THE ORIGINAL Tea Gardens Ferry hosted a history tour led by local historian and fisherman John ‘Stinker’ Clarke for the first time on Monday, 7 July.
Setting sail from the Nelson Bay Public Wharf, the ferry, piloted by Gino, took advantage of sunny, calm conditions and carried an excited group of passengers on a two-hour circuit of Port Stephens.
Owner/operator Kerrie Jeffreys gave a safety briefing before handing over to ‘Stinker’.
Leaving Nelson Bay Marina, the passengers were treated to fascinating historical facts and stories pertinent to each location as it came into view.
From tales of early settlers building shacks along Dutchies Beach, to the success story of The Anchorage and the intriguing history of Port Stephens oyster farming, the audience were wowed as the ferry crossed from Soldiers Point into the calm waters of North Arm Cove.
It was at this location where an impressively lavish morning tea was served up by Monica and the crew.
As Stinker took a well-earned break, ferry-owner Kerrie offered News Of The Area (NOTA) an insight into the history of MV Tea Gardens.
“Built in 1944 during WWII for the RAAF Marines division, MV Tea Gardens has a long and colourful history,” she explained.
“Her original commission was for the transport of munitions to Catalina flying boats.
“She was built at the Slazenger shipyard in Putney on the Parramatta River, overseen by legendary shipwright Bill Fisher.
“When the war ended in 1945, she was converted into a ferry by Atlas Engineering, then in 1948 was sold to the Hawkesbury River Tourist Service, where she ran for many years.
“The Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company then purchased her for use on their Pittwater service.
“In 1970 she was sold to Palm Beach and Bobbin Head Ferries, before returning to the Manly Steamship Company in mid-1974.
“In 1980 she was again sold and renamed ‘Melissa’, running the Palm Beach Ferry Service between the Basin, Currawong and Great Mackerel Beach area.
“She was then re-homed in Port Stephens in the late 1990s, and continues to run between Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens.”
When asked about the quirky furnishings aboard the vessel, Kerrie explained that the central wooden seats were originally pews from the Tea Gardens Church, and the seats either side were cinema seats from what is now Flamingos in Lambton (formerly Lizotte’s).
During the trip back to the Marina, passengers lucky enough to be at the bow of the ferry were delighted by the presence of a pair of dolphins gliding through the wake of the vessel.
After a smooth trip lasting a little over two hours and a raffle to raise funds for a local cause, the passengers alighted back at Nelson Bay with plenty of smiles (and raffle prizes).
By Simon EKINS
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