Name/Title"Stella Maris" - Star of the Sea

About this object“Stella Maris” - Star of the Sea was the most recognizable launch in the history of the oyster industry in Port Stephens. Known affectionately as “Stella” the 45-foot launch was built and designed in 1934 by Cromarty Bay oyster farmers, fishermen and master boat builders William & Norman Laman. Due to lack of finances and the Depression, the Lamans were unable to complete the build and traded “Stella” to the Phillips family for a smaller vessel, the “Diggers”.

On purchase “Stella” was basically a hull and decks. Cec Phillips fitted heavy duty laminated gunwales, a double deck and a wheelhouse. Brother Harry, an engineer and shipwright, installed a 30hp Benz Diesel engine and Mr Brooks, a cabinet maker, fitted the boat with cupboards, shelves, a toilet and bunks.

“Stella” was also sheathed with copper up to the waterline on the Hawks Nest log punt slip. The copper sheeting preserved the hull against marine borers. In 1938 a Kelvin 44hp diesel motor was installed in the “Stella” and the old 30hp motor was fitted to the “Diggers” which had been purchased back from the Lamans.

In 1939 an accidental fire destroyed the wheelhouse and much of the inside of the launch. She was rebuilt by a Swedish craftsman by the name of Thuss and Mr Brooks once again completed the internal fit out.
Shortly thereafter both “Stella” and the “Diggers” were commandeered by the Navy for the war effort. With a crew of six, she motored at 10 knots up to New Guinea where she stayed from 1941 till 1945 serving the troops along the river systems.

According to The Royal Australian Navy Lists “Stella” was commissioned on 8th July 1943 as a Tender at HMAS Ladava Naval Base in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. She was skippered by George R.P. Vaughan (October 1943) and Maxwell D Hines (July 1944). (Reference: The Royal Australian Navy List dated October 1943 and The Royal Australian Navy List dated July 1944).

In June 1942 General MacArthur authorised the construction of airstrips at Milne Bay, New Guinea to counter the growing Japanese threat to New Guinea. This required a survey of the Gili Gili anchorage and establishing an inshore route from Milne Bay to Cape Nelson. With the need for small purpose built survey ships and no time to construct these vessels, small boats and island traders with shallow drafts such as “Stella” were commissioned. “Stella” appears to have worked in conjunction with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Service (USCGSS) charting an inshore route from Milne Bay to Cape Nelson. (“The Royal Australian Navy in World War II”, Betty, J.G. p.176, ed. Stevens, D., Allen & Urwin, Crows Nest, 1996).

“The part played in the Surveying Services of the Royal Australian Navy was acknowledged by the Allied leaders of the Southwest Pacific Area as an integral factor contributing to the success of their campaigns in New Guinea. These surveys were later published in a set of charts that would also become vital to the sea navigation of ships in that area, both during the period of amphibious naval operations and equally important in guiding merchant ships supplying the varied units in forward areas.” (Rantfoundry.wordpress.com – Making Maps under Fire: Surveying New Guinea in World War II, Author: JF Dowsett)

Eventually returning to Australia as deck cargo, Stan Phillips was given the right to buy her back and “Stella” was once more in service on the waters of Port Stephens. Harry Phillips rebuilt the cabin and gunwales and fitted a 66hp diesel making her the most powerful launch on the Port, ideally suited for towing oyster barges or pushing heavy timber barges to service the Oyster Cove sawmill from as far upstream as Bulahdelah. In 1959 the 66hp Diesel was replaced with a 471 GM Diesel – her last refit.
(“Diggers”, unfortunately was not so lucky having been destroyed in the bombing of Darwin).

With the collapse of the oyster industry, as a result of the introduction of the nonindigenous Pacific Oyster into Port Stephens, “Stella” was sold at auction in 1989. Sadly, neglected in the following years she was pulled ashore and burnt to the ground with only the port holes and copper saved. A sad and undignified end to a boat that came to be recognized as the flagship of the Port Stephens oyster fleet.

Place MadeOceania, Australia, New South Wales, Port Stephens, Cromarty Bay

MakerLaman, William and Norman

Maker RoleShipwright

Date Made1934

PeriodMid 20th century

Formatjpeg

Object TypeFishing Vessel

Subject and Association KeywordsBoat building

Subject and Association KeywordsBoats

Subject and Association KeywordsFishing - commercial

Subject and Association KeywordsOyster Industry

Subject and Association KeywordsWorld War II

Subject and Association KeywordsTimber

Object numberTMA2021.00115.5.1

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