We watched a nice little story on the 7.30 Report tonight, about a project to re-enact a romantic transportation system from the early days in the Huon Valley south of Hobart. In those days, before roads, small sailing vessels called 'passage boats' travelled up and down the waterways collecting and delivering produce to the wharf at Kermandie, and on to Hobart.
The boats were designed and built locally, of local timbers like Huon Pine, King Billy or Celerytop. They could cope with the shallow and narrow inlets, as well as the rough weather which was likely at any time of the year, and could carry a couple of tonnes of cargo, apples and other produce, honey and timber.
There are quite a lot of these boats still sailing around Hobart. The timber is almost indestructible, and the workmanship was first class. Although they were originally sailing boats, many were fitted with engines as they became available. The restored boat in the program was the Olive May. She sailed to tiny jetties in places like Heriots Point and Franklin, collecting potatoes, apples, timber, wine and cider. Getting into the spirit of the the project, many of the producers brought their goods to the jetties in old vehicles or even horse and cart.
The Olive May is expected to arrive in Hobart tonight and the cargo will be sold at Watermans Dock tomorrow. I wish I could be there.
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