South West Rocks Pilot Station Complex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South West Rocks Pilot Station Complex |
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| Location | 5 Ocean Drive, South West Rocks, Kempsey Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1902–1902 |
| Official name: South West Rocks Pilot Station Complex; South West Rocks Pilot Station | |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 June 2008 |
| Reference no. | 1788 |
| Type | Other - Maritime Industry |
| Category | Maritime Industry |
| Builders | C B Smith |
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The South West Rocks Pilot Station Complex is a special group of old buildings in South West Rocks, New South Wales. It used to be a pilot station, which is a place where expert sailors called "pilots" helped guide ships safely into and out of a port or river. This important site is located at 5 Ocean Drive and was built in 1902 by C. B. Smith. It's now listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, meaning it's a protected historical place.
Contents
What is a Pilot Station?
A pilot station was a vital part of coastal shipping. Pilots were like expert navigators who knew the local waters very well. They would board large ships and guide them through tricky channels, sandbars, and busy harbors. This made sure ships and their cargo arrived safely.
Why Was the Pilot Station Built Here?
Moving After a Big Flood
The original pilot station wasn't always at South West Rocks. Before 1893, it was located a few kilometres north, at Grassy Head. But in 1893, a huge flood hit the area. It was one of the worst floods ever! The floodwaters burst through sand hills near South West Rocks, creating a new entrance to the river.
Because of this new river entrance, the Government of New South Wales decided in 1895 to move the pilot station. They wanted to make the new entrance stable and close the old one, which was getting too shallow.
Building the New Station
The government set aside £3,000 to build a new pilot station at South West Rocks. The chosen spot was on the eastern side of South West Rocks Creek, also known as "Backwater Creek." This location was perfect because it offered clear views of ships entering and leaving the Macleay River and those in Trial Bay. These views were super important for the pilots to do their job and send out their boat crews quickly.
A builder named C.B. Smith won the contract to build the station. The cottages were actually "pre-cut," meaning parts of them were made in a factory and then put together on site. These were likely some of the first pre-cut buildings in the Macleay Valley!
What Was the Pilot Station Like?
The Buildings and Their Purpose
The complex included five cottages. One was for the pilot, and the other four were for his crewmen, called "boatmen." The boatmen's cottages were numbered 1 to 4, starting from the Pilot's residence and going east.
There was also a boatshed on the banks of Back Creek. Stone steps connected the Pilot's residence to this boatshed.
The Signal Station
A signal station and a tall flagstaff were built on the headland nearby. This small building had special lockers for flags and windows with copper flaps. These flaps were used as rests for telescopes, allowing the pilot to see ships far away.
If the crew was busy or delayed, their wives would light a beacon (a warning light) near the station. This helped guide ships at night. The first pilot at this new station was Captain John Jamieson.
The Pilot Boat: MV Macleay
The wooden pilot boat, "MV Macleay," was specially built for the South West Rocks Pilot Station. It was one of four similar pilot boats built for the Maritime Services Board. The "Macleay" was built in Sydney in 1935. It replaced an earlier boat, "MV Ajax," which was destroyed by fire.
The "Macleay" was kept in a boatshed on the eastern bank of South West Rocks Creek. You can still see the concrete slab where the boatshed once stood! The "Macleay" served the Trial Bay area until the 1960s.
Years later, the "Macleay" was found far away at Dora Creek, Lake Macquarie. A local businessman helped the Kempsey Shire Council buy it back. The boat was returned to the Pilot Station complex and is now protected under a covered shelter near Boatman's Cottage 2.
How the Community Saved the Station
Restoring the Cottages
In 1991, the Macleay River Historical Society encouraged the people of South West Rocks to help restore Boatman's Cottage No. 1. The Kempsey Shire Council also helped by listing the Pilot Station buildings as important heritage items.
In 1992, the community successfully restored Boatman's Cottage No. 1. This led to the land being used for heritage and tourism. In 1998, the Council received a grant to help restore another cottage that was in bad shape. Local volunteers, guided by Al Geronomi, did the restoration work.
