The
Lifeboat Queenscliffe forms the
core of the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum collection.
Of British Watson Class design, she was built in
Adelaide and commenced service at Queenscliff in 1926. She was taken out of
service in 1976 by the Marine Board of Victoria and subsequently offered to the Borough of Queenscliffe for care and display.
At
a public meeting held on March 13 1980, a committee was formed to investigate
how the lifeboat could be preserved. This led to the formation of the Queenscliffe Lifeboat Preservation Society
Incorporated which oversaw the early stages of restoration of the vessel and the
establishment of the museum. In 1998 the name was changed to Queenscliffe Maritime
Museum Inc to more accurately reflect the general nature of the exhibits and
displays.
The Lifeboat is listed on the Australian Register of Historic Vessels
(ARHV).
To view the
classification follow the link to the Queenscliffe page on the
ARHV site.
During her 50
years of service the
Queenscliffe
attended many calls for
assistance both inside and outside the Heads. Some
of the vessels and calls for help the lifeboat attended were:
1931
Hygeia
1932 Casino
1940 HMAS Goorangai -
click here for details of
the
annual
Goorangai Day Service
1940 Orungal
1949 Time
1949 Merlyn
1960 Army
Commandos lost in the
Rip
1967 The
search for the late Prime Minister Harold
Holt
1974 The
last attendance to a vessel was to the Brisbane Trader which was on
fire
