“Lyndenne” History
“Lyndenne” was built by Bernie Berkshire in late 1946 up
until a launch date of 22nd February 1947, at Prince of Wales Bay
Hobart. It is believed that he could neither read nor write. The
project was financed by “Cassimaty”, a fish buyer, for Rupert
Denne, a fisherman of Bruny Island.
The Denne family had lived on Bruny Island for generations,
the northern tip being “Denne’s Point”. They lived in “Lyndenne
Cottage”, later a bed & breakfast. The name in this instance came
from a marriage of Denne and Lindsay families.
Rupert fished the South west coast from Long Point to Low
Rocky Point for crayfish often in company with Clyde Clayton
whose boat was “Arlie ‘D’” and was a close friend of Denny King,
“Lyndenne” was probably one of the last of her style as a fishing
boat, with a “Wet well” built to sail to work! She was fitted with a 2
cylinder Lister diesel of about 18 hp. Steered with a tiller (no Wheel)
Lyn Lowrey (nee Denne) has confirmed that she is the young
girl with the bottle at the launching (Newspaper cutting). She was
Rupert’s elder daughter after whom the vessel was named.
Rupert worked her for almost 40 years, always working the
cray pots from a dinghy carried on the port side. The work on the
south west coast often involved sheltering from rough weather, I
am told on one occasion for 42 days (in Port Davey). An
acquaintance who monitored marine radio frequencies told me he
recalls hearing a message from a weather-bound “Lyndenne”
“Don’t worry about socks and undies, just send some more bread
and beer”. There was a small cabin forward for accommodation
which included a small fuel stove for warmth as well as cooking;
Huon pine was burned exclusively as it bore no pests i.e. ants.
While on the slip at Launceston in 2006 I was approached by
an old fisherman who said “I remember this boat from when she
fished the west coast, she had much lower bulwarks –maybe 6-8
inches high (150- 200mm) and we called her “over one and under
nine” (waves) that is she was a bit wet!
In the summer school holidays Rupert would often take his
family around to Port Davey / Bathurst Harbour.
The Lister was replaced and a larger engine (Gardner 4LW)
installed with a small wheelhouse, c.1952 the boom was raised to
go over the wheelhouse, then the bowsprit or “nosepole” was
removed.
In April 1968 a larger engine a 5LW Gardner was installed.
This engine is still in her. At some stage probably about 1985 a 3
cylinder Kubota auxiliary was installed (7KVA) it was a very tight fit
in the engine room and has been removed & sold. There was a
large bait freezer with a hatch on the Starb’d side deck (beside the
well) it has gone too.
Rupert fished till 25th May1984, He sold “Lyndenne” to David
Smythe and Marian Smith they tried unsuccessfully to work her out
of Bridport, but the port was too shallow. Marian Smith had a
childhood association with “Lyndenne” her parents had been
lighthouse keepers on Maatsuyker Is. She had seen Lyndenne
come and go. She was then sold to Lance Witzerman for $58K in
Oct 1986, a yachtsman who built the existing wheelhouse, then
sold her to Tony Hitchens, in May 1988, who used her as an
abalone dive boat until May1995. He sold her to Graham Hill of
Beauty Point, who barely used her at all, in the 10 years he only
put 200 engine hours on the “Clock”. I was on holiday in Northern
Tasmania and while looking over a friend’s boat saw “Lyndenne”
and asked about her ~ to be told it was for sale as a deceased
estate.
Almost immediately after purchase a severe leak developed from
the “wet well” to the engine room. This required urgent slipping and
we took her 35 miles up the Tamar River to Launceston. A close
examination showed some 15 broken ribs on the starb’d side, not
previously noticed, (or reported by the surveyor).
I have taken out the “wet well”, replacing 18 planks, (huon
pine ~ not cheap), fitted many deep frames and ribs, removed the
old fuel tanks and replaced them, I have replaced the water tanks.
Although I live and work in Sydney, I decided to do all the
necessary work in Tasmania, I believed the tradesmen were better
acquainted with the style of boat and the work required to make
her seaworthy. It took a total of 8 months over 3 years in
Launceston; I made some very good friends there. Then further
work in the years since coming north to bring her to this stage.
In early Feb 2009 we motored out of Launceston to Hobart,
attended the Wooden Boat Festival, then after spending a night in
Barnes Bay (Bruny Is.) and another in Recherche Bay cruised to
Port Davey and returned to Hobart via Kettering, after a crew
change, headed through Denison Canal to Eden (70 hours) a 26
hour layover in Eden then 36 hours to Pittwater.
“Lyndenne” is now listed on the National Register of Historic
Vessels No. 309.