Maritime Museum Of Townsville

On display at the Museum is an octant, a maritime navigation instrument, associated with Janet Taylor, a remarkable woman living in Victorian Britain, a society dominated by men.

A most interesting octant

Janet Taylor (1804-1870), born Jane Ann Ionn, was an English astronomer, mathematician and navigation expert.

She published various works on astronomy and navigation. She and her husband George Taylor founded an academy for the teaching of these subjects, which was highly recommended by the British East India Company and the Admiralty.

She also established and managed a company that produced, distributed and repaired high quality navigational instruments, like the sextant on display at the Museum.

Taylor was one of the very few women working in the European maritime industry in the 19th century. In recognition of her work she was awarded medals by the kings of Prussia and The Netherlands.

The octant was donated to the Museum by Trevor Watts in 2018 and is on display in the exhibition about navigating the Queensland coast by James Cook.

In 2016, a book about Mrs. Janet Taylor, by John Croucher and Rosalind Croucher, was published, “Mistress of Science”.

This week in history

"Avenge the nurses". The sinking of the Australian Hospital Ship "Centaur".

Completed in Scotland as a combination passenger liner and refrigerated cargo ship in 1924, "Centaur" operated between Western Australia and Singapore via the Dutch East Indies, carrying passengers, cargo, and livestock.

What is a "centaur"?

A centaur is a creature from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse.

In January 1943, "Centaur" was handed over to the Australian military for conversion to a hospital ship, as her small size made her suitable for operating in Southeast Asia. The refit (including installation of medical facilities and repainting with Red Cross markings) was completed in March, and the ship undertook a test or training voyage: transporting wounded from Townsville to Brisbane.

Its first voyage into a war zone had Port Moresby as its destination, where on 23 April wounded Allied troops were picked up and brought to Brisbane.

The ship left Brisbane again on 29 April to collect more wounded soldiers in Townsville, which happened on 2 May. This is recorded in the Arrivals and Departures register for the Port of Townsville, one of the Museum's most prized documents. From Brisbane the "Centaur" sailed to Sydney.

On 12 May the ship departed from Sydney, destination Port Moresby. Two days later, on 14 May, the brighly illuminated vessel, clearly visible as a hospital ship, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, probably the I-177, off the coast of North Stradbroke Island. Occurring around 4:10 AM, the torpedo caused the ship to sink in roughly three minutes. Of the 332 personnel on board, onlly 64 people survived, spending up to 35 hours in water before being rescued by the US Navy destroyer "Mugford".

Nurse Ellen Savage was the only woman to emerge alive. Despite her injuries, she spent the hours in shark-infested waters tending to the wounded and defying all odds until rescue arrived.

The public reaction to the attack on Centaur was one of outrage. Politicians urged the public to use their rage to fuel the war effort, and 'Centaur' became a symbol of Australia's determination to defeat what appeared to be a brutal and uncompromising enemy.The Australian Government produced posters depicting the sinking, which called for Australians to "Avenge the Nurses" by working to produce materiel, purchasing war bonds, or enlisting in the armed forces.

In December 2009 the wreck was discovered by the shipwreck hunter David Mearns.

There are a number of memorials scattered across Australia. In 1953, a convalescent and rest hostel for nurses , named "Centaur House", located on Marine Parade, Geoffrey Bay, Magnetic Island, was opened, dedicated to the memory of the nurses of the Australian Hospital Ship "Centaur".

The Maritime Museum has its own memorial in the grounds of the Memorial Garden.

In 2026 a book, dedicated to Nurse Ellen Savage and the survivors of the "Centaur", was published.

Battle of the Coral Sea - 84 years ago

On 4 May, Museum representatives were again present and laid a wreath during the annual Battle of the Coral Sea dawn service at the Coral Sea Memorial in Anzac Park, commemorating this significant naval event that happened 84 years ago, this year.

When the Battle of the Coral Sea began on 4 May 1942, the Allies’ situation was grave. The Japanese had already swept deep into the South Pacific and were now positioned in the Solomon Islands.

