Name/TitlePhotograph, "Radium"

About this object"Radium"LFB #1887 so named because she was dearer than radium. Her owner, Keith Davis, also known as “Young Westy” or “The Crab Man” was considered the undisputed number one crabber in the port. From experience “Westy” knew the seasonal movements of the crabs, their reaction to changes in the wind and water temperature and their behavioural patterns.

The original timber ‘’Radium’’ seen here was torn apart in the big seas in 1974 when ‘’Sygna’’* came ashore. “Radium” had been tied up at Hawks Nest where it was considered to be safe, however the huge seas tore the stem out and she was never repaired. The boat’s name was retained for the fibre glass dinghy that followed.

*Note: May 26, 1974 a giant storm hit the Newcastle and Port Stephens coastline. Such was the intensity of the storm a big Norwegian bulk carrier called “Sygna” was tossed onto Stockton Beach, leaving much of the rusting hulk to rot there for decades. The gale went down in popular history as “the Sygna storm”. Ref: www.phototimetunnel.com

Place MadeOceania, Australia, New South Wales, Port Stephens

MakerUnknown

Maker RoleBoat Builder

Date Made1962

PeriodMid 20th century

Formatjpeg

Object TypeFishing Vessel

Subject and Association KeywordsBoat building

Subject and Association KeywordsBoats

Subject and Association KeywordsFishing - commercial

Subject and Association KeywordsCrabbing

Subject and Association KeywordsShip wrecks

Object numberTMA2021.00164

Copyright Licence