John Drake Loading Boat

Vessel numberHV000856

Builder John Drake

Date1875

Terms

DescriptionJohn Drake built this boat at his slip in Torquay, now east Devonport, Tasmania. The build and launch date was around 1875, and it was built as a loading boat for inter colonial trading ketches. It is 12ft in length and 6 across its beam and would have been propelled by oars or a sweep oar. The loading boat is currently on display at the Bass Strait Maritime Centre in Devonport.

John Drake was the first shipbuilder in Port Frederick (Torquay) and arrived from Melbourne during the mid nineteenth century. He was soon after the Master Warden of the Formby, Torquay, and Latrobe Marine Board. After initially building barges for early Torquay settler David Cocker, Drake began shipbuilding on a slip where the Argosy Motor Inn now stands. In 1867 he bought into the Melbourne market by building his first inter-colonial ketch, the Lucy Drake, a 58ft schooner weighing 37.5 tonnes. His most famous vessel was the 20 tonne steamer Thistle which transported passengers between Latrobe, Torquay, and Formby, launched in 1879.

This loading boat was modelled of a Viking style clinker build, lighter than carvel and able to displace less water, thus more efficient in the loading and off loading of boats. During the late nineteenth century the north west of Tasmania was a hub of ketch building activity. Formby, Torquay and Latrobe were all busy, if small, ports so loading boats such as this one were critical in the shipping trade, particularly when there were no available berths.

When William Holyman first crossed in the Amelia Frances, there were only four or five feet of water at the Mersey Bar. There were no wharves. Craft which could the navigate the channels, anchored in mid-stream and cargoes were ferried ashore in row boats of settlers or the little ships tenders

During the late twentieth century the loading boat was donated to the Bass Strait Maritime Centre from the Devenport Maritime Museum. It was restored to near original condition by Graham Lindsay Brooks of Launceston. It lays claim to being one of the oldest dinghies in Tasmania.

Completed with the assistance of Peter Higgs, ARHV Steering Committee member and ARHV Council member and Dr. Dougal Harris ARHV Council member

SignificanceThis John Drake loading boat is a significant vessel that contributed to the bustling colonial ketch trade industry in the north west of Tasmania during the late nineteenth century. It was built in c1875 by John Drake the first shipbuilder in Port Frederick (Torquay), and served as a loading boat for inter colonial ketches. Its clinker built design and smaller size allowed it to efficiently transport goods to larger vessels in smaller ports such as Formby and Torquay, where berths were not available.