Their next aim was to capture Port Moresby in the Australian Territory of Papua, thereby cutting supply lines between Australia and the USA and putting northern Australian bases within range of Japanese bombers. While those on the home front feared an invasion and anxiously awaited news, a complex five-day battle unfolded just 885 km (477 nautical miles) northeast of Townsville.

The Coral Sea was the first sea battle in history to be fought entirely by carriers and their aircraft. Throughout the engagement, the opposing fleets never fired on or moved within sight of each other.

The Japanese fleet, commanded by Vice Admiral Inoue, consisted of 34 vessels, including three carriers, destroyers, cruisers, submarines, patrol boats and support vessels.

The Allied fleet, commanded by Vice Admiral Jack Fletcher, consisted of 26 vessels including the carriers USS Lexington and USS Yorktown, the cruisers HMAS Australia and HMAS Hobart, destroyers and support vessels. The 141 sea-based planes and 482 shore-based planes that participated included B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-25 Mitchell’s, B-26 Marauders and RAAF Hudsons.

Both during the battle and in the days leading up to it, Townsville played its part. Allied aircraft based in Townsville, including B17 Flying Fortresses, flew reconnaissance and bombing missions over Japanese-held territory and the Coral Sea.

On 6 May, a B 17E from USAAF 435th Bomb Squadron (Kangaroo Squadron), based at Townsville, spotted the Japanese invasion fleet and attempted to bomb a carrier.

The climax of the battle on 8 May saw the Japanese carrier Shokaku disabled by planes from USS Yorktown, herself badly damaged but still operational. Struck by both bombs and torpedoes, USS Lexington burst into flames and was abandoned and sunk to prevent capture. She lost over 200 men. By the end of the day, both sides retired.

Although the Allies lost more ships, it was the first strategic defeat for the Japanese since Pearl Harbor and a psychological turning point in the Pacific war. In terms of strategy the Allies won because the seaborne invasion of Port Moresby was stopped and this lessened the threat to the supply lines between the USA and Australia.

It was the first time in World War II that a Japanese invasion force was turned back, lifting the morale of the Allies.

Less than a month later, the Allies won the decisive Battle of Midway, thanks in part to the damage inflicted on the Japanese fleet in the Coral Sea.

At the Maritime Museum of Townsville, the Battle of the Coral Sea takes centrestage in our exhibit of World Wars I and II in the South Pacific. Panels, artefacts, dioramas, and ship and airplane models tell the heroic story, and a short video documentary titled “Clash of the Carriers” uses dramatic original footage to convey the scope of the attacks. Our thanks to the Australian National Maritime Museum for the generous loan of this and other videos on World War II.

"Attack them" - HMAS "Yarra", World War II hero ship

This narrative plays itself out against the Japanese conquest of the Dutch East Indies in 1942 as background. The deterioration of the Allies' position in this part of the world triggered franctic efforts to withdraw ships, military personnel and civilians during the early days of March. On 8 March the Dutch East Indies surrendered.

One of these ships was the Dutch steamer "Parigi" of the Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij (KPM), which departed in a hurry on 27 February from Tjilatjap, destination Bunbury, Western Australia. Two days later she was intercepted by the Japanese submarine "I-2" and sunk by torpedo and gunfire. Roughly 35-40 crew escaped in lifeboats. One of them was the fourth engineer, the only survivor of the engine room crew.

On 2 March, the sloop HMAS "Yarra" departed from Tjilatjap, es**rting a convoy consisting of the depot ship HMS "Anking, the "Francol", a small tanker, and MMS-51, a small Royal Navy minesweeper. Destination: Fremantle.

"Yarra" was a Grimsby class sloop (convoy es**rt vessel), armed with three 4-inch guns, commanded by Lieutenant Robert Rankin.

A day later, "Yarra" picked up the survivors of the "Parigi".

Early on 4 March, "Yarra" ran into a formidable Japanese fleet consting of cruisers and destroyers.

The KPM book about the history of this company in World War II recounts what happened from the perspective of the "Parigi" fourth engineer.

"The ship vibrates. Depth charges have been dropped, a submarine is suspected. Here comes the doctor with a life preserver. "Put it on boy, J**s have been sighted". "How many?". Lots, it seems like the whole bl........ Japanese Navy". "What are we going to do?" "Attack them".

