Passage Boat Song

Words, Music & Sung by Phyl Lobl
Arranged and accompanied by Michael Roberts
Vocal Harmony and flute Chris Wheeler

Written using information given by Evan Matheson about life of settlers of the Shipwreck Coast, reading from literature including 'The Tasmanian Trading Ketch' by Garry Kerr and from personal experience of sailing journeys undertaken in Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait. These small shallow draught wooden boats traded along the Coasts of Tasmania and Victoria serving communities with shallow entrances. They took in supplies and mail and took out mail and products like shell grit, wattle bark and limestone. Occasionally it was a husband and wife combination that crewed these passage boats. The Arch and The Curdies are geographical formations along the Southern Coast of Victoria.