - A 50-foot trawler built by Jack Mitchell at Swansea for Ollie “Swingle Bar” Harris. (Ollie Harris’ nickname came from the fact that his former occupation was as a farmer and he referred to the spreader on his trawler, which separated the lead line from the cork line, as a swingle bar, referring back to his farming days.) “Auderle” had a 4-cylinder GM (Greys) which was very powerful for that time. This boat heralded the start of greater horsepower for trawlers. ; 1949; Oceania, Australia, New South Wales, Lake Macquarie, Swansea; Fishing VesselTMA2021.00166.2; Photograph, "Thumper" and "Thumper Too" ; Unknown; Boat Builder; "Thumper" and "Thumper Too" "Thumper" was a Hercules De Havilland so called because it made a distinctive ‘thumping’ sound as it ploughed into the waves built up by the wind. She was not used for long as she was not suitable for what Westy Davis really wanted to do – crabbing. He was known as ‘’Crab Man’’ until he passed away in May 2002. He commissioned another boat specifically for crabbing , a quarter plate aluminium “Stringray” with lowered sides and the width calculated to accommodate two crab traps side by side. Once the boat was in the water, Westy’s wife, Sue, noticed that it also ’thumped’ so was named ‘’Thumper Too’’. Note: Keith “Westy” Davis was the first fisherman in the port to commercially catch crabs for the Sydney market. It is hard to believe now but during the 1970s crabs where considered pests to the fishermen. They would tangle and rip the mesh nets, chew on the caught fish and snap at your fingers. Most crabs if caught in the nets were stomped or crushed. ; Oceania, Australia, Queensland, Wacol; Fishing VesselTMA2021.00165; Photograph, "Benoli" ; Unknown; Boat Builder; "Brenolli" owned by Keith Davis “Westy” and named after Keith’s daughter, Brenda, and his wife’s mother, Olive. Brenoli was a little trawler that worked the lakes but not suitable for Keith’s needs. He wanted a boat that did not swing on an anchor, particularly in a gale. Perhaps this need came from his experience with his other boat “Radium” which was torn apart in the “Sygna” gale of 1974. ; 1962; Oceania, Australia, New South Wales, Port Stephens; Fishing VesselPhotograph, "Monarch" ; Mitchell, Clyde; Boat Builder; "Monarch" - A trawler built by Colin Mitchell with a 367 GM Diesel engine worked the waters of North Queensland. ; 1962; Oceania, Australia, New South Wales, Port Stephens; Fishing VesselTMA2021.00159; Photograph, "Lord Nelson" ; Mitchell, Clyde; Boat Builder; "Lord Nelson" - last boat built by Clyde Mitchell and worked out of Mooloolaba. 53 foot long with a 170HP Volvo Diesel 50 inch 4 blade prop.; 1962; Oceania, Australia, New South Wales, Port Stephens; Fishing VesselTMA2021.00150; Photograph, The Old "Aurora"; Lund, Jack; Boat Builder; The old "Aurora" - first motor driven vessel built in Port Stephens and owned by Jack Lund. ; Oceania, Australia, New South Wales, Port Stephens; Fishing VesselTMA2021.00149; Photograph, "Diana"; Laman, William and Norman; Boat Builder; "Diana" - Built by Bill Laman for Jack Hunter being towed down Magnus Street, Nelson Bay to the water by Louis DeClerk. The boat was moved down by rolling on greased poles.; 1922; Oceania, Australia, New South Wales, Port Stephens; Fishing VesselTMA2021.00148.2; Photograph, "Marie-Del"; Laman, William and Norman; Boat Builder; "Marie-Del" Preparing for the launch of the boat on 13 December 1952. The boat was built on Government Road in 1951 and was later sold and worked the waters around Forster.; 1951; Oceania, Australia, New South Wales, Port Stephens; Fishing VesselTMA2021.00146.2; Photograph, Hero, Volunteer, Gabberoo, Nipper, Coronation, Reflected and Coronet; Hero, Volunteer, Gabberoo, Nipper, Coronation, Reflected and Coronet These work boats became sailing vessels participating in the Annual Mungo Brush Regatta which commenced as a ‘’grudge match’’ between rival hauling teams of fishermen. The regatta developed into a huge social gathering with some families staying on the lake for extended periods of time. It was not uncommon to have 1000 people attending to enjoy the boat racing, merry-go-rounds and side shows. It was an occasion for people to dress in their best clothes.; Unknown