"Yarra"'s commander laid down a smokescreen, then ordered the convoy to scatter while the sloop when on the attack aganst a vastly superior evnemy force.

Despite the efforts of" Yarra", the other three Allied ships were pursued and sunk, and the sloop was sunk by cruiser gunfire shortly after 08:00, with only 34 survivors from the ship's company and the Paragi rescuees. Lieutenant Rankin was one of the many killed in action. Attrition through shark attacks, dying of wounds, hunger and thirst whittled down the numner to 13.

On 9 March the survivors were picked up by the Dutch submarine K XI. The engineer from the "Parigi" was the only one left of his crew.

Survivors of the convoy ships were rescued by Allied ships.

In honour of Robert Rankin the 6th and final Collins class submarine, HMAS "Rankin", was named in his honour. The ship's motto is "Defend the Weak", a reference to the heroic efforts of Robert Rankin and "Yarra" to defend the unarmed convoy ships.

In the week leasding up to Anzac Day we pay respects to the 2,170 RAN personnel who died during World War II.

On display at the Museum is a drwag of the heroic attack of HMAS "Yarra".

But, staggering, 3,500 to 5,100 ships of the Dutch, Norwegian, Greek, British, American and other Allied merchant navies were lost, amounting to thousands of deaths.

Due to their sacrifices, Victory in Europe and Victory in the Pacific was achieved.

Lest we also not forget them

What do mermaids, hot cross buns, an albatross, ships' figureheads, tattoos, red skies, crossing the equator and bananas have in common?

They are all related to a variety of superstitions of seafarers. Some bring good luck, some bad luck whilst at sea.

The Museum has launched a new temporary exhibition with the title "No bananas on board - Seafaring lore and legend".

Many lore and legends, particular to sailors or mariners, are traditionally common around the world. Some of them are popular superstitions, while others are better described as traditions, stories, folklore, tropes, myths, lore or legends.

The origins of many of these lore and legends are based on the inherent risks of sailing the oceans, and luck, either good or bad, as well as signs and omens that would be given associative meaning in relation to the life of a mariner, sailor, fisherman, or a crew in general.

By far the best-known sailors' superstitions involve bad luck, such as killing an albatross, seeing or hearing mermaids, meeting ghost ships and carrying bananas on board.

Superstitions that involve good luck include tattoos, cats on board, observing the St Elmo’s fire on rigging and masts and crossing the Equator.

Discover some of these lore and legends featured in the Museum. Learn more about sea stories on the skin (tattoos), the Flying Dutchman and other famous ghost ships, mermaids, St Elmo's fire, red skies in the morning and at night and the ritual of crossing the equator at sea. And meet Davy Jones.

For kids we have an activity worksheet about the stories and things that bring bad and good luck. They are all over the Museum. Find them and then write down what they are.

"An Appalling Disaster"

The eleventh hour of the evening of 23 March 1911 had passed. The coastal passenger steamer "Yongala" was battling raging seas and heavy rains, driven by a relentless winds coming from the north-east. She was on her way to Townsville, having left Mackay just after lunch time.

And then it happened. Off Cape Bowling Green the ship started losing the battle with the tropical cyclone. The heavy seas and cyclonic winds were pushing her sideways and she began listing. Hatch covers were stripped away, the funnel collapsed, leaving behind a gaping hole. Water began flooding the hull rapidly, extinguishing the boiler fires and leaving her helpless without power. An effort was made to launch her lifeboats, but it was too late.

Around a quarter to twelve the "Yongala" sank below the waves, coming to rest on the sea floor on her starboard side.

This is a possible scenario explaining why and how she sank. But we will never really know.

The "Yongala" was built by Armstrong, Whitworth & Company for the Adelaide Steamship Company and launched in Newcastle upon Tyne (North-East England) on 29 April 1903. With a tonnage of 3,664 (mass) and powered by a steam engine, she was registered in Adelaide and took up the busy coastal route linking the gold fields of western Australia with the eastern ports of Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. She was designed to carry both passengers and freight.

The vessel was named after a word in the local Aboriginal language. 'Yongala' (originally pronounced Yonggluh) meant 'broad water', or 'broad wide watering place' and it is also the name of a small town in South Australia.

