The Lawrence Museums heritage listed cedar flood boat is a step closer to preservation, thanks to a visit from the Australian National Maritime Museum’s David Payne.  David is the curator, Australian Register of Historic Vessels, Environment and Communities, Public Engagement Research and Collections.

David’s visit was the result of an application from the Lawrence Historical Society, requesting assistance with this specialised preservation programme. The cedar flood boat is already heritage listed with the Australian Maritime Museum, and the purpose of David’s visit was to assess the condition of the vessel and prepare a management plan for repair and preservation

Local shipwright Bill Gleeson, will be carrying out the recommended work required and was at hand to discuss the detail with David Payne.

The 7.5m cedar flood boat was built from full length planks, reputedly cut from one log, which came from the head of the Clarence River. The log was transported by ship to Towns Boat Building Company, in Newcastle, where it was milled and transformed into this beautiful vessel.

The boat was named the ‘Cedar Queen’ by the Oxenbridge family, who owned her for many years, and was bought from the Grafton Sea Scouts. She sat on the veranda of the Sea Scouts shed near Cochran Park for many years. Later, the boat was put outside, under a tree, and was deteriorating badly. George Oxenbridge approached the Scouts when he saw this and offered $50 for her, which they accepted.

The Oxenbridge family used the ‘Cedar Queen’ for many years. On one occasion they rowed her to Copmanhurst. At another time they put a rig on her and sailed around Elizabeth Island.

Later Geoff Oxenbridge donated the boat to the Lawrence Museum, where it could be maintained and preserved for the community.

When asked for his assessment of the boat, David Payne told museum members. “You have a very lovely original flood boat. It needs a bit of work, there are some problems there towards the middle of it, towards the strakes, but once that work is done, there is still a lot of original boat here which is lovely to see. It’s so old, around late 1890’s. It was built by Towns in Newcastle. There are very few in existence now, from many that were built, and to have it such original condition is so important.”

Whilst visiting the Lawrence Museum, David was surprised to find a handmade tin duck punt, possibly made around the 1920’s, and a ply duck punt, possibly constructed in the 1950’s. Museum staff member Roz Jones explained in the past, Lawrence had creeks with many hundreds of ducks, and men would shoot the ducks, both for sale and for feeding families in hard times.

It is likely these vessels will also receive heritage listing status.

Vice president, Roz Jones was very appreciative of David’s visit, “This is the first step to gaining funding to preserve the ‘Cedar Queen’.  It is heartening that the Australian National Maritime Museum views this vessel as significantly important and will work with us to ensure the preservation of the ‘Cedar Queen’.

The ‘Cedar Queen’ is currently on display at Lawrence Museum and can be seen during Museum opening times, Tuesday 9am – 1pm and weekends 1-4pm.