Page 23 - CYAA Magazine Jan 2018 Issue 41

Issue 41 - March 2018 CYAA ©

Significantly, it was also here, under Charles of Battery Point. Several books published on
Snook’s guidance, that several of Battery Point’s Tasmania’s maritime history further alluded to
20th century more prominent boat builders, the fact that he had built the first four steam
including Jock Muir, Max Creese, Bill Foster, Sam ferries for the O’May Brothers in their ground
and Mick Purdon, and John Lucas, had their breaking and ever-expanding River Derwent
introduction to woodwork and technical passenger services. My curiosity was piqued.
drawing. Charles Snook proved to be the unsung You cannot build pioneering steam ferries in the
mentor of their formative years. 1870s without knowledge, without experience
and without a reputation. So what had Jacob
As the physical restoration of Adela continued so Bayly Chandler done before this point in his
too did the restoration of her history, the two career? What did he do after? My one major goal
events simultaneously driving the 90-year-old was to find out just how many boats Jacob Bayly
vessel back to life. Today Adela stands as a Chandler had built over the course of his career.
testament to her builders and subsequent
owners. She is the sum of the physical and It took three years to research and write a book
personal legacies of those who designed, built, on Jacob Bayly Chandler. It was an ad hoc effort
owned and sailed her: a tangible connection considering that I was working full-time, had a
between the past and present.

Morsels of pavlova are like
puzzle pieces to me. I love
piecing together snippets of
information to complete the
whole, whether they be boats or
people or events. I began chasing
my own morsels of pavlova as a
teenager, trying to piece together
my family’s history. It was before
the internet. My aunt and I would
trudge to the archives in Hobart
looking at convict records and
birth, death and marriage
certificates. There was such a
sense of relief when the oral
family history passed down
through the generations matched
the records, and a sense of
amazement when we found
something new or managed to
uncover another generation.

In my late 20s I began to research
more thoroughly the career of my
great-great-great grandfather.
His name was Jacob Bayly
Chandler and family history
stated that he was a boat builder
CYAA Magazine Issue 35 features a article about Jacob Bayley Chandler

Page 23