Former Port Phillip Sea Pilots Ship Wright Jack Beazley with volunteers. Photo courtesy Lester Hunt
For some 26 years, PV Mavis III provided safe passage through the notorious 'rip' for sea farers.
She will now see out her days as a tourist attraction at the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum.
In a major logistical operation, the decommissioned pilot boat was last month hoisted out of Queenscliff Harbour waters and into her new home, at the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum.
The Port Phillip Sea Pilots (PPSP) donated the vessel, with local businesses - Queenscliff Harbour Pty Ltd, Drews Haulage, Local Mix Concrete, McHarrys Buslines, Quinlan Cranes, QPL Concreting and Seared Ferries - all donating resources and labour.
The PV Mavis III was one of the last pilot boats to be built in house at Queenscliff by past and present crew, in 1994.
“Donating the vessel seemed like the right choice for both the environment and to preserve our history in the local area,” the PPSP said.
Ninety-three year old Jack Beazley, who worked as a pilot ship wright for almost 50 years and is also a museum volunteer, was on hand to watch the vessel being lowered into place.
“Up on the crane I said to them there’s probably some old dear in Beach Street making a cup of coffee at the sink and looking out the window, she sees the bloomin’ boat goes past and wonders if the floods have arrived,” he said.
“She was up at a great height and if she had have broken loose there’d be no maritime museum there anymore.
"The boat will be a great addition to the museum," Mr Beazley said. "It already has a lot of history telling the story of the pilots and this will add to it."
She will now see out her days as a tourist attraction at the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum.
In a major logistical operation, the decommissioned pilot boat was last month hoisted out of Queenscliff Harbour waters and into her new home, at the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum.
The Port Phillip Sea Pilots (PPSP) donated the vessel, with local businesses - Queenscliff Harbour Pty Ltd, Drews Haulage, Local Mix Concrete, McHarrys Buslines, Quinlan Cranes, QPL Concreting and Seared Ferries - all donating resources and labour.
The PV Mavis III was one of the last pilot boats to be built in house at Queenscliff by past and present crew, in 1994.
“Donating the vessel seemed like the right choice for both the environment and to preserve our history in the local area,” the PPSP said.
Ninety-three year old Jack Beazley, who worked as a pilot ship wright for almost 50 years and is also a museum volunteer, was on hand to watch the vessel being lowered into place.
“Up on the crane I said to them there’s probably some old dear in Beach Street making a cup of coffee at the sink and looking out the window, she sees the bloomin’ boat goes past and wonders if the floods have arrived,” he said.
“She was up at a great height and if she had have broken loose there’d be no maritime museum there anymore.
"The boat will be a great addition to the museum," Mr Beazley said. "It already has a lot of history telling the story of the pilots and this will add to it."
Photo courtesy Lester Hunt