The Lawrence Historical Society's flood boat

Cedar Queen

Vessel numberHV000710

Datec1888

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 6.4 m × 5.79 m × 1.68 m × 0.46 m (21 ft × 19 ft × 5.5 ft × 1.5 ft)

Terms

DescriptionCEDAR QUEEN IS a clinker craft with a typical construction configuration. It has nine strakes per side, a strong gunwale but no inwale, a stringer, a riser for the six thwarts, a transom stern and a straight but slightly raked stem. There are three rowing positions.

The original people of the Clarence River region were the Bundjalung people. They were completely familiar with the country, the river and the local environment. Their watercraft would have been a form of tied bark canoe, a type that was distributed along the east coast of Australia.

The area was settled by colonial people in the early 1800s. Cedar cutters were amongst the first to establish themselves, followed by farmers, and then with the beginning of small settlements and villages, other trades and associated businesses formed into townships. Flooding every few years or so was a common occurrence, and some events were severe and had a major impact on farmers and townships. It was soon recognised that support by boat was required and craft specifically built as flood boats were eventually stationed along the river and its arms, tenders were often called via the NSW Government gazette.

Wooden, purpose-built flood boats were a part of life on the Clarence River from the late 1800's to around the 1970's, when they were replaced by aluminium boats with outboard motors. As well as being used for transport on the river and during floods, Clarence Valley dwellers held annual regattas at Grafton racing their flood boats and butcher boats.

The impact of a flood can be gauged from the this example of reporting from the Clarence and Richmond Examiner Saturday March 15 1890

“Lower Clarence.
At Palmer's Island the water waist deep, and some of the residents were rescued off fences by the butchers' and bakers' boats. From Palmer’s Channel some families were brought into Maclean.
The water entered the Telegraph Office at Palmer's Island. At Chatsworth a number of houses were flooded, but the water went within three feet of entering Casey's Hotel, and was more than two feet higher than the '87 flood. All below Bead's were obliged to seek refuge, many going to Cassy's hotel. Most of those on Serpentine Creek were flooded out. At Harwood the only places dry were Mr.Barrie's, the Mill Barracks, and the upper storey of Coyle's hotel, where many went for refuge.
At Maclean the river was 18 inches higher than the previous flood, and nearly the whole of the frontage portion of the town was inundated. Mrs. Brownlie's hotel had three inches to spare, and the water was the same distance from Mr. Bodon's upper floor. The water was over five feet in the Bank of New South Wales, and was a few inches from the floor of the Advocate Office. Hundreds took refuge on the heights behind Maclean, and from here a grand panoramic view could be obtained of the country around, which presented vast sheets of water…… About 70 people took refuge in the Commercial Hotel, and other buildings on the hill had their accommodation well taxed. The flood-boat and crew did excellent service, not only at Lawrence but on Woodford island.”

The Cedar Queen may have been built as early as 1889. It has full-length planks and is understood to have been built from one tree, reputedly from the head of the Clarence River. It was milled and then the hull was built by George Towns at Newcastle. The Towns family were prolific builders of flood boats, butcher boats and waterman’s skiffs, all similar in their configuration but variable in length, breadth, and made with a section shape optimised to their purpose.

As a flood boat it was manned by volunteers and in regular use during flood times to deliver supplies to residents and farms isolated by the flood waters and to rescue stranded people when necessary. Its size allowed for a considerable load and crew to row the craft.
An example of flood boat being made is reported in the Clarence and Richmond Examiner Thursday 13 June 1912.
“Mr. Geo. Towns wrote that the new flood-boat was practically ready for delivery, cost £26. lt was decided to ask the builder to insure the boat on the trip up.”

Towns would have responded to the published tender document with a quote for the craft in competition with other builders, and once it had been accepted, it allowed him to start construction. Once completed the craft would have been shipped up by coastal steamer and off-loaded at Yamba or further up the river depending on the draft of the steamer.

Another reference that follows notes that in 1912 a new boat was delivered by G Towns for the Ulmarra Water Brigade.
The Grafton Argus and Clarence River General Advertiser Monday 24 June 1912
Water Brigade.
'The new boat ordered by the Ulmarra Water Brigade came to hand by the "Pulganbar" last week. It is built of cedar, and is a splendid specimen of the boatbuilder's skill. It Was built by Mr. Geo. Towns, and, complete" with sculls and all necessary paraphernalia, will cost the Brigade nearly £30.'

Regular weekend regattas were held at Grafton amongst the crews of 4 – 6 boats on the Clarence. These regattas, as well as being good training for the crews were also great social outings for the people of the areas.

Racing these skiffs was popular, as shown in this example, a reference taken from the Grafton Daily Examiner Thursday 16 March 1939.
“Four crews competed in the Clarence River bank officers annual flood boat race, which was rowed over a distance of a quarter of a mile on the Clarence River at Grafton yesterday afternoon.
The Bank of New South Wales came first by a margin of half a length, with E.S. and A. and Rural Banks (combined) second and Commercial Bank of Sydney third.
Early in the race, Bank of New South Wales secured the lead, followed by the E.S.A. and Rural Bank rowers. The Commercial Bank representatives started the race badly, as one of their crew lost an oar. The positions were practically unchanged for the remainder of the race, with the exception of the Commercial competitors, who succeeded in defeating the Commonwealth men for third position.
The starters for the race were Messrs. Fred Blanch and R. Nicholas, and the judges were the club president. (Mr. N.F. Loader) and Mr. G. Ford.
This annual event, which has replaced the yearly sculling events attracted keen interest amongst local residents and a large gathering assembled along the boulevard and the promenade along the waterfront to watch the contest.”

The Cedar Queen flood boat may well have been involved in a rescue at an accident that saw the death of 13 Wolf Cubs, who lost their lives in the Clarence River at Grafton on December 11, 1943. The Cubs were returning home from a ‘Breaking-up’ day on Susan Island, when the tragedy occurred. The boat on which they were travelling swamped, throwing the 31 occupants into the water. It was a flat-bottomed punt around 6 metres long."

The Daily Examiner Wednesday 2nd February 1944 reported the coroner’s enquiry where it noted in a witness testimony that “…. Mr Hutton then launched a skiff, which went out on the river. A flood boat was then launched and went to the scene.“ The flood boat is then reported to have recovered the body of one occupant.

Later in its life CEDAR QUEEN was owned by Grafton Sea Scouts for many years and was stored on the veranda of the Sea Scouts shed near Cochran Park. Later the boat was put outside, under a tree, and this started some deterioration. George Oxenbridge approached the Scouts when he saw this and offered $50 for the flood boat which they accepted.

The Oxenbridge family, named the boat CEDAR QUEEN and used the vessel for many years. On one occasion, they rowed her upriver to Copmanhurst, awhile at another time, they put a rig on the boats and sailed it around Elizabeth Island.
It was donated to the Lawrence Museum by the Oxenbridge family after they had no further use for the boat. The boat has been on display at Lawrence Museum in recent years, without restoration. Lawrence Museum is now constructing a new display building with a big ground floor area, and the Cedar Queen will be a main feature.

The vessel remains in good original condition and is able to reflect the significance of this early volunteer rescue work and social activities undertaken by regional communities

SignificanceThe Clarence River flood boat CEDAR QUEEN is a timber skiff understood to have been built at an unknown date around the 1890s or early 1900s in NSW and used on the Clarence River in northern NSW. It was manned by volunteers and in regular use during flood times. It remains in good original condition to reflect the significance of this early volunteeer rescue work undertaken by regional communities.

Vessel Highlights