A Museum and Visitor Centre
It was decided that Boatman's Cottage 1 would become a maritime museum and a visitor information centre. The opening ceremony was held on September 10, 1993, by the Governor of New South Wales, Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair.
Past Uses of the Cottages
- Boatman's Cottage 1: Before 1990, it was used by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
- Boatman's Cottage 2: This cottage was once a holiday home for staff of the Maritime Services Board.
- Boatman's Cottage 3: This cottage has been used as a police station since the pilot station closed.
- Boatman's Cottage 4: Sadly, this cottage was removed in 1968 to make way for new buildings.
Exploring the Pilot Station Today
The Pilot Station complex is located in an area called Horseshoe Bay Reserve. This reserve is surrounded by:
- South West Rocks Creek (Backwater Creek) to the west.
- Trial Bay and Saltwater Creek to the north.
- Arakoon State Recreation Area to the east.
- Various streets to the south.
The complex still includes the Pilot's residence, three of the four original cottages, the signal station, and the flagstaff at Point Briner. You can also see the steps that led to the old boat shed and the wooden pilot boat "MV Macleay." The amazing views towards the Macleay River entrance and Trial Bay harbour are still there too!
What the Buildings Look Like
The Pilot's residence and the three remaining cottages are made of timber with red tiled roofs. The floors are made of a strong wood called tallowwood, and the inside walls are mahogany. The doors and windows are timber, and the brick chimneys are still in place.
The Pilot's residence had three bedrooms, while the boatmen's cottages had two. The Pilot's residence also has its original outbuildings, like a "Rocket Shed," a storeroom, a garage, a yard shed, an outside toilet, and an outside shower.
- Boatman's Cottage 1: This cottage is now a museum and Visitor Information Centre. Its outbuildings are also still there.
- Boatman's Cottage 2: This cottage has been beautifully restored. It's a single-storey, three-bedroom house built around 1902. It has an original fireplace, kitchen, bathroom, and an enclosed front veranda. It's currently used as a craft centre.
- Cottage No. 3: This cottage has been a police station since 1932.
The Signal House and Flagstaff
The wooden signal house and the 19-meter tall wooden flagstaff on Point Briner are still standing. The small signal house (about 2.4m by 3m) had lockers for flags and windows with copper flaps for telescopes. Pilots used to hoist a black ball on the flagstaff to show if the river bar was closed to ships. They also used cones and balls to signal water depth and weather conditions.
The MV Macleay Boat
The wooden pilot boat "MV Macleay" is about 10.3 meters long. It was powered by a 20 horsepower diesel engine and was designed to be self-righting (meaning it would turn itself upright if it capsized). The concrete slab of the old boat shed where the pilot boats were kept is still on the eastern bank of South West Rocks Creek. A shelter was built in 2003 to protect the "Macleay," which is in fair condition, though it's no longer seaworthy.
Why is This Place Important?
The South West Rocks Pilot Station complex is very important to the history of New South Wales.
A Look into the Past
This pilot station shows how important shipping was along the coast of New South Wales. Pilots were essential for ships to safely enter and leave ports. Before trains and good roads, coastal shipping was how goods and people moved between Sydney and regional towns.
The station also tells a story about how the government invested in ports like the Macleay River in the late 1800s. Over time, trains and roads became more popular, and the pilot service at smaller ports like this one eventually closed.
A Unique Historical Site
The South West Rocks Pilot Station is special because most of the 21 pilot stations that once operated in New South Wales have been torn down or moved. Only a few remain, and the South West Rocks complex is one of only two that are still largely intact with their original buildings. The other similar station is in Kiama. This makes the South West Rocks Pilot Station a rare and valuable example of maritime history.
Community Connection
The local community deeply values the Pilot Station complex. It's listed on the Kempsey Shire Council's Local Environment Plan, and people have worked hard to get it listed on the State Heritage Register. Community groups have volunteered their time and efforts to maintain the cottages and the "MV Macleay" boat. This shows how much the site means to the people of South West Rocks.
Learning from the Site
The complex also offers a chance for archaeologists to study how people lived and worked at pilot stations in the past. By comparing it to other less complete stations, we can learn more about the daily lives of pilots and boatmen.
