1st Derwent Sea Scout Group forced to find new home after TasPorts ends Domain lease

The state’s oldest continuously operating Sea Scouts troop has been left reeling after it was told to leave the spiritual home it has occupied for almost 100 years. The reason revealed.

The 1st Derwent Sea Scouts bringing a boat into their headquarters at the Domain slipyards in 1946.

Tasmania’s oldest continuously operating Sea Scouts group will be turfed from its home base after almost a century of running maritime programs for young people on the Hobart waterfront.

Since 1931, the 1st Derwent Sea Scouts have occupied a site at the Domain slipyards.

However, the troop has been informed by TasPorts, the owner of the site, that its lease will not be renewed beyond December 2024, effectively ending 93 years of rich tradition.

The Sea Scouts are open to young people aged 5-18 and the 1st Derwent group currently has about 100 members.

They meet weekly for sailing, rowing, kayaking, and land-based activities.

1st Derwent Sea Scouts Group leader, Klaus Felsche, said the group had submitted a proposal to redevelop the site in October 2021, requesting a new 30-year lease to provide certainty for the planned investment.

1st Derwent Sea Scouts Group Leader, Klaus Felsche has expressed his disappointment that the group has been asked to leave their historic site at the Domain slipyards, which has been there since 1931. Picture: Linda Higginson

However, he said TasPorts rejected this proposal in early 2022 and in April of that year, told the Sea Scouts to leave the site within six months.

At that time, the 1st Derwent group was approaching the end of a 20-year lease agreement signed with the former Hobart Ports Corporation.

TasPorts then decided to extend the lease for a further two years, giving the group until the end of 2024 to find a new site.

Mr Felsche said it was “extremely disappointing” that the Sea Scouts had to vacate their spiritual home.

“We have a number of people who have been associated with the 1st Derwent at that location for decades. They’re obviously very disappointed,” he said.

“Having to move, it’s taken a long time to work out a viable solution.

The 1st Derwent Sea Scouts launching a boat in 1946.

“We’ve been working in the background on some contingency plans that will allow us to continue offering exciting water activities, as well as land activities, for scouting, without disrupting the programs too much.”

The Sea Scouts have found a temporary home for their operations at Marieville Esplanade but continue to search for a permanent headquarters due to the Marieville site’s insufficient storage space and boat-launching facilities, Mr Felsche said.

Mr Felsche said there was potential to establish a boat and equipment storage facility near the Huon Quays at the Domain, as well as a multipurpose meeting centre, but the proposed new Arts, Entertainment and Sports Precinct at Macquarie Point meant that any new development in the area would be clouded in uncertainty.

Anthony Donald, TasPorts CEO.

TasPorts CEO Anthony Donald said the organisation had “deep respect for the history of the Derwent Sea Scouts” and was working to “ensure their future is supported”.

He said the decision to end the Sea Scouts’ lease was due to the Scout Hall being “end of life”, adding that the move was “in line with future planning for the precinct”.

“TasPorts stands ready to provide financial support to the Derwent Sea Scouts in the way of concept development studies once an appropriate new site is selected and remains committed to support a transition process,” he said.