Guided Cruise
Cruise on MV Cartela from Hobart to Taranna on 22 September 1996 to celebrate ‘Back to MV Cartela Week’.
Description
THE 1996 MV CARTELA CRUISE HOBART – TARANNA & RETURN
Sept 22nd 1996
Organised By Peter MacFie & the Tasman Peninsula Historical Society
After discussion with Michael Roach, skipper & co-owner of the MV Cartela, the decision was made to organise a water-borne historical excursion from Hobart to Taranna & return.
Peter MacFie had been involved with the Port Arthur Conservation Project‘s archaeological survey of the Coal Mines and shared this knowledge about the historical features, especially those on Tasman Peninsula. Viewed from the sea (as the early settlers and convicts had) gave a completely different sense of the Peninsula’s history.
After reaching Taranna, the ship anchored for a BBQ lunch & refreshments opposite the former Norfolk Bay convict station- after which the Cartela was fired up for the return trip. Travellers were given the option of departing at Taranna or returning to Brookes St Pier.
Heading out into Norfolk Bay the sea breeze picked up but there was a ‘cunning plan’ to distract passengers with a sing-along on the return voyage, with the help of a guitar, the ship’s PA system and the vessel’s own well-worn piano- strategically screwed to the deck for such occasions. The pianist on the day was local Peninsularite Sheila who enjoyed the occasion & the drinks distributed to the musicians in
particular.
The vessel rolled as she headed past Lime Bay & out into open sea. Those who’d chosen to return joined in signing nautical songs e.g. Botany Bay, Moonlight Bay, Jamaica Farewell, Rolling on the River etc The singing got to be too much for the on-board PA system – result – volume turned down.
All returned to Hobart wind tanned but happy – I think!
Image – Peter MacFie leads singalong.
Brochure provided to passengers on the cruise
Excerpt from Brochure
Betsy Island.
(380 acres) Occupied by Aborigines; & called Lor.by.lar.ner &/or Teremeteletta. Called Willaumez, after a ship’s officer, by D’Entrecasteaux (1793). Renamed Betsy by Hayes. Surveyed by G.P. Harris in June 1804 when convicts used smoke to signal ship arrivals. 1814, rest of South Arm Aborigines found on Bruni Island. Occupied by James King, 1827, who bred rabbits, pheasants, and peacocks here. His house and farmed paddocks were visible in 1848. Resurveyed by James Calder in 1837 and again in 1848 with a party of 11 convicts led by great seaman and notorious bolter, John Jones. Calder found 4 deserters from American whaleship Cicero. In 1840 purchased by Lady Jane Franklin, after hearing Sir John say it would make a nice country house for a Lt Governor.’ Paid £920 from Mr Bell who had just bought it for £600. It remained her property until 1868 when she donated it to the ‘people of Tasmania’ in trust for use of the Tasmanian Acclimatisation Society. Once called Franklin Island.
Betsy’s Reef.
On 16 Nov, 1857 the schooner Circassian capsized off Bruni Island. She was towed to Hobart by steamer Cobra. On 15 March 1868, Cutter Prince of Wales on a voyage from Hobart to Pittwater struck a reef in Betsy’s Narrows and was lost. 1995, ‘Seacat’ marooned here by inexpert master for several weeks, refloated.
End of Excerpt