check out the new remote control Jockey Wheel SmartBar Canegrowers rearview170 Cobb Grill Skid Row Recovery Gear
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Newbies heading east & back 7


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 168
Date:
Newbies heading east & back 7


My must-do list for our journey included visiting the 'Whyalla' ship memorial, saved and placed on the hard by the City Council with quite a lot of difficulty, well away from the water in that town. Scratch number 1 off the list.. and well worth the stop-over!

IMG_6620 II.jpg

HMAS Whyalla was one of 60 Bathurst-class Australian Minesweepers (corvettes, based on a British type) built in Australia during WWII, 39 of which were for the RAN. They were used mainly for patrol, escort and survey work and served admirably and with distinction during the conflict. 'Whyalla' was present in Sydney Harbour at the time of the Japanese midget submarine attack. She came under air attack a couple of times during the war but suffered only minor damage. All of the Bathurst-class ships worked hard through the war. 'Whyalla' was paid off at Brisbane in 1946 and was bought by the Victorian Public Works Dept. as a lights maintenance vessel. When about to be scrapped in 1984, the Whyalla City Council stepped up and saved her to be set up as a museum. She is one of only two Bathurst-class vessels preserved to recall the great service these little ships gave in time of crisis.

IMG_6618 II.jpg

The tour of the 'Whyalla' is comprehensive and interesting. Most parts of the ship are viewed, and the lady guide is pretty much full-bottle on the details. Here, the ship's whistle is about to be blasted across the surrounds by virtue of an air compressor. The kids love it!

IMG_6626 II.jpg

Whyalla's history has always been about .. STEEL!, although the industry is struggling these days with so much competition from Asian makers. Surely our sometimes feather-brained government must see the vital strategic need to keep this place and its industry alive and well .. and this from a WA-ite! During WWII Whyalla produced only four of the Bathurst-class ships. But it also produced numbers of much larger vessels to assist with the war effort. The place and its industry was vital. It still is! 'Nuf politics.

 IMG_6628 III.jpg

Although Whyalla was a long way from the heat of war in the '40s, protection of these great assets was vital. The high point of Hummock Hill was an ideal place for anti aircraft installations. One has been preserved.

IMG_6628 II.jpg 

This image is a blow-up from the previous and a little hard to read. But a pocket history of Hummock Hill's WWII installations  is here.

IMG_6643 II.jpg

Your correspondent can't often pass by without a visit to a jetty where anglers are in action. This one below Hummock Hill was entertaining, as much because the pelican was trying to snitch a feed from the fishers by terror tactics. I had to show them how to get the better of these con-artists by giving as good as you get - spread arms and roar at 'em while advancing on the enemy. My bailiwick has plenty of these feathered larrikins. It's really all about bluff.. as long as you have a bit of respect for that bill.

IMG_6644 II.jpg

Locals can't resist dropping bits of tucker from the jetty to this dolphin mother-and-child. And the pair know it!

Copy (1) of IMG_6635 A.jpg 

Whyalla Marina Fishing Team resting up for the next assault. Room for one more.. one good tern deserves another.. or something..

We stayed at the Foreshore Caravan Park at Whyalla, in a site right on the waterfront. It would have been ok, excellent in summer. But the springtime easterly was quite blowy and nippy. Otherwise, a neat park, one for the warm weather holidaymakers if you end up next to the beach. Good value meals are available at the sporting club right next door, but we didn't sample them.  

 

 

 

 



-- Edited by JocknNik on Wednesday 9th of August 2017 09:05:14 PM

Attachments
__________________

Jock



Chief one feather

Status: Offline
Posts: 17325
Date:

Well done!

I enjoyed reading about the Wyalla. Great pics to go with it as well.

You got lucky with Peter Pelican staying put for you too.

__________________

Live Life On Your Terms

DOUG  Chief One Feather  (Losing feathers with age)

TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy

DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV  (with some changes)

 



Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 168
Date:

Thanks Doug. I asked the pelican if his name was Percival, but all I got was a guttural grunt. At least he was co-operative as a subject.
I think I might have finally nutted out how to decrease pic size. Me and 'sputers are not a good mix.

__________________

Jock



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1889
Date:

We had a look at that ship too a couple months back when down that way. What is the name on the back of the ship? The ownership of the steel works has only recently changed hands - very recently. The steel works tour was also very good. It's nice to read someone else's report and think "I've been there and seen that". Thanks.





(It still says RIP on the back).

__________________


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 168
Date:

IMG_6625 II.jpg

Hi Gaylene. This is the only image I took at the stern of the 'Whyalla'. Didn't get the upper stern in it, and couldn't recall seeing what, if anything, that was above. So I did a Google search and could only find one image of the stern section. Hard to make out what was on the stern bit it seemed to be the word 'Rip'. It's good to see there is a new owner at the steel works. We were there late last year and I think the then owners were a French crowd. Asian steelworks will always make it hard for Whyalla.

Edit: Ah, it's just hit me! When the Vics got hold of the 'Whyalla' they re-named it the 'Rip' after I believe, the notorious rip at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. Wouldn't be my favourite choice for a boat name, seemed a bit inappropriate. Maybe someone's sense  of humour at the time.   

 



-- Edited by JocknNik on Thursday 10th of August 2017 02:00:22 AM



-- Edited by JocknNik on Thursday 10th of August 2017 02:34:36 AM

Attachments
__________________

Jock



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1889
Date:

IMG_6347.JPG  I can find photos of her as the RIP but not a reason for the name.  Anyway, was good to see her there.  Cheers Gaylene.



Attachments
__________________


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 168
Date:

A further update on the SS 'RIP'. Seems the ex-'Whyalla' was not the first ship in Victorian Public Works service to be called the 'Rip'. An earlier vessel in that service also carried the name. I've been able to find a few more images of both ships by Googling them.

__________________

Jock



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 6554
Date:

When we did the tour of the ship, we were told the reason for RIP, but can't remember it now.... grey matter creeping in

but google helps with this information:

The S.S. Rip started life as the HMAS Whyalla and served in the war until 1947 when it was sold to the Victorian Public Works Department as a maintenance ship in Port Phillip Bay.

When it was sold it was refitted as a civilian vehicle and renamed the S.S. Rip.



-- Edited by Dunmowin on Saturday 7th of October 2017 10:06:10 PM

__________________

Pay it forward - what goes around comes around

DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!  

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Purchase Grey Nomad bumper stickers Read our daily column, the Nomad News The Grey Nomad's Guidebook