BRITANNIA being lifted onto a cradle for further restoration work in 2007.

Images(5)

BRITANNIA about to be refloated after an extensive restoration and rebuilding project through 2…

BRITANNIA is re-christened before finally being refloated in 2008

Britannia

Vessel numberHV000131

Vessel Registration Number19776

Builder Richard Davy

Designer Richard Davy

Date1898

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 9.75 m x 9.14 m x 3.51 m x 1.07 m, 8.37 tonnes (32 ft x 30 ft x 11.5 ft x 3.5 ft, 8.5 tons)

DescriptionBRITANNIA is a 10 metre long seam-batten wooden cutter designed and built by Richard Davy in 1898, and built on Lady Barron Island off north-east Tasmania. It was commissioned by Charles Stephens who was the schoolmaster for the settlements amongst the islands in that area. He needed a vessel to run supplies and is said to have sailed BRITANNIA single-handed amongst the islands and mainland for many years.

When it was purchased by the Davis family it became a fishing boat and worked in the D'Entrecasteux Channel off Bruny Island. It took a variety of roles fishing for couta, cray and scalloping as well as carrying occasional cargo and supply loads.

The craft has only had three owners, and was with the Davis family from 1910 for almost 100 years. BRITANNIA has a diesel auxiliary motor and is in good condition with major restoration happening during 2006 - 2007.

An interesting observation from well known author Garry Kerr is that BRITANNIA started out as a double ender in the style of the passage boats, and would have had it stern' fanned out' and lengthened to take on the scallop and couta fishing tasks, perhaps as late as in the 1960s. Only a very small number of these craft from the late 1800s are now thought to exist.
SignificanceBRITANNIA is a small wooden cargo vessel from Tasmania. It was built in the late 1890s by its owner Richard Davy and operated off the north-east Tasmanian coast. It is a rare exampleof a trading vessel from its period.