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HOME OF THE LADY DENMAN - Local history isn't always about the big story - the everyday story of life in the early development of the region can be a fascinating, entertaining and educational journey.

28 February 2018

Submarine in Jervis Bay

28 Feb 2018
The bay had an unique visitor today, one the Australian Navy's Collins Class submarines could be seen cruising across the bay.
One of six Australian-built diesel-electric submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy.



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Continue readfing the interesting history of submarines and Jervis Bay





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Old houses of Tomerong.

The historic village of Tomerong has many links to the past. This old house built on the western side of the highway has certainly seen better times.


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Continue reading about Tomerong.


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27 February 2018

First telephone call between Jervis Bay and Tasmania

April 1936.
In an age where we take the simple act of making a telephone call for granted,  it's hard to imagine a time without this every day convenience.

The first telephone call was made between Jervis bay and Tasmania since the new cables had been laid was made by an Officer of the H.M.A.S Yarra. He was quite surprised at the clearness of the telephone saying, "It seemed as though he was ringing locally"




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Ships in Jervis bay.

27 February 2018.

Today all but a few of the ships have left the bay to continue with their exercises.  The New Zealand Anzac class frigate HMNZS Te Mana (F111), The name Te Mana is Māori, approximately translating as 'status' or 'authority', could be seen between the heads of the bay.

HMNZS-Te-Mana-(F111),
The very large HMAS Success (OR 304) a Durance-class multi-product replenishment oiler serving in the Royal Australian Navy was sailing near Honeymoon bay.

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The much smaller coastal minesweeper HMAS Huon (11) was sailing near HMAS Creswell.

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MV Sycamore was sailing back and fourth across the bay at the same time. They made for interesting viewing in the late afternoon sun.

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1--SYCAMORE----TE-MANA2--SYCAMORE----TE-MANASYCAMORE----TE-MANATE-MANA---HMAS-HUON

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Click on images to enlarge.



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25 February 2018

Ships in Jervis bay

25 Feb 2018

The Australian Navy has been conducting naval exercises off the south-east coast all week. Various ships have been in and about the bay over this time.  Today under a very grey, rainy misty sky, most of the fleet were inside the bay and stationed near HMAS Creswell.
It was very hard to get clear pictures because of the conditions.  I counted 10 ships and one submarine. I only took pictures of the nearest clearest ships, the others were too distant in the conditions at hand.
The bay was a hive of activity with barges and small navy boats travelling between the ships.



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They made quite a sight despite the rain and mist.

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05---154HMAS-Melbourne-(III)-guided-missile-frigateHMAS-Newcastle-FFG-06-Guided-Missile-FrigateHMAS-Parramatta-(IV)HMAS-Parramatta-(IV)-FFH-154-Frigate-HelicopterHMAS-Sirius-266-Support-Ship---AND-154HMAS-Success-(II)-304-Support-Ship


Continue reading about some of the past activities of the Navy in and around Jervis Bay.




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23 February 2018

FMS Salazie disabled near Jervis Bay

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August 1910
 

Saturday 10 - The well known French Mail Steamer (F.M.S) Salazie continuing on her voyage from Marseilles to Noumea left Melbourne heading for Sydney, all went well until just south of Jervis Bay.

Sunday 11 -  the seas were calm it was 11 pm,  when suddenly her engines started to race  followed by a loud explosion caused by the cylinder head blowing off startling everyone on board,  leaving the steamer hopelessly disabled and drifting south.

The Salazie hoisted distress flags to attract the attention of any passing vessel. Passengers were relieved when the S.S Karoola hove in sight and approached the Salazie in response to her signals.  They carefully approached to within speaking distance, after some negotiations the Karoola pulled away and continued her journey north much to the disappointment of some of the Salazie passengers.

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It appears Captain McDonald of the S.S Karoola asked for a large sum of money to take the disabled vessel in tow. This was refused as captain Riguier of the Salazie felt satisfied that he would not be endangering the safety of his passengers by waiting until assistance could be rendered by one of the Messageries Maritimes Company's own vessels. He knew the mail-liner Sydney and the Pacifique were in Port Jackson. Captain McDonald offered to take off the passengers, a reply came back from the mail steamer that there were only a few Sydney passengers on board, the majority being booked for Noumea and they had decided to remain with the Salazie.

