Provenance
1907: Built at Thursday Island (TI) as lugger MERCIA by Tsugitaro Furuta
1908: First registered 16/3/1908 in Townsville, to Hodels Ltd of TI. Dimensions: 46.5 x 13.83 x 5.62 feet, 15.09 tons GRT
Description: Sailing vessel, fishing (pearling lugger), ketch rigged, wood, counter stern, no engine
1911: Sold 21/2/1911 to Wyben Pearling Co. On books for Wyben Pearling Co fleet at Thursday Island, 1914-15.
1943: Registry closed 11/2/1943, vessel sold to the Commonwealth Govt of Australia. Operated by RAAF during WW2 (Port Moresby), lugger 015-45. Survey at end of war measures 51’ overall x 13’9″ beam x 7’9″ draught, unpowered, fair condition only.
1945: Sold at Port Moresby to W.R. Albert of Port Moresby for 100 pounds (per letter dated 11/10/1945, NAA series MP138/1 item 603/217/1558).
1948: Registered 2/11/1948 in Townsville, to Bowden Pearling Co. Pty Ltd. Measured 46.5 x 13.83 x 5.6 feet.
1957: Registered anew in consequence of installation of an engine on 11/1/1957 at Townsville, to Bowden Pearling Co. Pty Ltd. Measured 46.80 x 14.25 x 6.50 feet,
18.61 tons gross. Mortgaged 21/5/1959 to NBA, discharged 21/8/1961.
1966/67: A31 “Mercia” became A60 ” Penguin” when the A60 GOOSE moved to the cray fishing industry (in 1962), and the A60 number was re-issued to PENGUIN (in 1967 season) and licensed to Aucher Pearling Shelling Co
1969: Register closed 29 July 1969, vessel exempt from compulsory registration vide section 3(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, and owner requested cancellation. [British Register of Shipping, Townsville]
Date TBC: acquired by Commonwealth for Dauan Is. April 1982: gifted to Queensland Maritime Museum
Length
The apparent discrepancies in the reported length of the vessel relate to the difference between ‘overall’ length (stem to stern rail) and ‘surveyor’s’ length (stem to aft edge rudder post). A sister vessel Grafton built in 1907 has a survey length of 46.5’ and an overall length of approx 52’.
Narrative
Mercia was built at Thursday Island in 1907 by Tsugitaro Furuta who was one of the more prolific shipbuilders of that period. He also built MINA (now TRIBAL WARRIOR, based in Sydney in 2008) in 1899, the oldest extant lugger. Mercia’s first owners were Hodels Limited of Thursday Island. The British register of Ships has entries for a total of 41 luggers built at TI by Tsugitaro Furuta, starting with GEISHA, MINA and KISHU in 1899 and continuing on until CHARM was launched in 1930. It appears he was born in Wakayama prefecture (near Osaka) in Japan, where the majority of the Japanese working in the pearling industry at TI in the early years of the 20 century came from.
The proprietor of Hodels Ltd, original owners of MERCIA, was Frederick Charles Hodels. In his evidence to the 1908 Royal Commission into the Pearl Shelling Industry (given mid-year) he explains that at that time he owned two pump boats and two beche-de-mer boats. So he was one of the numerous smallish operators in the TI pearling community. Other Hodels boats were:
- ANGLIA O/N 121576 (Built at TI by Furuta. First registered 23/10/09 in Townsville, #3 in 1909, to Hodels Ltd. Sold 15/10/1913 to Wyben Pearling Co. Ltd.)
- BALTIA O/N 121575 (Built at TI by T. Kashiwagi. First registered 22/3/09 in Townsville, #2 of 1909, to Hodels Ltd. Sold 15/10/1913 to Wyben Pearling Co. Ltd.).
- CANDIA O/N 121580 (Built at TI in 1909 by Furuta. First registered 21/5/1910 in Townsville, #2 in 1910, to Hodels Ltd. Sold 15/10/1913 to Wyben Pearling Co. Ltd.)
- DULCIA O/N 128327 (Built at TI in 1913 by Furuta. First registered 17/7/1913 in Townsville, #3 of 1913, To Hodels Ltd of T.I. Sold 15/10/1913 to Wyben Pearling Co. Ltd.).
- GLORIA O/N 121565 (Built at TI in 1907 by Furuta. First registered in Townsville 18/3/08, #6 of 1908, to Hodels Ltd. Sold 15/10/1913 to Wyben Pearling Co.).
Hodels sold to the Wyben Pearling Company Pty Ltd in February 1911. WPC was the pearling company owned by Burns Philp & Co.
It is clear from the military correspondence files in the National Archives that the Australian Army had control of Mercia well before February 1943, when they finally got around to updating her shipping register entry. Apparently a Lt Col Elliott served a Form S2 to Wyben in August 1942 requiring that they produce all of their luggers, with a view to their impressment. It appears that MERCIA was handed over shortly
afterwards. Wyben did attempt to keep some of their luggers out of the hands of the military but they had all been rounded up by early December 1942, and MERCIA appears as #4 in a list (dated 16/12/1942) of 60 luggers impressed by the military, noting her value as 1250 pounds less 219 pounds for repairs, a net value of 1031 pounds.
All the luggers put into military service underwent a “conversion”, at an average cost of 23 pounds 10 shillings each. It cost a further average of 31 pounds to deliver them from wherever they were impressed to TI and thence to Daru.