In 1906, "Yongala" was transferred to the Brisbane – Fremantle route. During the winter months from 1907 to early 1911, she serviced the east coast run from Melbourne to Cairns, as the Fremantle - Brisbane route became quieter at this time of year.

On 14 March 1911, "Yongala" embarked on her 99th voyage in Australian waters. She left Melbourne with 72 passengers, intending to travel to Cairns.

On the morning of 23 March, "Yongala" steamed into Mackay to drop off and receive passengers and discharge 50 tons of cargo, leaving 617 tons in the lower hold - 'properly stowed'. By 1.40 pm she had departed, carrying 49 passengers and 74 crew, making a total of 123 people.

Five hours later, the lighthouse keeper on Dent Island in the Whitsunday Passage watched "Yongala" steam past into worsening weather. It was the last sighting.

"Yongala" was posted as missing on 26 March. She was thought to have been lost on or about the 23 March. The Premier of Queensland, the Hon. Digby Denham turned all the resources of the state over to the search, including the public service, the police force and shipping - which included seven search vessels.

News of wreckage found washed up on beaches gradually trickled in - from Hinchinbrook Island to Bowen, but there was no sign of the vessel or of those on board. Hope had been abandoned by the following Wednesday after scores of vessels, including the Townsville Harbour Board's steam tug Alert, had scoured the coast. Bits and pieces from the vessel, including the body of a racing horse called "Moonshine", were found.

On 20 June, 1911, the Marine Board of Queensland met in Brisbane to finalise the inquiry into the loss of "Yongala" that had begun on 8 June 1911.

'The Board were satisfied that the vessel in construction, stability, seaworthiness was equal to any in her class.' The Board found the ability of the captain to be beyond doubt and unimpeachable, and 'with no desire to indulge in idle speculation, simply find that after becoming lost to view by the light keeper at Dent Island, the fate of the Yongala passes beyond human ken into the realms of conjecture, to add one more to the mysteries of the sea'.

Based on reports from Royal Australian Navy vessels about a submerged shipwreck off Cape Bowling Green, a search for the "Yongala" resulted in her discovery during August 1958.

During dives, artefacts were retrieved, including a safe found in the purser's cabin. The makers' serial number eventually confirmed it as the Chubb safe that had been supplied to Armstrong, Whitworth and Company for "Yongala", and which had been installed in the purser's cabin. The "Yongala" had eventually been found.

Many artefacts, including the ship’s bell, have been retrieved from the wreck. Some of these, such as the bell, are in the custodianship of the Maritime Museum of Townsville and are on display. Others are in the custodianship of Queensland Museum Tropics, not on display.

Today, the wreck is a major tourist attraction for the recreational diving industry. With more than 10,000 people visiting the wreck every year, the Yongala dive is rated among the top ten wreck dives in the world.

On Monday, 23 March, Townsville will think about the 123 souls who lost their lives when their ship disappeared below the waves. Visit the memorial and exhibition at the Maritime Museum, or spare a thought when passing the bronze memorial plaque in the main foyer of the Townsville University Hospital.

Ensuring safe navigation at the Port

Since August 2025 a real pilot boat of the Port of Townsville has been moored at the Museum's pontoon.

The ports of Townsville, Abbot Point and Lucinda are compulsory pilotage areas, meaning that ships longer than 50m that sail within the pilotage areas must either carry a licensed coastal marine pilot or be under the command of a Master who holds a pilotage exemption certificate for the area.

The Townsville pilotage area covers the Platypus and Sea Channels connecting the Port with the Inner Shipping Route between the Great Barrier Reef and the coastline.

The job of a coastal marine pilot is to advise the Master on safe navigation when entering or departing the Port via the pilotage area.

The Port of Townsville has pilot boats that assist in navigating ships into and out of the Port. They transfer marine pilots to ships entering the Port at the start of the Sea Channel and fetch them after ships have left the Port and have arrived at the far end of the Sea Channel.

Appointed in 1865, John Sully was the first pilot at the Port. A sailing vessel named "Ethel" was one of the first pilot boats. Over the years there have been many other pilot boats of all shapes and sizes.

