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22/12/2004: "RIVERSONG .............The first dive and spearfishing boat."
Built of Tasmanian timbers along the lines of a pearling lugger the 42 foot long commercial fishing boat Riversong worked the Swain Reefs at a time when maybe just one or two, vessels went there. With a beam of 12foot 6 inches she had a 48 HP Gardiner engine which delivered 8 knots. Planks were 6" thick, deck planks were 1.5" thick.
The problem with navigation into the Swains was 'knowing where you were when you arrived'. From a known starting point (in 1965) the rough hand-sketched maps (or charts) that were passed from friend to friend, would get them part of the way. The Swain Reefs was a 'no man's land - at sea.'
It still is a maze of submerged coral bommies, and in the far north, rip-tide country where there are currents of six knots or more - sometimes more powerful than what a small boat could steam against. Full speed ahead and the boat is still moving backwards! Very tretcherous and in a lonely part of the world. No one went there.
Except one man. Captain Walter G. Muller or Wally Muller who pioneered most of the southern Great Barrier Reef aboard his now legendary Riversong. At one stage the leading authority on this part of the world. (He was hired by Gulf Oil to help them make the first aerial charts of the southern Great Barrier Reef (or The Swains).
A single coral reef called Riversong Cay is the sole maritime recognition of his pioneering days on the GBR.
In the early 1960's Riversong made several noteworthy diving expeditions, the most extraordinary being through the Swain Reefs to Gannet Cay and later Saumarez Reef beyond Australia's continental shelf and into the southern Coral Sea.
(Saumarez is an adventure destination but more so 40 years ago. 1. No GPS or weather forecasting then. 2. Greater than usual shark activity. 3.Underwater visibility of 65 meters. 4. USS Liberty Ship aground on the reef with live ammunition. 5 A dangerous voyage in a small slow vessel. (Any serious bleeding injury could be fatal).
Riversong was sold several times and her whereabouts today is unknown.
Construction details:
Built in 1947 at Mackay, Queensland from spotted gum timber (maybe with an oregon pole), by W.Beattie a ship builder formerly from Tasmania. Twin freezer could hold 4500 pounds of fish fillets.
A gysy anchor winch used a WW2 aircraft starter engine.
(Information subject to an update. Pictured is only known photo of Riversong under power, with WG Muller outside the wheelhouse).
Footnote: Wally Muller's next vessel was Careelah (native word meaning south wind). Former name was the Norman R. Wright. 66 feet in length, 15 foot beam, hardwood construction with Hueon Pine from waterline to deck. Deck was of beech. Built in 1949 b y Norman R Wright.
His last vessel was the famed Coralita which was the premier dive boat during the 1970's which hosted scuba diving Prime Minister's. 79 feet in length with 19.5 foot beam she was built of beech timbers. Twin 190 HP Catapillar diesels 160 KVA and 125 KVA generator sets.
Planks are of 8" and 2" spotted gum each plank with a length of 40 feet or more and requiring five men to handle each one. Launched in 1969. Built by Norman R. Wright of Brisbane.
Updated info 10 March 2005.
