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 .