On January 16th, 1980 the barometer dropped 4 points and things got hairy.
 Their single sideband radio would receive Radio Moscow in English but all they could receive from Australia was snatches of cricket commentary no weather forecasts.

The collective archives of our nation are suffering slow strangulation by lack of commitment and funding. The National Library of Australia, the National Museum, the National Film & Sound Archive, the ABC and various State Maritime Museums are struggling. Collections are deteriorating and large parts remain undigitised. Archivists, researchers and librarians have been sacked and if retained have been ironically rebranded as Knowledge Keepers or Navigators.

Yes we have been slack. 18 months is too long between updates. We could call “COVID” but really its just time and resources. (Hence the “Donate” button at the top of the page!) So here’s a short update on how the beautiful old lady is coming along….And we promise it won’t be 18 months before the next one!

In the latest episode of the AWBF Boat Folk series they introduce you to one of Tasmania's oldest wooden boats - proud SV BRITANNIA.

“The final tally - twenty two years dreaming, three years courtship, four months work, six dozen beers, 40 pies, 2 sanders, five rolls of sand paper, fourteen brushes, twelve rollers, two pairs of overalls, one iPhone dropped twice from the scaffold, much profanity, lots of advice, unexpected help from great people and in the end a beautiful boat.”

A rather beautiful boat stands on the hard, on the banks of the Tamar. Unknown, Un-Named and seemingly, Unloved. Can you help us solve the mystery?

Thanks to Jaemie Wilson for telling us about this rare opportunity. CORINNA, Perhaps the only huon pine international Dragon ever built is being offered free to a good home. Her condition is described as “Dilapidated”.

When an ageing farmer took archaeologist Bob Sheppard aside and pointed high into the rafters of his old hay shed, the history lover could not quite believe his eyes.

Having spent all his summers on the Bellarine Peninsula Oscar Perri assumed Queenscliff to be the natural home of the famous Couta boat…Turns out, where there’s wood, there’s a story worth following.

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the Launch of VANITY, the 24ft Ranger Class Gaffer, that has set the standard for the class over the last two decades.

With a couple of recent “barn finds” of Tums with excellent provenance and the legendary YVONNE due to emerge out of the shed after an exhaustive restoration, the class is ready for another growth spurt.

In late primary school, I was dragged by my father to Sydney on one his boat buying expeditions. At Middle Harbour, we saw DEFIANCE, which was not for sale but that was the boat for us.

…And I think this is why we also love, sail and chose to be the custodians of old boats – in doing so we are connected to something bigger than ourselves, a bigger story, a continuous story…

A post on Instagram about a Tumlaren prompted a family member to respond and start a trail of connections that led us to a boat that had disappeared for some 20 or more years.

In many ways the post-war wooden, Southern Australian Cray Fishing boats are ideally suited to become cruising vessels. Listen to a man who has actually lived the dream and dodged the pitfalls.

However, as a photographer I have always enjoyed the concept of Instagram…Of course, 95% of it is drivel…however, in the wooden boat community there are a few feeds that educate, inform and amuse.

This is one of the things we love about old wooden boats…For less than AUD$7000, you can own this incredible piece of history!