A report dated 19/11/1942 notes that MERCIA arrived at Thursday Island on 25/8/1942 and departed for Daru on 8/12/1942, arriving on 14/12 having travelled via Badu to pick up a cargo of palm leaves. A second report (dated 17/11/1942) notes she initially left for Daru on 25/10 but encountered bad weather and put back for repairs, now ready for sea. An appendix to this report notes that MERCIA (now numbered #39) had received a full “general conversion, only more extensive as regards caulking and repairs, considerable rigging renewed. Awaiting slip to locate and treat bad leak below water line, result bad weather”.
The same report lists the work undertaken for “general conversion” consisted of “Stripping the engine (propeller; diving and compressor air unit, including two compressed air supply tanks (6cwt each); gauge boards; fittings; air and fuel lines; shafts etc. Stripping internal fittings, bunks, water tanks etc. Removing ballast; taking up floors (note: possibly the cabin sole!); lowering floors; and re-stowing ballast main hold and cabin (increasing cargo space from 5-7 tons to 12-15 tons). Cutting and preparing combings (sic); making hatches and covers; survey ship; also roving new lanyards, guys and bobstays; renew deadeyes as required; overhaul and repair standing rigging and running rigging and renew as required. Overhaul and
repair windlass and bending sails.” The 19/11/42 report also notes MERCIA #39
underwent “General conversion plus slipping; all copper stripped off; new stem head fitted; planks fastened; all seams topsides and deck recaulked and pitched. Vessel despatched uncoppered as experiment to test Bitumen coated hull. Copper, felt and nails allowed for any ready to ship to N.G.”.
Michael Gregg (WAMM) believes that the above reference to ‘stripping the engine’ was the general conversion of the 60-odd luggers impressed by the Army and that Penguin did not have an engine at that time.
The lugger was officially acquired by the Commonwealth on 11 Feb 1943 from the Wyben Pearling Company for 1250 pounds and used by the RAAF in Port Moresby and given registration 015-45. The vessel was sold to Mr W.R Albert (4th Aust Heavy W/T Section AIF) for 100 pounds on 30 Aug 1945.
The shortage of boats at the end of the war, and the high price of shell, meant that there was a concerted effort to round up the remaining boats during the period 1945- 50 and get them back into work. Many were scattered about in New Guinea, having been sold “as is where is” by the military, and Mercia was one of these. In 1946 and 1948 she is mentioned in the TI demi-annual harbour dues register under the ownership of someone named Marsden, and also appears under this name in the TI boat licenses register in July-Dec 1946 and 1947.
In 1948 the boat licence was issued in the name of Bowden Pearling Co, who evidently acquired her at this time as they also re-registered her on 2/11/1948. While working for Bowdens under the name Mercia her pearling registration number was A31. In 1957 she had an engine installed so was re-registered, and was re-measured at this time.
She continued working with Bowden’s up to 1960 but did not work in 1961, as about this time they went bankrupt. She did not have a pearling licence issued again by the TI Shipping Master until the 1966-67 season, when she was renamed Penguin, given the new registration number A61, and licensed to the Aucher Pearling Shelling Company Pty Limited.
Mr. Alfie Mills, a well known Thursday Island identity (now deceased) had been in charge of the vessel when it was used for trochus shelling and owned by Mr. Thomas (Thomas National Transport).
The vessel was later acquired by the Commonwealth Government and returned to standard pearling vessel rig. It was placed with the Dauan Island Council for use as the island service vessel. When it was decided that the Penguin should be replaced with a more modern vessel the Maritime Museum was approached by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in 1981, and advised that the Dauan Island Council would agree to the Penguin being made available to the Queensland Maritime Museum (QMM) provided it was maintained permanently with its Dauan Island colours and Number.
There followed several visits to Thursday Island by QMM members Rod McLeod and Robert Murray to prepare for the move to Brisbane however it was determined that it would not be safe to attempt to bring the Penguin to Brisbane. She was taking water while at the mooring in Thursday Island Harbour, and the engine was affected by this and unreliable. The sails etc. were in poor condition. The Penguin was moved to the stone pier near the eastern end of the island, where it settled on the bottom several times and had to be refloated. A plan to move the Penguin to Brisbane on the John Burke, the vessel on the regular service to the area, had to be abandoned because a suitable cradle was not available. The new plan was to build a stable cradle, get it up to Thursday Island and fit it to the Penguin while it was afloat. It was carried to Thursday Island on the John Burke at no charge by courtesy of the company. The cables were made up and a lifting harness using heavy mooring line was made up by Forceful’s master, the late George Kerr.
When ready to proceed, the Museum had to obtain transport for the vessel to Brisbane. An application to the Minister of Defence, the late Hon. Jim Killen MP for carriage south on HMAS TOBRUK, which was returning from the Suez area, was successful. Penguin was subsequently moved to the main jetty at Thursday Island and the cradle was secured to her, afloat. When the TOBRUK was due at the quarantine anchorage on the western side of Friday Island, the requirement was that Penguin be ready to load with no delays. Towing the Penguin out of Thursday Island Harbour proved extremely difficult as the tidal currents near Hospital Point were very strong. After an hour of no progress the Torres Strait pilot launch gave assistance and Penguin made it to the loading site on time. TOBRUK’s heavy lift crane lifted Penguin aboard and she was secured on deck for passage to Brisbane. When the
TOBRUK arrived in Brisbane in late April 1982 the lugger was lowered into the Brisbane River to be towed to the Museum and lifted ashore.
Penguin was fitted with a 4 cylinder Gardiner diesel when handed over to QMM at TI. Rod McCleod removed the engine from Penguin at TI prior to embarkation in TOBRUK. The engine was transported to Brisbane aboard TOBRUK.