In more recent years, these boats have been specifically designed for the conditions of the region, featuring self-righting capabilities, wave-piercing bows and wide side decks for pilot transfers.

The "Cleveland", the name of this pilot boat at the pontoon, is the Port’s standby/backup pilot boat that comes into action when the other pilot boats, "Osprey" and "John Rodgers", are unavailable.

In 1875, the Queensland Government established a pilot station at the base of a low granite hill, which became known as Pilot Hill (sometimes also referred to as Flagstaff Hill).

The station consisted of a pilot boat jetty, a workshop and storage area, the pilot’s residence, houses for pilot boat crew on the hill, a storage shed for signal flags and lamp and fuel store for servicing lights installed on bollards in Ross Creek.

On top of the hill was a tall signal mast. Once signals were received from either the Cleveland Bay or Bay Rock lighthouse, a flag was hoisted to advise that a ship was approaching the Port. Once the vessel had been identified, its company flag was run up to inform the local agent.

The mast also carried signals indicating the state of the tide.
On top of Pilot Hill stood a gantry for displaying a set of signal lamps for assisting with navigation at night.

The pilot station began to lose its usefulness as wireless communication between ships and shore was improved, but itcontinued to serve the Port until the mid-1950s.

During the 1930s, parts of Pilot Hill were quarried for port construction purposes. In 1958, what was left of the hill was removed to level the site for the second sugar terminal. Most of the rock was used to construct the foundation base and central pier of the new terminal.

Navy 125

Australia became a Federation on January 1901, when six separate British colonies were transformed into a single, unified nation—the Commonwealth of Australia.

On 1 March 1901, the five colonial navies (Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania) amalgamated into a single national force known as the Commonwealth Naval Forces (CNF). At the same time, the Commonwealth Military Forces (Australian Army) came into being.

The ships that the CNF inherited from the five colonial navies were old and inadequate, even for training. There was little hope for early improvement. This included the eleven vessels of the former Queensland Maritime Defence Force. In 1904, Captain William Creswell became Director of Naval Forces and he initiated a program to modernise and expand the fledgling navy, despite a very limited budget. In 1909, three new destroyers were ordered as a start.

On 11 July 1911, King George V granted the naval forces the title of Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Its warships were given the prefix His Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS).

A series of events will take place around Australia in 2026 under the banner Navy 125. The main event will be an International Fleet review in Sydney on 21 March.

Although no naval base was established in Townsville, RAN vessels and vessels of foreign navies have been calling regularly at the Port since the early days of the RAN and this continues today.

World War II was the period when naval activity was the most obvious. The Japanese occupation of New Britain and other islands in January-February 1942 made it possible for Japan to attack Northern Australia from bases in neighbouring territories. US and Australian authorities therefore decided to establish the Townsville region as a strategic military location, from where the Allies could defend Australia and attack the Japanese forces in the Pacific. The city became a hub of naval activity through the regular presence of Allied warships. Office, repair, storage and other facilities were established, visiting ships were checked and confidential Japanese naval communications were intercepted for decoding.

Since its establishment on 15 July 1986, the Maritime Museum has included the history of the RAN in its collections and displays. Its collections include journals, books, documents, uniforms, photos and model ships. Its displays focus on the role of Navy (and foreign navies) during the World Wars and more recent times, highlighting in particular the Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942.

A more permanent connection between Navy and the Museum was established when the Fremantle Class patrol boat HMAS Townsville was gifted to the Museum in 2007. Its location as a museum vessel on a slipway in Ross Creek (with naval significance) is a highly visible memorial to Navy’s 125 years and the sailors who served in it.

At the far end of Palmer Street

Beyond the Neville George Maritime Park and opposite Allure Apartments, Levanti and the Metropole Hotel, is a somewhat forgotten corner and degraded corner of Ross Creek. However, remains of walls and foundations, crumbling concrete slabs and other bits and pieces indicate some form of activity that took place here, many years ago.

The only other indication as to why this area has heritage significance is one of Council's plaques located along the route of the South Townsville and the Port heritage trail.

The remains of a slab and a slipway give away the site of the KG Smith & Co slipway and shipyard.

