The Anchor Memorial And Lookout
Before the anchor was set up there, Lynnette Timmis remembers the Headland Lookout being the venue for a community gathering to mark the passing of HM King George VI in 1952, Ron Young played 'Abide With Me' on his accordion there (see the entry for Young).
As well, Ellen McDonald remembers being there on the occasion of the coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II. "There was a ceremony held on the headland – it was an incredibly windy day as far as I can remember. A few Norfolk Island pines were planted – the holes were big enough for a house and the fences would have kept off a herd of horses. Someone played the accordion and I guess we sang God Save the Queen."
As well, Ellen McDonald remembers being there on the occasion of the coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II. "There was a ceremony held on the headland – it was an incredibly windy day as far as I can remember. A few Norfolk Island pines were planted – the holes were big enough for a house and the fences would have kept off a herd of horses. Someone played the accordion and I guess we sang God Save the Queen."
In the 1960s a community group was formed following a suggestion by Mr Marsden (Commander RANR) Hordern of Mossy Point, and as recommended by him a fund was opened for the anchor's preservation and the erection of a monument. Quite a few added to the fund, with some contributing liberally. The idea of dedicating the anchor as a monument to Captain Cook's voyage of discovery up the coast and the part that ships played in the development of the region had the community's full support. However, they were amazed when Council held a totally unannounced ceremony and dedicated the monument without inviting any of the community.
The local community at the time included Admiral Sir Roy Dowling Chief of the Naval Staff, Commodore John Stocker, and Commander Ben Barwood who along with other locals were thoroughly antagonised. To make matters worse, the plaque read:
"This anchor believed to be from the 'Scotia' of 52 tons wrecked off this point in 1884, was erected to commemorate the Bi-Centenary of
Captain Cook's historic voyage of discovery along the N.S.W. coastline, passing Mossy Point on this day 200 years ago."
The anchor is a 1.5 tonne piece, the Scotia was 52 tonnes. The anchor and chain would have caused a considerable list and as well, the Scotia sank off Kiama in 1889. Some long-term locals, who had been around at the time remembered that the anchor was brought from Sydney and placed in The River around 1912 by Cook's Timber Mill as an aid to navigation. It carried a buoy and was used to swing and warp the small vessels using the port to load timber, potatoes and cheese and to bring in supplies for the Bimbimbie mines. It was also used by the punt which took timber and produce to ships anchored at the entrance.
A revised plaque was put in place on 1 October 1982.
The anchor was not a part of Batemans Bay nor Moruya. It is one of the few physical pieces that we have which recall the unique and independent history of the banks of the Tomaga River.
The local community at the time included Admiral Sir Roy Dowling Chief of the Naval Staff, Commodore John Stocker, and Commander Ben Barwood who along with other locals were thoroughly antagonised. To make matters worse, the plaque read:
"This anchor believed to be from the 'Scotia' of 52 tons wrecked off this point in 1884, was erected to commemorate the Bi-Centenary of
Captain Cook's historic voyage of discovery along the N.S.W. coastline, passing Mossy Point on this day 200 years ago."
The anchor is a 1.5 tonne piece, the Scotia was 52 tonnes. The anchor and chain would have caused a considerable list and as well, the Scotia sank off Kiama in 1889. Some long-term locals, who had been around at the time remembered that the anchor was brought from Sydney and placed in The River around 1912 by Cook's Timber Mill as an aid to navigation. It carried a buoy and was used to swing and warp the small vessels using the port to load timber, potatoes and cheese and to bring in supplies for the Bimbimbie mines. It was also used by the punt which took timber and produce to ships anchored at the entrance.
A revised plaque was put in place on 1 October 1982.
The anchor was not a part of Batemans Bay nor Moruya. It is one of the few physical pieces that we have which recall the unique and independent history of the banks of the Tomaga River.
Jeannie Stewart (nee Nye) lived at The Point until she was a teenager, leaving in around 1950. She caught many fish near the anchor, in 2010 she recalled it being just downstream of the boat ramp. Others recall that about a foot (30cm) of the anchor showed at low tide.
John Barling's late father Ambrose told him that he saw a clipper ship incident that led to its anchor being left on the rocks by the River, and that a few years later an attempt to pull another vessel off the sand on the northern side of the river resulted in the anchor being pulled into the River, where it stayed until it was recovered for the memorial.
And just to confuse the issue a little more, there were in fact two anchors in the river, in the 1950s the smaller one was taken for use by one of the punts crossing the Clyde River at Batemans Bay.
John Barling's late father Ambrose told him that he saw a clipper ship incident that led to its anchor being left on the rocks by the River, and that a few years later an attempt to pull another vessel off the sand on the northern side of the river resulted in the anchor being pulled into the River, where it stayed until it was recovered for the memorial.
And just to confuse the issue a little more, there were in fact two anchors in the river, in the 1950s the smaller one was taken for use by one of the punts crossing the Clyde River at Batemans Bay.