The City of Hobart is considering transferring ownership of the Matilda, a cherished 140-year-old fishing boat, to the Tasmanian Maritime Museum. This decision comes after 26 years of escalating maintenance costs and a decline in available expertise to preserve the historic vessel.
Built in the late 1880s in Hobart, the Matilda has been a fixture at Constitution Dock since 1999. The council initially took on the vessel with ambitious plans to restore it, including making the hull watertight. However, more than two decades later, the council’s officers are recommending that this “much-loved feature of the Hobart waterfront” be entrusted to the Maritime Museum.
Historical Significance and Current Challenges
The Matilda is not just a boat; it is a significant piece of Tasmanian heritage. Originally, it served nearly a century in various capacities, including four decades of hauling mail to the Tasman Island Lighthouse and fishing the Derwent Estuary until 1974. Despite its storied past, maintaining the Matilda is not considered core business for the Hobart City Council.
A report by council staff highlights the importance of preserving the vessel’s historical value, stating, “Maintaining the Matilda is not considered core council business. It is an important part of Tasmanian heritage that would be better maintained and made available to the public by people who have greater expertise and capacity to share this unique piece of history to the broader community.”
Financial Implications and Proposed Solutions
The financial burden of maintaining the Matilda has been significant. The council reports annual costs to ratepayers reaching $26,000, with $16,000 allocated to insurance alone. This year’s pontoon float replacement added another $49,250 to the expenses.
Under the proposed plan, the Maritime Museum would assume ownership of the Matilda, while the Wooden Boat School at Franklin would undertake its restoration. Apprentice shipwrights would be employed to help rejuvenate one of Tasmania’s last surviving working crafts from that era before it is retired to Constitution Dock.
Annual costs to ratepayers have reached $26,000, including $16,000 in insurance alone.
Previous Attempts and Future Prospects
This is not the first time the council has attempted to offload the vessel. In 2019, after years of inconsistent maintenance by building crews, the council sought to transfer the boat. However, the Port Arthur Historic Site, which originally transferred the boat in 1999 under strict conditions, declined to take it back. One of those conditions was that the vessel remain in public ownership and that any future disposal be to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or a maritime museum.
If the current proposal is approved, the council will contribute $25,000 towards the restoration costs, ensuring that the Matilda is preserved for future generations to appreciate. The move represents a strategic effort to safeguard the vessel’s legacy while alleviating the financial and logistical burdens on the council.
Meanwhile, the potential transfer of the Matilda to the Maritime Museum signifies a new chapter in the vessel’s long history. It underscores the importance of collaboration between local government and heritage organizations in preserving cultural assets.
Conclusion
As the City of Hobart deliberates on the future of the Matilda, the decision will ultimately reflect the community’s commitment to preserving its maritime heritage. The partnership with the Tasmanian Maritime Museum and the Wooden Boat School could provide a sustainable path forward, ensuring that the Matilda remains a symbol of Tasmania’s rich nautical history.
The council’s decision is awaited with interest, as it could set a precedent for how historical artifacts are preserved and celebrated in the region. The outcome will likely be watched closely by heritage advocates and the local community alike, eager to see the Matilda continue to grace the Hobart waterfront for years to come.
