Batavia Road (boat)
Batavia Road taking on passengers, circa 1947
| |
History | |
---|---|
Australia | |
Name | Batavia Road |
Owner |
|
Port of registry | Fremantle |
Completed | 1946 |
Identification | Official number 140199 |
Fate | Wrecked 1974 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Auxiliary motor boat |
Tonnage | 37grt |
Length | 60.6 ft (18.5 m) |
Beam | 18.5 ft (5.6 m) |
Depth | 10.5 ft (3.2 m) |
Sail plan | Ketch |
Batavia Road was a passenger boat used from 1946 for commercial tourist operation in the Houtman Abrolhos, a group of islands off the coast of Western Australia.
History
The 37grt ketch-rigged wooden motor boat Batavia Road was launched and completed in December 1946 by H Willmott & Co in Fremantle, Western Australia, from whom it had been ordered by the Australian Army during World War II.[1][2] The boat had a registered length of 60.6 ft (18.5 m), length overall of 66.0 ft (20.1 m), beam of 18.5 ft (5.6 m) and depth of 10.5 ft (3.2 m).[1][3] The boat was powered by a Gray marine diesel of 225 bhp, giving a speed of 8 knots.[3] It was registered at Fremantle in 1947 with official number 140199.[1]
In order to promote tourism to the Houtman Abrolhos, the
Gaze eventually wound up his tourist operation in 1951.[5]
Later, Batavia Road passed to other owners, and foundered on rocks 20 miles (32 km) north of
An anchorage at Pelsaert Island is named Batavia Road.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d e Dickson, Rod (1996). "Ships Registered in Western Australia from 1856 to 1969" (PDF). Guilderton, Western Australia: Maritime Heritage Association. pp. 185–186. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ a b c Stanbury, Myra. "Pelsaert Island: A Photographic Record" (PDF). Perth WA: Western Australian Museum. p. 54. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ a b "For Sale: Auxiliary Schooner". Daily News. Vol. LXV, no. 22, 678. Perth, Western Australia. 16 December 1947. p. 17. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ "Abrolhos Islands Trips". Geraldton Guardian and Express. Vol. XVIII, no. 3187. 17 December 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Sustainable Tourism Plan for the Abrolhos Islands" (PDF). Fisheries Management Paper. Perth, Western Australia: Fisheries Western Australia. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
- ^ "Abrolhos Islands Saga". Geraldton Guardian. Vol. XX, no. 3416. 17 June 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ "First Official Message". Geraldton Guardian. Vol. XX, no. 3437. 5 August 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ Sailing Directions: North, West and South Coasts of Australia (10th ed.). Bethesda MD, USA: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2010. p. 119. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
Further reading
- Uren, Norman (1949). Abrolhos Islands. Western Australian Education Department, Government Instructional Films (unpublished).