Summary of meeting with principals of RIVERLEE

Tuesday 30th April 2019

Attendees:-

Dr Jackie Watts representing Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network and Ray McMahon representing Offshore & Specialist Shipping Australia

and

David Lee Development Director and Gabriel Kok representing RIVERLEE Developments.

 

After personal introductions etc. Jackie Watts suggested I present my vision ( endorsed by OSSA) for an emphasis about the history of Antarctic shipping and its connection with the North Wharf area relative to the RIVERLEE  Hotel complex .

 

I tabled  photographs and descriptive text of the historical relevance the Danish J.Lauritzen Shipping Company and the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (A.N.A.R.E.) had with North Wharf.

 

I further presented the fact that the Kista Dan berthed at North Wharf in 1953 in preparation for taking the very first contingent of ANARE personnel to the Antarctic to establish the first scientific research station on the Antarctic Continent.

 

Subsequent Antarctic ,shipping over the first 25 years of ANARE , being the Magga Dan Thala Dan and the Nella Dan, were berthed at North Wharf ( Either Shed 3,4,or 5) for  their departure to and return from the Antarctic .

 

The Nella Dan was the last of the Dan ships charted  by ANARE from 1962 until its scuttling at Macquarie Island in 1989. This period of ANARE shipping was celebrated in the commissioning by the members of the ANARE Club, of  a bronze memorial plaque  Four castings were commissioned and are now located at Macquarie Island, J.Lauritzen Lines HO in Denmark, the Head Office of the Australian Antarctic Division in Kingston  Tasmania and one currently in the possession of the ANARE Club.

 

When  this historical information was presented to the Principles of RIVERLEE, a high degree of excitement was shown, and the conversation was then directed toward how the plaque and further recognition of the ANARE shipping could be implemented in the design of the parkland area within the design of the RIVERLEE development.

 

We were advised that the area of parkland and other community areas within the RIVERLEE project will hopefully be finalised within 3-4 weeks. And after that date the development  architects will commence their planning of this area and at that time the location and presentation of monuments etc will be up for consideration and consultation.

 

We were advised that the footprint of this entire development is in two parts, The freehold land covers the Goods Shed and adjacent wharf area bounded by the Yarra River, the Grimes Bridge along the Flinders Street  to the Mission for Seafarers building. The boundary continues along the rear wall of the Mission to entrance to the carpark roadway then back to the Hotel boundary. This leaves an area of open space of approx. 6,500 sq. m which will be designated as a public park, the boundary of this park extends to the water’s edge, and this land area is owned by the State .

 

In conclusion of these discussions, David Lee was asked if he would formally write a Letter of Intent or a M.O.U as to the inclusion of the bronze plaque into the design of the parkland, this he agreed he would do.

 

With this information at hand,  OSSA will then be in a position to commence strategic  discussions with the ANARE Club for the release, in one way or another, of the NELLA DAN Bronze Plaque .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As part of our Specialist Ship Research we are drawing together the history of the ships used for Antarctic service by the Australian Antarctic Division. Ray has kindly offered to oversee this work and would greatly appreciate any help others can provide. In particular anyone who has photos or stories of interest please contact Ray. His contact details will be listed below:

The list of 54 ships used in the Antarctic Research programmes. Ray has compiled these in chronological order to assist anyone who has been onboard one or more and wishes to contribute.

John Connor of P&O has contributed a short video of the Aurora Australis in action and there is a link attached below for anyone interested.

Ray’s contact details:

Ray McMahon

Unit 3/69 Nunns Road,

Mornington

Vic.3931

Email: raymcmahon369@gmail.com

Mob: 0408 392 365

The Video Link: https://cloudstor.aarnet.edu.au/plus/s/NmQtY84FlmLjKuL

 

 

 

 

 

 

HMAS WYATT EARP 1947/48

LST 3501 1947/48

LABUAN 1949/51

HMZS TUTIRA 1948/49

HMS St. AUSTRAL BAY 1949/50

HMAS AUSTRALIA 1949/50

RIVER FITZROY 1950/51

MV NORSEL 1950/51

RV DISCOVERY 2 1950/51

TOTTAN 1951/52 to1952/53

KISTA DAN 1953/54 to1956/57

HOLMLEA 1953/54

THALA DAN 1957/58 to 1981/82

MAGGA DAN 1958/59 to 1960/61

NELLA DAN 1961/62 to 1986/87

HMAS QUEENSBOROUGH 1965/66

HMAS PERTH 1966/67

MS EXPLORER 1981/81

MV CAPE PILLAR 1979/80 to 1981/82

NANOOK S 1979/80 to 1983/84

MV St AGULAS 1983/84

MV ICE BIRD 1984/851992/93*

LADY FRANKLYN 1983/841988/99

IWS SHIP 1984/85 *

RV AFRICANA 1984/85

HMAS STALWART 1985/86

L’ASTROLABE 1995/962009/10

LADY LORRAINE 1987/88

MV ARCTIC SUNRISE 1989/901999/2000

POLAR QUEEN 1989/901999

AURORA AUSTRALIS 1990

SOREN LARSEN 1991/92

RV KNOX 1994/95

POLAR BIRD 1995/962002/03

RV MELVILLE 1996/97

AUSTRAL LEADER 1996/97 SOLO 1997/98

KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV 1997/982002/03

MV POLAR QUEEN 11 1998/99

KAIYO MARU 1999/2000

HAKUHO MARU 2001/02

SHIRES 1999/002000/0*

RV NATHANIEL PALMER 1999/2000

TANGAROA 1999/20002009/10

SOUTHERN CHAMPION 2000/01

RV POLARSTERN 2007/082007/08

AKADEMIC FEDEROV 2007/08

AMDERMA 2008/09

AMATAL EXPLORER 2012/13

UMITAKA MARU 2002/032007/08

SOUTHERN SUPPORTER 2003/04

VASILY GOLOVNIN 2004/05

YUZHMOR GEOLLOGIYA 2007/08