Bring the boat back to the Bay

The 160 year old Lifeboat Alexandra is an integral part of Timaru’s maritime history. As part of their own 60th anniversary celebrations, the Timaru Host Lions have embarked on a project to bring the Lifeboat Alexandra back to Caroline Bay.

Bringing the Lifeboat Alexandra back to the bay has been talked about for many years. The Timaru Host Lions have decided it is now time to make this a reality. In conjunction with the Aoraki Foundation and Timaru District Council a team had been put together to raise the $350,000 required to display and protect the Lifeboat Alexandra for future generations.

The Alexandra is one of the oldest lifeboats of her type in the world. She is not just a memorial to our maritime history but to the brave men lost at sea off TImaru’s coastline.

- Russell Cowles, Timaru Host Lions

The Project

Photo Credit: John Bisset, Timaru Herald

The Timaru Host Lions have had designed a purpose-built shelter for the Alexandra that will be constructed behind the Soundshell in Caroline Bay. This carefully thought out design will not only protect the Lifeboat, it will display her proudly and tell her story for generations to come.   

Housing the Alexandra will cost  $350,000. The Timaru Host Lions are going to raise this money from grants and donations from organisations, businesses and individuals and by fundraising with groups with an interest in Timaru’s maritime history.

Why display the Alexandra?

The Alexandra is one of the oldest lifeboats of her type in the world and an integral part of Timaru’s maritime history. She is a memorial to the ships, boats, seamen and fishermen lost at sea off the South Canterbury coastline. The Alexandra is a forerunner of the modern Coast Guard. There is a need for future generations to understand the travails and the fortitude of the forefathers who established our town of Timaru.

At present the Alexandra is housed in Mainland Depot in King Street, Timaru, dry and safe but not accessible to the Timaru public. It has been in storage there since it was removed from the Landing Service Building in 2010. 

 

Donate now

All donations over $5 qualify for a charitable tax receipt that provides a 33% tax rebate up to a limit of your taxable income.

If you have any questions about donating please contact Russell Cowles at cowlestimaruhost@gmail.com or 027 494 9229

Donation Levels

The Timaru Host Lions are appreciative of any donation toward this project. In recognition of significant donations, there is a range of sponsorship levels.

Platinum $50,000+

  • Custom sponsorship package

Diamond $30,000+

  • Custom sponsorship package

Gold $10,000+

  • Certificate to display in your business or home.

  • Premium logo on the sponsorship board as a “Gold Sponsors”.

  • Public acknowledgment where possible in Lifeboat Alexandra press releases.

  • Premium social media acknowledgment on the Lifeboat Alexandra project Facebook page.

  • Logo and business name on this website as “Gold Sponsors”.

  • Invite to official the opening function.

Silver $5,000

  • Certificate to display in your business or home.

  • Standard logo on the sponsorship board as a “Silver Sponsor”.

  • Social media acknowledgment on the Lifeboat Alexandra project Facebook page.

  • Logo and business name on this website as “Silver Sponsors”.

  • Invite to official the opening function.

Bronze $2,500

  • Business name on the sponsorship board as a “Bronze Sponsor”.

  • Social media acknowledgment on the Lifeboat Alexandra project Facebook page.

  • Business name on this website as “Bronze Sponsors”.

  • Invite to official the opening function.

If you would like to make a significant contribution to this community project we are also happy to discuss a tailored sponsorship package to suit your needs.

Sponsors Wall

History of the Alexandra

In the 1860s, Timaru faced a pressing need for a boat that could navigate the heavy surf conditions, which proved unsafe for the existing whaleboats and surfboats. In 1862, the Canterbury Provincial Secretary wrote to London, placing an order for a lifeboat along with a launching carriage and provisions for six pulling oars and a steersman.

The 35 foot 6 inch long boat with a 6 foot beam, Alexandra, named after Queen Alexandra the wife of King Edward VII, was crafted by the National Life-boat Institution in the United Kingdom. In 1863, the lifeboat Alexandra embarked on a 130-day journey from London to Lyttelton, New Zealand, aboard the "Huntress" ship. The Alexandra lifeboat was brought down to Timaru and stored at the Government Landing Services building at the foot of Strathallan Street. On the 24th of May, 1869, the boat was used and crew member Duncan Cameron drowned after the Alexandra capsized. Following this incident, the Alexandra lifeboat was taken out of service and not used for thirteen years.

Royal National Life Boat Institution of Great Britain Plans for lifeboat.  None of the original Alexandra Lifeboat plans are known to exist.

In 1877, due to financial constraints, Harbourmaster Captain Alexander Mills (1833-1882) was instructed to dismiss his lifeboat crew. However, the Harbour Board responded by forming a volunteer rocket brigade, inspired by Captain Mills' inquiry about operating the rocket apparatus. The brigade proved its effectiveness by swiftly rescuing the crew of the 'Craig Ellachie' and went on to assist numerous other ships in distress.

The rocket brigade was able to rise to most occasions, until the 14th of May 1882, "Black Sunday" disaster when the Benvenue and the City of Perth broke their anchorages and were swept into the Benvenue Cliffs during a south easterly gale. When no other boat could handle the sea conditions, the Alexandra lifeboat was pulled out of storage and raced into action. Her first active use for thirteen years. During the rescue attempts the vessel capsized four times, resulting in the loss of ten lives. Forty three people were saved.

 

The large painting (about four feet in length) of the wreck of 'City of Perth' and 'Ben Venue' at Timaru hung for many years in the Farmers tearooms and now the painting is at the Port Company Offices, Timaru located along Marine Parade which is located near the distal end of the Port Loop Road a route to Caroline Bay and the harbour. The plate below the painting reads "Wreck of the Ben Venue and City of Perth on 14 May 1882, Presented to: The Port of Timaru Ltd. by Arthur Bradley. Last surviving son of Issac Bradley, A member of the rescue craft's crew." Photo by Roselyn Fauth with permission of PrimePort Timaru.

A memorial to the heroic rescue attempts was erected in Perth Street in 1932 on the 50th anniversary of the "Black Sunday", at a ceremony attended by surviving rescuers, the Alexandra was placed on Caroline Bay as a memorial to those who manned her and those who were rescued.

In 1997 the vessel was moved to the Landing Service Building and fully restored at a cost of $40,000, as part of the Timaru Information Centre where she was on public view. However she had to be moved to make room for the Ngai Tahu Te Ana Rock Art Centre, which opened in 2010. She is now stored in a shed at the Mainland Depot on King Street and not able to be on public display.

The Alexandra is one of the oldest and best examples of a lifeboat of its type in the world.

The Alexandra on display at Caroline Bay 1997 - Photograph by Philip Brownie