Spirited, Skilled and Determined. The Nineteenth Century Boat and Ship builders of battery Point

Spirited, Skilled and Determined. The Nineteenth Century Boat and Ship builders of battery Point

During the nineteenth century upwards of 24 boat and ship builders operated commercial yards at Battery Point, near Hobart. The earliest of this cohort was Irish immigrant Daniel Callaghan who established a boat yard near the Mulgrave Battery in late 1830. It was operational for only a few years before Callaghan sailed to New South Wales in search of new opportunities. Next came two shipbuilders: Scottish immigrant William Williamson and English-born John Watson. The former established a yard in 1834 on the site previously occupied by Callaghan; the latter established a yard along the Napoleon Street corridor in 1839. Other boat and ship builders soon followed, including Peter and Henry Degraves, Joseph Risby and his brothers, Jacob Chandler, James Mackey, John Ross, Charles Miller, George Whitehouse, Lark Macquarie and Robert Inches.