MV ''Cape Don'' is a former
lighthouse tender
A lighthouse tender is a ship specifically designed to maintain, support, or tend to lighthouses or lightvessels, providing supplies, fuel, mail, and transportation.
In the United States, these ships originally served as part of the Lighthou ...
, now a
museum ship and
training ship
A training ship is a ship used to train students as sailors. The term is mostly used to describe ships employed by navies to train future officers. Essentially there are two types: those used for training at sea and old hulks used to house class ...
in
Waverton, New South Wales, Australia.
Built and launched by the
State Dockyard
The State Dockyard was a ship building and maintenance facility operated by the Government of New South Wales in Carrington, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia between 1942 and 1987.
History
In 1942, the State Dockyard opened on the site of ...
at
Newcastle, New South Wales
Newcastle ( ; Awabakal: ) is a metropolitan area and the second most populated city in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It includes the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas, and is the hub of the Greater Newcastle area ...
in 1962 for the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service, she serviced the lighthouses, lightships and buoys of the Australian coast from 1963 to the early 1990s. She is being restored by the labour of enthusiasts to become a museum and training ship. She is listed on the
Australian Register of Historic Vessels. She is currently berthed at the former coal loading wharf in
Balls Head Bay,
Waverton, New South Wales. As of 2022 the restoration project is proceeding well.
On October 10th 2022 TAFE courses started onboard.
Service history
In 1973, the ''Cape Don'' assisted in the recovery of two anchors which were jettisoned in 1803 from whilst under the command of
Matthew Flinders.
In 1987 she transported the tower of the former lighthouse from the
Neptune Islands
The Neptune Islands consist of two groups of islands located close to the entrance to Spencer Gulf in South Australia. They are well known as a venue for great white shark tourism.
Description
The Neptune Islands consists of two groups of is ...
to Port Adelaide for inclusion in the collection of the
South Australian Maritime Museum
The South Australian Maritime Museum is a state government museum, part of the History Trust of South Australia. The Museum opened in 1986 in a collection of historic buildings in the heart of Port Adelaide, South Australia's first heritage prec ...
.
See also
*
State Dockyard
The State Dockyard was a ship building and maintenance facility operated by the Government of New South Wales in Carrington, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia between 1942 and 1987.
History
In 1942, the State Dockyard opened on the site of ...
*
HMS Investigator Anchors
References
External links
The MV Cape Don Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cape Don, MV
1962 ships
Lighthouse tenders of Australia
Transport museums in New South Wales
Museum ships in Australia