The Recovery, continued:-
Full steam ahead. With the difficult part of the tow behind, the James Craig heads at speed into the River Derwent.
In fact it was May 1973 before the ship was ready for tow. Apart from cleaning out the remainder of her hold a considerable amount of strengthening work had to be done or there would be a risk of the old ship breaking up as she fronted once again into the ocean swell. A professional steel fabrication firm from Melbourne was called in and, despite the ravages of the typical 'Roaring Forties' weather experienced in this part of Tasmania, the work was completed on schedule for the tow. At 7 am on 26 May 1973 the tug Sirius Cove nudged the James Craig out of Recherche Bay and into the ocean she had sailed so many times. At the end of a 350 metre tow line she was towed jubilantly up through the magnificent autumn colours of the D'Entrecasteau Channel to her home port of Hobart. The old lady was home....
Course taken from Recherche Bay to Hobart.
Restoration
Following the tow to Hobart the James Craig had a chequered life for the next few years. Now that her recovery had been achieved, the museum had run finally and completely out of funds. So desperate was the situation that, for want of maintenance, she was many times in danger of sinking again. An estimated $500,000 was needed to restore her and such funds were not easy to find, particularly as an economic recession was looming. Governments, both State and Federal, did not want to know of her existence and, with economic problems besetting industry, the commercial world could offer little help. Indeed, but for the Hobart Marine Board who offered her a permanent berth at the old Powder Wharf, the old barque may well have been lost for want of finance and care. With the berthing taken care of, attention could be directed to getting her on her feet again, but it was to be some years--during which she sank once at her berth--before her restoration became a reality.
Home at last! The old ship is nudged towards the berth she knew so well when she was a working windjammer.
During those years she was gradually stripped and her gear stored by a small team working as cash flow would allow. She was too far from Sydney for museum volunteers to be able to help much, and the restoration dropped into limbo other than for basic maintenance to keep her afloat. The original intention of berthing her at Circular Quay as an attraction of the Sydney Cove Redevelopment program was also running into trouble and the museum, now renamed the Sydney Cove Waterfront Museum, was having difficulty financing the three old steamships in its fleet, as well as press forward with the plans for the James Craig.
Home at last! The old ship is nudged towards the berth she knew so well when she was a working windjammer.
But the cloud's silver lining was just around the corner and, as the economic depression took an upturn, so the sky lightened for the museum. D.J. Properties Ltd, a Sydney based company, had shown excellent forethought and awareness in converting an old waterfront factory into a retail centre, combining the old buildings with the modern business facility. It was natural that the old ships of the waterfront museum should become involved and the company offered to help finance the relocation of the museum on this site. Finance was also available for the restoration of the James Craig and work was recommenced almost immediately. In the meantime, the museum was getting back onto its feet and, by virtue of dedicated work on the part of members, was beginning to look like a museum. Art Unions brought in a steady cash flow and donations from commercial organisations increased to help with the restoration of the old ships. The museum now had a home, two steamships in restored or nearly restored condition and another under restoration. The James Craig was slipped and thoroughly checked prior to being towed to Sydney to form the major attraction of the new waterfront museum.
The triumphant salvage crew after refloating the James Craig.
From left, Back row: Jeff Toghill, Terry Stephens, 'Norm', Brian Hill. Front row: Michael Dight, Mauritia Stephens, Keith Chambers, Bill Livingston, Graham Turner, Geoff Winter.
Birkenhead Point, with its superbly restored old buildings and central location, became the new home of both the museum and the James Craig. Here she could be seen in the process of restoration for, although much of the major hull structure was renovated in Hobart prior to the tow to Sydney, there are many years of work ahead completing the restoration of her masts, spars, rigging and accommodation. Sydneysiders could now board their superb old windjammer and watch the progress of the work as the James Craig, slowly but surely, regains her former glory.
Sunday, 18th January, 1981: James Craig arrives in Sydney to a tremendous welcome. M.S.B. tug A.R. Ford leads the procession with a spectacular water display. The tug Greshann follows with James Craig in tow passing the Opera House. Museum flagship Lady Hopetoun is bottom right.
©Jeff Toghill, 1981 (Jeff Toghill was part of the salvage team) All rights reserved.
James Craig is proudly supported by
Last modified on Monday, 23-Aug-2010 14:49:27 EST
