Build Date
1897
Boat Builder
Lane and Brown
Length
94 feet
Beam
Unknown
Talisman and The Golden Bay Shipping Company
Talisman was a schooner-rigged hold scow built in Whangaroa by Lane and Brown in 1897. She was used to transport shingle for the Golden Bay Shipping Company until 1930. The Golden Bay Shipping Company was based in Waitapu and was owned by Frank Falconer and as such he was the owner of Talisman until his son Brian Falconer brought her. Not only did Talisman transport shingle for this company she also transported butter, dolomite and other produce to Wellington. On the return trip she brought general cargo home. The Golden bay shipping company was also an agent for Hutton’s so Talisman often carried the more interesting cargo of live pigs across the cook strait to their Petone factory.
During Talisman’s tenure in Golden Bay she had several skippers including Alfred J Henry (who was the brother of William Henry part owner of the Golden Bay shipping company), W D Drake (1933), GP ‘Tiny’ Drummond (1948) and Joe Regnaud.
Talisman’s Later Owners
In 1951 Talisman was sold to the Inter-Island Shipping Company and then Port Nelson. Her last skipper was Captain Bob Hay. By 1963 she was owned by the Nelson Harbour Board who used her as a floating pontoon. At this time Talisman was also used by the Nelson Sea Cadets whose unit is still called TS Talisman after her.
Sadly Talisman met her end when she sunk in Nelson Harbour in 1981 and was then sold for her timbers.
References
To research Talisman we used the book Motueka Wharf 100 years by Carol Dawber with Motueka and districts Historical Association.
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