MV Beth at the Maritime Museum of Townsville in 2023 following restoration work

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MV Beth

Vessel numberHV000832

Builder Hansen Brothers

Date1950

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 8.27 m × 2.6 m × 0.9 m (27.13 ft × 8.53 ft × 2.95 ft)

DescriptionMV Beth is a 27ft launch that was constructed in July 1950 by the Hansen Brothers at Queens Beach in Bowen, Northern Queensland. It was delivered to its new owners W.E Price and Co of Townsville and launched into Gray’s Bay, Bowen, on 30 July 1950. The principle of W.E Price and Co Walter Price named the vessel after his wife, Elizabeth. MV Beth’s sturdy hull was constructed of blue gum below the waterline with spotten gum ribs and flooring. Its topsides were constructed of Maryborough pine.

MV Beth was commissioned as a ferry to transport commuters across Ross Creek in Townsville. Its route took in Townsville City, South Townsville, and the Port of Townsville, and it could carry 12 passengers at a time. The vessel was initially fitted with a 16hp Kelvin kerosene engine, economical in its usage of one gallon (sic) of fuel an hour. Kerosene engines of this kind were difficult to stop and restart and only reached their peak efficiency after heating up. In turn, MV Beth’s engine would run continuously during its ferry service.

In 1965 MV Beth began operating as lines boat owned by North Queensland Towage Pty Ltd of South Townsville. Shortly prior to this MV Beth’s Kelvin kerosene engine was replaced by a Lister diesel which remains in the vessel today. MV Beth’s lines work involved handling shipping hawsers and transferring these heavy lines to onshore bollards at the Port of Townsville. For this usage, the vessels half cabin windows were changed and the cabin roof was made shorter with fewer supports – with the intention of providing more space for the receiving and towing of mooring line.

In October 2002 MV Beth was transferred to the Townsville Maritime Museum. A custom made wheeled cradle was made for the vessel and over the course of its time at the museum a series of restoration works have been carried out. Rotting front window frames were repaired in 2003, and some sections of the bow decking replaced. Following this, the front deck and cabin roof were repainted grey. The hull was repainted in white, and red below the waterline. The paint colour of the gunwales remained unchanged.

In December 2019 a six month restoration of MV Beth took place. The bronze propeller, steel rudder, and skeg copper cladding were targeted for rust removal. Its side awnings were replaced with new awnings, and the inside of the hull, foredeck and cabin refurbished and repainted in grey and red colouring. Beth’s Lister engine was refurbished, with the grey cover box removed to allow visitors to view the engine. All of this work was carried out by a volunteer team.

Completed with the assistance of the Maritime Museum of Townsville
SignificanceMV Beth is a 27ft launch that was constructed in July 1950 by the Hansen Brothers at Queens Beach in Bowen, Northern Queensland. MV Beth’s sturdy hull was constructed of blue gum below the waterline with spotten gum ribs and flooring. Its topsides were constructed of Maryborough pine. It originally served as a ferry transporting small amounts of passengers across Ross Creek in Townsville. In 1965 it began operating as a lines boat, handling shipping hawsers and transferring heavy lines to onshore bollards at the Port of Townsville. In October 2002 MV Beth transferred to the Townsville Maritime Museum where it has undergone consistent maintenance and restoration by a volunteer team.