1. Guest
  2. Login | Subscribe
 
     
Forgot Login?  

FREE Newsletter Subscription, Click The 'Subscribe' Button Below To Subscribe!

Weekday News Bulletin

PortMac.News FREE Weekday Email News Bulletin

Be better informed, subscribe to our FREE weekday news Update service here:

PortMac Menu

A group of dedicated volunteers met in October 2021 & formed a sub-committee of the Macleay Valley Arts Council to establish a community art gallery in the Pilot Station building in South West Rocks.

Source : PortMac.News | Citizen :

Source : PortMac.News | Citizen | News Story:

main-block-ear
 
South West Rocks : Community art gallery opens today
A group of dedicated volunteers met in October 2021 & formed a sub-committee of the Macleay Valley Arts Council to establish a community art gallery in the Pilot Station building in South West Rocks.

News Story Summary:

South West Rocks community art gallery : Residents are now invited to see the new gallery featuring local Mid North Coast artists.

A group of dedicated volunteers met in October 2021 and formed a sub-committee of the Macleay Valley Arts Council to establish a community art gallery in the Pilot Station building in South West Rocks.

The Gallery now occupies the heritage-listed Pilot's Residence, part of the Maritime Precinct hub, which includes the Museum building, the Arts and Craft Boatman’s Cottage 2, Men’s Shed, and adjoins the School of Arts Hall (cinema).

South West Rocks Pilot Station Complex:

This group of maritime buildings was a 1902 transplant forced to its new location by an 1893 flood.

Until 1893 the Pilot, his crew and all their families worked at Grassy Head a few kilometres north of South West Rocks.

In 1893 the valley was devastated by one of the worst floods in its history.

It rampaged through the district finally bursting through the sand hills near South West Rocks to form a new entrance, the name it now bears.

The Government of New South Wales decided of 1895 to stabilise this most recent breakout and close the rapidly shoaling channel under Grassy Head.

Three thousand pounds was voted for a new pilot station at South West Rocks.

The new site was pegged out on the eastern side of South West Rocks Creek (known locally as "Backwater Creek"), a small water body that lies between South West Rocks and the New Entrance.

The complex consisted of five cottages to house the pilot and his four crewmen.

The boatman's cottages are numbered sequentially from 1 to 4 and eastward from the Pilot's residence.

A boatshed on the banks of Back Creek connected by a flight of stone steps led to the Pilot's residence.

The site was chosen due to the uninterrupted views it provided for the Pilot to observe the arrival and departure of vessels at the Macleay River to the northwest and harbouring in Trial Bay to the east.

These views were essential for the conduct of the Pilot service and rapid deployment of boat crews.[1]

A signal station and flagstaff was built on the headland adjacent to the maritime buildings.

This little building was fitted out with lockers for the flags and windows with copper flaps on three sides to act as rests for a telescope.

When the crew were delayed by working on the bar or attending to the beacons in the river, their wives would light the beacon a short distance from the station. The first Pilot was Captain John Jamieson who had been in charge of the station at Grassy Head.

In 1991 the Macleay River Historical Society urged the community of South West Rocks to organise a working group to restore the boatman's cottage no1.

Kempsey Shire council instigated a planning amendment enabling listing of the Pilot station group of buildings at South West Rocks as items of environmental heritage on its LEP.[1]

Subsequent representation secured use of the land for essential heritage purposes and tourism.

In 1998 Council obtained a grant of $24,000 under the NSW Department of Planning Heritage Assistance programme.

The purpose of the grant was for restoration of the cottage which formed part of the Pilot Station Group and which was in a state of disrepair at the time of application.[1]

Council Operations department supervised the restoration, which was carried out by the community under the direction of Al Geronomi.

It was decided to use the cottage as a maritime museum and visitors information centre.

The opening was performed by His Excellency Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair AC, Governor of New South Wales, on 10 September 1993.

Boatman's Cottage No. 2 was formerly used as a holiday cottage for staff of the Maritime Services Board.

The cottage was later transferred from the office of Maritime Safety and Port Strategy (MSS) to the Department for Land and Water Conservation.

Boatman's Cottage No. 3 has been used as a police station since the closure of the Pilot Station.

Video By | Jemma Pepper


This News Story's Author : Staff-Editor-02

Users | Click above to view Staff-Editor-02's 'Member Profile'

Share This Information :

Submit to DeliciousSubmit to DiggSubmit to FacebookSubmit to Google PlusSubmit to StumbleuponSubmit to TechnoratiSubmit to TwitterSubmit to LinkedIn

Add A Comment :


Security code

Please enter security code from above or Click 'Refresh' for another code.

Refresh


All Comments are checked by Admin before publication

Guest Menu

All Content & Images Copyright Portmac.news & Xitranet© 2013-2024 | Site Code : 03601