During World War II, the RAAF established a slipway to service their crash boats, located on Palmer Street opposite the Metropole Hotel. In 1947, RW Dodd started a shipyard at these premises. He sold it to Keith Smith and CA Ridge in 1949, who established KG Smith & Co.

KG Smith & Co built, repaired, serviced and refitted wooden boats and ships. These included sailing ships, ferries, fishing boats, lines launches, workboats and numerous small motor boats.

In the 1970s the company diversified its business interests by repairing shipping containers and repairing, servicing and refitting oil exploration vessels, tugs, navy ships and inflatable life rafts.

With the advent of aluminium, fibre-glass and steel construction materials, the demand for wooden boat building and repair skills fell away. In 1985 KG Smith & Co ceased to be a business.

The Museum has a file with information about this company and also owns an oil painting of the premises, painted by J O'Brien.

More posts to follow about the other places of significance in this corner of Ross Creek.

Stanley Edgar Jones - An Ordinary Sailor

Born on 21 February 1921 in Concord, New South Wales, Stanley Jones enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy as an Ordinary Seaman on 1 August 1938, age 17. His first posting was HMAS "Cerberus", the Navy's premier personnel training establishment on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.

On 19 June 1939 he joined the crew of HMAS "Perth", a modified Leander class light cruiser. At the start of World War II in September, the ship patrolled the Western Atlantic and the Caribbean in search of German shipping and es**rting convoys for six months before she was ordered home in early 1940. The ship continued the same types of duties in Australian waters before she was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet at the end of 1940.

During his service on "Perth", Jones was promoted to Able Seaman.

Jones left "Perth" on 29 July 1940 and went back to HMAS "Cerberus", before sailing to London on 12 December that year. Once in Britain he would then join the crew of a new ship. So, on 10 February 1941, he was posted to the N class destroyer HMAS "Nestor", a few days after her commissioning in Scotland.

Jones was on board when "Nestor" es**rted North Atlantic convoys, participated in the pursuit of the German battleship "Bismarck" in May 1941, engaged in es**rt duties in the South Atlantic, attacked and sank the enemy German submarine U-127 off Cape St. Vincent, protected the heavy ships during the bombardment of Bardia, es**rted the aircraft carrier HMS "Indomitable" in the Indian Ocean, and served with the 7th Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean.

On 15 June 1942, whilst returning to Alexandria (Egypt) after convoy protection duty, the ship was bombed, causing serious damage to the boiler rooms. HMS "Javelin" took the crippled "Nestor" under tow, attempting to reach Alexandria, over 500km distant. However, the lines parted twice during the night, and with more enemy attacks expected, "Nestor’s" crew was transferred to Javelin at dawn. "Nestor" was then scuttled and sunk by depth charges the morning of 16 June.

A day later, Jones was officially transfered to HMAS "Napier", a sister ship of HMAS "Nestor". Once again, he saw action, when his ship took part in the campaign to capture the island of Madagascar from the Vichy French (a puppet state of N**i Germany).

On 11 March 1943 Jones was back at HMAS "Cerberus" for about two months, whereafter he was posted to HMAS "Penguin", a Navy training base in Sydney.

On 9 July 1943 Jones was one the move again when he joined the crew of HMAS "Westralia", a passenger ship converted for the transport of landing craft and troops.

This would be his last ship. During 1943-1951 Jones was posted to various naval shore establishments in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

In 1947 he married at Petersham, Sydney.

His naval career ended on 20 February 1951, when he was discharged at HMAS "Penguin".

He returned home to New South Wales, living a full and happy life until he passed away in 1994.

Jones left behind a very large and varied collection of personal ites spanning his Navy career and also reflecting his passion for photography and film.

During 2011-2015, Barbara Burns, of Townsville, donated many of these items to the Australian War Memorial. In 2015, the remainder of he collection found a permanent home at the Maritime Museum of Townsville, where some of them are featred in a small, permanent display.

Also on display at the Museum is a large scale model of HMAS "Sydney" (I). A sister ship of HMAS "Perth", this model will provide some idea what "Perth" looked like when Jones was part of her crew. And finally, you can check out a scale model of HMAS "Nestor", dedicated to the memory of Neville George, a shipmate of Jones. Neville George would become one of the founders of the Maritime Museum in 1986.