MARITIME HERITAGE AROUND AUSTRALIA PORT LINCOLN 01 Seven years in construction, Tacoma was launched in 1951. The first purpose-built tuna boat in Australia, it pioneered the South Australian tuna boom. All images courtesy Tacoma Preservation Society

Preserving TacomaA NEW LIFE FOR A HISTORIC TUNA BOAT

Thousands of wooden boats are slowly rotting in a quiet grave – a backyard, a muddy mangrove swamp or a lonely boatyard. One vessel saved from this fate by a group of volunteers is the MFV Tacoma, a South Australian tuna clipper from the 1950s, writes Ross Haldane, President of the Tacoma Preservation Society.

GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD of the Victorian coast, the pearl Frustration ensued. Nobody seemed to want are boldly attempting to save out-of-work and a smattering of cray boats have the boat; should it be sold? The owners, wooden fishing boats, battling nature, survived as unemployed fishing boats. three branches of the Haldane family, physics, chemistry, human neglect, Australia’s , oyster dredges and were getting a little tense. the developer’s wrecking ball, or local fishing cutters are preserved in books and Advertising nationally for tender offers authorities keen to remove a derelict eyesore photos, and some of the few remaining resulted in several nibbles. Proposed fates from a park or prime waterside real estate. examples are static displays, as at Cheynes included an abalone service vessel delivering But doing this is much harder than it seems. Beach in Western Australia. supplies to a huge steel factory , Even institutions given custodianship or a squid boat. of a noble vessel have to face the harsh reality that it will never go to sea again, Life as an out-of-work The service ship option was seen as a and what that means for the boat’s future. suicide mission for a wooden vessel, and the Paperwork in hand and lawyers at the fishing boat is the most other option was knocked on the head by ready, the boat’s destiny may be determined dangerous job for any the 91-year-old matriarch, Christina Haldane, around a board room. Perhaps a better fate who vowed that she would never let this would have been a body blow near a hidden boat in Australia beautiful boat, crafted by her husband Bill, reef, the splintering of timbers or a quiet become a squid boat. sinking when the pumps could not save it. As a preservation project, Tacoma had Other options were canvassed, with similar Fishing boats are not as obviously lovable several helpful features. It was only 52 years luck. The ANMM, with an already large fleet as their cousins, the classy yachts, due to the old, it was in good condition, it had good to look after, declined the opportunity smelly, harsh nature of their work. And, with provenance and it was owned by the family to take on Tacoma, as did the Victorian the taken over by a fleet that originally built it. town of Port Fairy, where Tacoma had been of square, steel fishing machines bristling built from 1944 to 1951. A plan to make the with hydraulics and electronics, many boats A boat in search of a home boat into a static display at the local Axel on which men once manually hauled in the Stenross Maritime Museum was complicated nets have found themselves out of a career The first step was to decide who should own the boat – the local council, state or federal and financially unviable. In desperation the and facing an uncertain future. mood turned dark. Taking the boat out and governments or a private sponsor. giving it a Viking burial – burning it – was The South Australian-based tuna clipper We thought that Tacoma should be the mooted. After all, the Haldanes are half MFV Tacoma is an old fishing boat that people’s boat, and that the best long-term Dane, and it would save everyone the worry. a group of enthusiasts have decided plan was to build a shed to house it. to preserve. Tacoma worked as a tuna Now, after three years, some important It was agreed that the local council would fishing boat from 1952 to 1968 and then issues about putting boats ashore were be the most logical custodians, so a Tacoma fished for prawns until 2003. Over its career, arising. Seattle-based Joe Petrich, it hauled in shark, salmon, tuna and prawns Committee was formed, under the umbrella son of Tacoma’s designer and a naval worth about $100 million in today’s value. of the Port Lincoln City Council. After one architect himself, was consulted. He noted On board for that last trip were Robin year the council withdrew, recommending that to look after a boat, you need the same Haldane, Andrew Haldane, Peter Schuurman that a commercial option be looked at. number of crew whether the vessel and a deckhand. How do we know? The next grand plan was for Tacoma is in or out of the water. The windiness Because it was filmed by a nearby boat and to become part of a harbour development of any potential site had to be considered Tacoma’s log records this. that would revitalise the Port Lincoln – a wooden boat will de-salt itself in three So Tacoma began its new life as an out-of- waterfront – a $50 million project, years under windy conditions. Vermin and work fishing boat – the most dangerous job including a $6 million home for Tacoma. public access also needed to be addressed, for any boat in Australia. Of the thousands But that was a bridge too far, so it was plus an effective cradle – boats are not of fishing boats around, only the couta boats back to the drawing board. designed to be out of water.

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM 55 01 With the boat now on the slip, we began the smelly task of scrubbing three years of barnacles off the hull

01 Rodger Halliday from Flinders University wields the touch-up brush. 02 All hands to the paint brushes: Kate and Anna are the perfect height to paint the galley roof. 03 Caption required 01 02 03

