User Profile

Tony
Fenton

Tony Fenton majored in Physics and Computer Science at the University of Tasmania and completed a Graduate Diploma in Information Management. Following a period of work for the State Library of Tasmania, he has devoted most of his time to historical research and writing. His long-standing interest in South West Tasmania—brought about by his grandfather, the legendary tin-miner and naturalist Deny King—led to an exhaustive study of the history of Port Davey. Tony’s first book, A history of Port Davey, Southwest Tasmania, Volume 1: FLEETING HOPES was published by Forty South in 2017.

History

Unsafe harbour

by Tony Fenton

20 May 2021

Two fishing boats ply the south coast of Tasmania, as they have done countless times before – but this time is different. In February 1933, strong gales buffet the island, catching the crews of Corona and Doris Jane away from port. The fishermen dash for New Harbour, a small bay open to the south with a few rocks at the entrance affording scant protection. They are tossed about for an entire fortnight in this anchorage, knowing all this time that a slight change in the wind means shipwreck.