Call to restore old steamer

A campaign has begun to restore the S.S. Cartela and bring her back to service as a commercial steamer, carrying passengers on the River Derwent to places such as Iron Pot Lighthouse, D’Entrecasteaux Channel and New Norfolk.

The steamship Cartela, part of Hobart’s maritime history, at the Franklin wharf where attempts are being made to restore the vessel. Picture: DYLAN VALLANCE, Zoomin Images

A CAMPAIGN is on to restore the S.S. Cartela and bring her back to service as a commercial steamer, carrying passengers on the River Derwent to places such as Iron Pot Lighthouse, D’Entrecasteaux Channel and New Norfolk.

The ship was built in Battery Point and launched in 1912.

It served in World War I, worked as a cargo ship, a towing vessel and in her later years, a passenger ferry.

The Cartela, gifted to the Cartela Restoration Trust by the Roche family in December 2017, is the only boat in Australia with 100 years of continuous service under her hull.

Trust chairman George Rance said the importance of the vessel’s restoration should not be underestimated.

Employees and families from Tasmania’s Cadbury-Fry-Pascall factory disembarking from the river steamer ferries Excella and Cartela for their annual picnic day at South Arm.

“Restoring the Cartela to her original glory represents an opportunity to harness the hearts and minds of Tasmanians to support a cultural icon with a rich and vibrant past that can be shared with future generations,” he said.

“So many Hobartians have a Cartela story to tell. From when it was used for school excursions and as a party ship for celebrations such as 21st birthdays.

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“The trip to New Norfolk on the Cartela was really something back in the day and we want to bring that sort of water journey experience to new generations and tourists.

“A similar ferry trip in New Zealand is immensely popular and we think a new Cartela cruise would be as popular.”

It is estimated $5 million would be needed over four years to complete the project.

The State Government and private supporters have chipped in but $4 million is still needed to complete a job that involves restoring the vessel and its original steam engine.

Derwent Valley Autumn Festival at New Norfolk. Passengers enjoy a trip on the Cartela.

The restoration will create 13 jobs with the Wooden Boat Centre doing the work at Franklin.

The trust is looking for restoration funds and stories about the “people’s boat” to reconnect the vessel with the Hobart community she has served.

“We’re looking for ambassadors to get the Tasmanian people on board the campaign to put the Cartela back on the water,” Mr Rance said.

The campaign starts February 10 when a chartered boat will take those interested in the campaign from Brooke St Pier to where the Cartela is moored during the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

The festival kicks off on Friday and runs through to Monday and boasts the biggest collection of wooden boats in the southern hemisphere.