At this point the Tacoma Preservation and with a visit from ANMM curator and The mast was lengthened, the stern re-built, A community of supporters like Tacoma, and just how many willing, Tacoma is not the only vessel we look Society emerged, after several glasses eof VMP author David Payne, the VMP fell an Aga stove installed, a push-button head supportive people there are. To the above after; there are also our 1944 banana boat What have we learnt from the Tacoma wine and the sharing of bold ideas, with the in place. It turns out that the process (toilet) with macerator put in, plus a hundred list we’ve added suppliers of fibreglass, surfboat, a flatty, a dinghy and, lurking project? Firstly, that activity begets activity. faithful cry ‘We must save the MFV Tacoma’. of looking after wooden boats and other jobs completed. sandblasting, chroming, compass adjusting in the wind, the cray boat MV Dolphin – The Tacoma Preservation Society has spent documenting their history and significance and safety equipment – and the list goes on. all of them listed on the ANMM’s Australian A wonderful ragtag group stepped up – No one wanted to be heading into some $300,000 on the vessel, and has been is common to most boats. Register of Historic Vessels. Derek, a Geordie; Pauline, the daughter a westerly gale rounding Maatsuyker Island given many more thousands of dollars All of Tacoma’s paint has been provided of a Cape Horner Finn; Cecelia, from a farm With the boat now on the slip, we began wondering if the bow would stand up, in in-kind support: paint, free slipping, by two national paint companies, and Doyle And as Tacoma is the people’s boat, you can in Kimba but originally from Sydney, the smelly task of scrubbing three years so it was refastened with some 400 three- life jackets, equipment transport, plus much Media Services have made an amazing enjoy its story by joining in on an afternoon and a former ANMM Council member; of barnacles off the hull. But a more inch silicon bronze screws costing $10 each. more. effort, showing huge dedication and visit ($12 per head). These are programmed Ib, a blown-away Danish marine scientist; daunting task was approaching the professionalism. for two hours, but often continue longer Finally, with a hearty crew and three other In our original planning, we anticipated Bazz, tuna and abalone chucker; Department of Transport, as only they could when robust galley discussions takes place (and hoped) that out of the sheds and To help grease all these providers, a steady Fran, TAFE HR/CEO; Carin, interior pass the boat fit to carry passengers. vessels on deck, Tacoma departed for over a cup of coffee. Hobart. Without the impetus to go to the hollows of Port Lincoln’s retired fishermen supply of local Haldane wine has added to designer; and Ross, Haldane family member. Our signature events are our tuna-poling The first attempt at engaging with the festival, the Tacoma restoration would have would come a band of hearty souls with the negotiating power of the Tacoma team, trips: a five-day trip for the blokes and With the Tacoma Preservation Society (TPS) department was, to put it in nautical terms, taken another three years. the required skills of painting, rope work, not to mention the odd box of Tacoma / a two-day jaunt for women. The five-day officially formed, we arranged ‘designated a shipwreck. But then a new light shone boat handling and the many useful talents Atlas prawns. This Tassie trip inspired the ABC Landline trip into the Great Australian Bight gift recipient’ status so any donations in the department in the form of a living required to preserve and operate Tacoma. documentary ‘Three Men and a Boat’, Tacoma has always relied on the good is a re-enactment of a 1950s tuna trip; could be tax deductible. We met with person whom we will call Saint Adam. Our expectations have been well met! the owner family and proposed that, produced by Ian Doyle, which has been will of those providing services. only the age of the crew has changed. with a vessel management plan (VMP) With his clear and practical vision, he both watched by some one million people and Tacoma has attracted an interesting, The boat’s original timbers were hand Original crewmember Jack Bellamy rejoins in place, Tacoma be kept in the water and steered Tacoma through its survey minefield has sold more than $30,000 worth of DVDs. enthusiastic, cheerful and very active group. selected by a keen-eyed team in a the boat, and at 82 years of age, he is still operating. The motion was passed and the and, in the process, structured a historic In 2016 Tacoma and its story will feature Most of our volunteers are over 60, and half Melbourne timber yard. To increase their a very impressive fisherman. To stand in the vessel was gifted to the people of Australia. vessels group to include paddle steamers, in the BBC History Channel program Coast, of them are women, so it is not a ‘men’s powers of observation, a bag of crayfish racks and pole a tuna with Jack is a privilege – and when you’re puffed, another person tugs and nine other vessels, all of which hosted by Neil Oliver. Tacoma now plays shed’ thing. Our working volunteers have would regularly arrive on the train from can take your place. These trips cost $2,000 were to be treated differently. By organising an active part in Port Lincoln’s tourism a great variety of skills, and we find new Port Fairy. It is amazing what trade can do The real work starts per head. this in such a way that the government industry in Boston Bay, undertaking day skills with each new undertaking. to improve quality and produce lifetime Having a VMP, as recommended by the would forgo any expense in survey costs, friendships. cruises, parties, weddings and the scattering One of the big advantage of restoring and The two-day trip, at $400 per head, ANMM, was a great asset but first it had he has made a net saving to the group of ashes; participating in the annual preserving a boat like Tacoma in its home Next for Tacoma could be another Hobart is women only, plus four men to help out. to be written up – all 90 pages of it. of some $100,000 over the time the policy Tunarama Blessing of the Fleet and charity port is the fantastic support we get from trip, with Eden and Sydney in the Because of the limited time, catching fish has been place. That proved not quite the burden days, raising more than $15,000 for local local businesses. The project so far has used planning, perhaps. But before we travel, is not guaranteed, but the trip will give you we expected. We were given a template for Tacoma’s first trip after its restoration was and other causes; making an annual wool some 70 local providers, including the usual there is the question of a permanent an idea of shipboard life. the ANMM pearl . What do a pearl to the 2011 Australian Wooden Boat Festival pick-up from a local island; and, of course, suspects – the fuel and electronics providers, workable berth, and on the wish list, a shed. So many more excuses to continue ‘messing lugger and tuna clipper have in common? in Hobart, Tasmania. For this five-week, setting off on our main feature trip, the welder, the engineer, the aluminium Tacoma currently operates out of some five about in boats!’ Not much, at face value – but by replacing 2000-nautical mile undertaking, we needed poling for tuna – all helping to keep Tacoma fabricator – but it’s fascinating how many sheds of varying suitability; a dedicated pearls with tuna and northern with southern, all hands on deck to get the ship ready. in its prime as an active working boat. services are needed to put together a project shed would set us up for the long term. For more information, please go to tacoma.org.au

56 SIGNALS 116 SEPTEMBER–NOVEMBER 2016 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM 57