Spring Bay Maritime & Discovery Centre

Why a Maritime and Discovery Centre at Triabunna?

Until the Tasman Highway and its ancillary roads were constructed, small sailing ships serviced the settlements of the Spring Bay area, bringing settlers and their supplies and carrying stock and other produce to Hobart for sale. Though larger boats were probably built elsewhere, if immediate repairs were necessary they were carried out locally, as was the building of small dinghies and landing barges and possibly even the boats used in shore whaling.

Between 1950 & 1995 over 100 wooden boats were built in the Spring Bay area by the Thomas, Drake, Wilson and Jones families. Pat Drake reported that three boat builders are still working at Triabunna. This boat building was associated with the local fishing industry. The area has at various times supported fishing for scallops, barracouta, crayfish, jack mackerel, Australian salmon, flathead, trumpeter, perch, abalone, sea urchins and the cultivation of oysters, all of which required boats of various types.

Due to maintenance delays our centre is only open by appointment or on special events

 

What of the future?

Spring Bay Maritime and Discovery Centre acknowledges this proud past and seeks to build on it as a catalyst for future development of our area.

The Centre is presently located in an old abalone processing plant at 17 the Esplanade, Triabunna, on the East Coast of Tasmania, 84Km North East of Hobart, the state capital.

It's a superb setting, right by the marina and we're grateful to have its use for a mere peppercorn rent. However, because we don't own the building, nor is it for sale, we are precluded from obtaining many grants necessary to set up a full range of displays and take our Centre into the future. Our committee is presently investigating options of suitable sites for purchase and will soon be launching a fund raising campaign to that end. Watch this site for details.

Open weekends are held every 3 months when a new exhibit is unveiled and our Centre is abuzz with all sorts of other activities as well, including the usual country style barbecue.

Bring your camera with you and take as many photos as you wish as a lasting memory of your visit. Our friendly volunteer members will welcome you, act as your guide and endeavour to ensure your visit is an educational and entertaining experience.

Our Centre is also home to a Community Shed, where locals presently repair boats, spin and make musical instruments. The shed is available to anyone who needs space to do something, whether a craft activity or building something larger.

The local Art Group also uses an area of the building as an indoor work space and as a gallery for showing their artwork.

General Information