Monday 12 - The Karoola arrived in Sydney and quickly passed on the information to the owners of the Salazie. The agents for the Messageries Maritimes Company instructed the companies steamer Sydney to go to the assistance of the disabled steamer.

Monday 12  - The mail steamer F.M.S Sydney left Sydney ahead of the F.M.S Pacifique in search of the Salazie.
Tuesday 13 -  During the morning the Sydney reached the Salazie which had drifted 157 miles south of Sydney to Narooma.  In an attempt to attach a hawser the Salazie was rammed by the Sydney, fortunately, the impact was not too heavy suffering no further damage, but the Sydney had a boat broken, davits smashed, and a portion of her railings carried away. Soon after the hawser was successfully attached and the tow to Sydney commenced.

  • A message from the pilot at Narooma at 7.35 pm stated:-
    "French mail steamer north at 2.30 p.m. with disabled French mail steamer in tow. A steamer like the Pacifique in company, and tugs Hero and
    Heroic north at 2.30 p.m."
  • She was next reported off Moruya, The wind was west-north-west, moderate, the sea was slight.

The Sydney towed the Salazie as far north as Wollongong before handing over to the mail liner Pacifique, then the Karoola continued her journey south.

Wednesday 14 - Shortly after daylight the Pacifique brought the liner into Sydney.  When the Salazie entered the heads the tugs Gamecock and Stormcock took charge of her and towed her alongside the M.M Co.'s wharf at Millers Point.

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Her passengers and mails were taken to Noumea by the Pacifique.

The damage to Salazie's engines was found to be of a serious nature and would take a considerable time to repair.

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The Salazie continued in her role as a mail steamer between Marseilles, Sydney and Noumea until January 24 1912 when she broke down during a cyclone on a voyage  from Tamatave to Marseilles and drifted ashore a reef south of Diego Suarez, becoming a total wreck,  The passengers after an exciting experience were landed by the ship's boats. The second officer Mr. Bracco, was however lost overboard.


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Specification: The Salazie was an iron steamer of deadweight 2450 tons built in Marseilles in 1883.  Length 130.75 meters , beam 12.6 meters.


Ref:- http://www.messageries-maritimes.org/salazie.htm – Salazie
        https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+10057 - Karoola
        http://www.messageries-maritimes.org/pacifiqu.htm – Pacifique





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21 February 2018

Ships in the bay.

February 21 2018.
Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigate, HMAS Newcastle (06) is in the bay at the moment, seen here this morning moored east of HMAS Creswell.


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Continue reading about HMAS Newcastle.



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19 February 2018

Sea Horse Horizon - end of an era.

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A piece of Jervis Bays maritime history slipped by relatively un-noticed recently when the Sea Horse Horizon untied from her moorings at HMAS Creswell and slowly and quietly left the bay for the last time.

Words by Paul Newman who worked on the vessel over many years.

"We threw the ropes off the old girl for the last time this morning, after 20 yrs in our contract it’s time for retirement.  Previously named Blue Nabilla, built in 1984 in WA for the defunct safety council of Victoria.  She came to Platypus in 1987, then commissioned as HMAS Protector, then handed over to DMS in 1998 and renamed MV Seahorse Horizon for use and abuse, a great work boat very capable, some good and bad memories."

Operated by Defence Marine Services (DMS) located at HMAS Creswell the Sea Horse Horizon has supported the RAN over the last 20 years with mine warfare, torpedo recovery, boarding team practice, navy exercises, mooring work, diving operations. NEOC sea familiarity training, also working with special forces aiding training, helicopter fast too training, salvage work and target towing.

During her military career as HMAS Protector she supported the trials of the Collins-class submarines, and was involved in a search for the shipwreck of the World War II cruiser HMAS Sydney.




sea horse horizon - paul newman feb 2018 orange colour scheme
Her HMAS Protractor colour scheme.

Photo's Paul Newman.




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16 February 2018

Hole in the Wall

One of the iconic locations in Jervis Bay which still evoke feelings of romance and mystery.
Yesterday afternoon a young couple were enjoying having their picture taken with this beautiful sandstone structure steeped in history...

