Tall Ship Adventures - History Of The Defender

Australia's oldest island trader & the largest timber Tallship in the Whitsundays at 26 metres. The story of Defender is the story of Australia's maritime history with a colourful lineage spanning more than 100 years.

The Defender was built at the northern N.S.W boat building port of Kincumber in 1896. She measured 115' overall with 22' beam. her builder, George Frost had 22 ships to his credit and Defender was considered his best. Featuring a magnificent raking clipper bow with an elliptical stern and eye catching lines, she is still considered one of the prettiest boats afloat.

In the late 1800's the Australian trading ketches were renowned worldwide for their speed, maneuverability and the hardiness of the Australians that sailed them.

The trading ketches provided communication and vital trade between the states and colonies. The Defenders legendry status was based on her speed and cargo capacity. She earnt her reputation as a fast, sea kindly trader plying some of the most inhostpitable waters in the southern hemisphere around the notorious Bass Strait.

She was first registered in Launceston, Tasmania where she soon earned a reputation as a fast ship entering the history books in Nov 1923 by making a record breaking 18 1/2 hour crossing of Bass Strait.

The demise of the Bass Strait 'Mosquito Fleet' began in the 1930's with the introduction of steam powered vessels. the surviving fleet was commandeered by the Australian navy during the second world war to transport troops and supplies. After the war the fleet was abandoned by the government and left to rot. The Defender returned to Tasmania where she fell on hard times and was sold piecemeal in Launceston.

Later she became a landmark in New Town Bay Hobart where shewas developed as an enormous houseboat by a local hotelier. After again falling into neglest she eventually sank at her moorings before being rescued in the 1980's by Launceston resident Les Dick who undertook the mammoth job of restoring her to her former glory, despite being told it was an impossible job. Les Dicks weekend restoration project continued for several frustrating, but determined years before the Tasmanian Government, realising Defenders historical significance, came to the rescue with the finance to prepare her for the 1988 Bicentennial Hobart to Sydney Tall Ships Race as Tasmanias' official representative.

For the next ten years Defender acted as an ambassador for the island state and as a sail training vessel for young Tasmanians. The Tasmanian National Trust classified Defender as an historic ship ans she became the first seagoing vessel in Australia to receive this classification.