On a low, low tide, the Kingfisher lies with her ribs exposed, laden with cormorants sunning in the dawn warmth. She is a steel barque, a coal hulk, blown ashore by a hasty summer wind of 1885.On the northern shore, at Pelican Point, if you tread carefully between ancient flagon and car tyre flotsam, the engine block and anvil jetsam, you can still find little black pieces of her final load.
Wow, I had no idea it was so old. We used to see it sticking out of the water at very low tide from our house in Hill St (I think)
ReplyDeleteYes, she looks like a swan from there. It's amazing she has lasted so well really. when you get close, the winches and engines are still visible.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sarah. I never got this close to Kingfisher, but we had an intimate relationship with the swan from my writing studio window on the verandah at Mary Thomson House. See "Southern Edge" page 19,
ReplyDeleteGreat images and thanks for sharing the story. When we see old shipwrecks on our annual trip to the beach, I always wonder the history behind it.
ReplyDeleteHey Ms Toa, VAC is looking for a sprung coordinator, there is a flyer on the wall of the naked bean warehouse....after briefly considering abandoning my current occupation you sprung to mind. applications by the 18th Feb, main workload around Aug/Sep but with some ongoing year round activity.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to be commando bombing leaflets, I saw one at the book shop today. Thanks for thinking of me but I just could not think of many things more stressful!
ReplyDeleteMy refrain of "I just want a quiet life minus the chaos," would be lost in the roar of dented writer's egos and unhappy punters, were I to do that job!
And thanks for your comments Barbara and Slamdunk. I would love to read Southern Edge again anyway Barbara, and will do so!
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