Continue reading some interesting facts about The Hole in the Wall



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Ships in the bay

Feb 16 2018.
There has been quite a bit of Navy activity in the bay since the school holidays finished...
All this week MV Sycamore has been moored near Vincentia, leaving the bay this morning heading north.

HMAS Newcastle has been in the bay as well,.  She is one of four Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigates (FFG) in service with the Royal Australian Navy.

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HMAS Newscastle leaving the bay in a heavy haze being created by the a strong north-east wind late yesterday afternoon.


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HMAS Huon was also moored near HMAS Creswell, she is the first of six Huon class minehunters built for the Royal Australian Navy. Other Huon class minesweepers have visited the bay in the past.

The bay was very hazy, hence the soft photographs.

Continue reading about HMAS Huon and MV Sycamore




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13 February 2018

Drama at sea, two barques collide and make for Jervis Bay.

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Most ships at this time used oil lamps to indicate their position at night to other ships who may be in close proximity, but not always, and in this case the lack of lights nearly ended in disaster.

Tuesday 20, 1874 - The barque Naramissia from Newcastle bound for Melbourne was sailing 40 miles south of Cape St George, it was 3 am in the morning when without warning she was struck by the whaling barque, Sapphire.   The Sapphire carried no side lights and struck her with her flying jib-boom on her mizzen chains.  Five of the Naramissia's crew, thinking she was about to sink jumped on board the Sapphire leaving the master and three men onboard.  Fortunately, the ship remained afloat, the master took her into Jervis Bay where the Sapphire joined her the next day. The Naramissia stayed in Jervis Bay for four weeks wind bound, during which time they carried out repairs

The Sapphire lost one boat and spritsail yard. The Naramissia had her stanchions and gaff carried away, and her covering board and spritsail damaged.

1872 - The Sapphire had been to Jervis Bay before, she often hunted whales along the coast near the bay. In 1872 she put into the bay to recruit, She had been at sea for 10 months and had taken 25 tons of sperm oil.
1875 -  She put into Jervis Bay to try out 9 tons of whale oil. The total take of oil for the voyage was 21 tons.

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1885 Long hard dangerous months at sea with small rewards meant finding experience crew was becoming harder,  ship captains and owners were forced to take anyone who was willing to come aboard, most were scoundrels with no experience of working aboard a ship, this led to conflicts. 
In 1885 some of the newly recruited crew of the Sapphire, as was customery were paid some of their wages in advance, absconded,  and after a merry chase for four days were caught and
forced back aboard the boat by the police. They mutinied and refused to go to sea throwing essential equipment overboard in an attempt to stop the ship leaving port.  The police were called again arresting the two ringleaders removing them from the ship.  New equipment was loaded and the ship finally sailed.

Ref: https://stors.tas.gov.au/AUTAS001131820946

Meaning - mizzen-chains: Plates of iron bolted to a ship's sides abreast the mizzen-mast for securing the shrouds and backstays of that mast.





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8 February 2018

Pasadina Launch 1937.

"Ah, well! those were the good old days - or the bad old days - which? depends on what point of view you look at it."


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The Pasadina after launching.

The trawler Pasadina, built by AWM Settree for Mr Ward of Sydney was launched into Currambene Creek on the high tide at 7 a.m Thursday, November 18, 1937, without incident

She is still to have her Canadian built, 120 hp "Vioian diesel engines and other machinery installed. She wasn't as large as some of the other boats Mr Settree had built in his shipyard on the banks of the Currambene,  but she stood out because of her unusual design also Canadian.  Her bows somewhat resembled a yacht, she looked like she was built for speed.

Measuring 65ft in length, 15ft beam,  and draws 7ft, 6in of water, and can carry fuel for a 4000-mile cruise.

She was built from all local timber, except the decking, which is of Beech from Wauchope.  She has insulated boxes for storing fish.

At the time of the launching, one of the old identities of Huskisson remarked:- It brought fourth reminiscences of launchings 50 years ago. The festivities continued for two or three days.  Mr Parnell, at that time landlord of the Tomerong Hotel - there being no hotel in Huskisson - was commissioned to supply the good cheer, which would arrive in barrels by bullock waggon
and when the festivities went over a lengthy period,  necessitated a return trip.  Foot racing and other sports were indulged in,  and of course, dances every night.  Ah, well! those were the good old days - or the bad old days - which?,  depends on what point of view you look at it."





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