The two former Australian Women Army Service members bought the business from G K Carter using their savings and deferred army pay.

They were only in their twenties when they took over.

They paid a deposit and took a weekly tenancy until the sale of the property was approved.

The boatshed had 11 rowing skiffs and two Chapman launches for hire.

The new owners, Grace McNab and Margaret Bruce, had intended to increase their fleet as their capital grew.

They lived in the four-roomed cottage with a rose garden in the backyard.

The women painted and cared for the boats with the aid of a local boat builder.

Originally Walter Raleigh Elyard leased the land in July 1891. He had a large boat shed built on the site for the purpose of boat building and running his pleasure cruises along the Shoalhaven River.

While the precise location of Elyard's original boat building yard isn't certain, it is believed to have been a short distance east of the present Nowra wharf.

Walter Elyard built a number of vessels at this yard, including the ketch Milliwa and Formosa.

In 1937 Elyard's business was purchased by G K Carter who demolished the old boatshed and erected a home and new boatshed. He owned the site for around eight years before selling it to Grace and Margaret.

The boatshed had continued to be used as a boat hire business under various owners, and more recently was modified and extended to house a restaurant.

More history:

This year, the boatshed sold for $890,000 to Sydney investors. They plan to initially rent the property and with an eye to potentially redevelop the site in time.

Before that the Boatshed was owned by award-winning chef David Campbell and his wife Nicole, who ran the Wharf Road Restaurant from the property for six and a half years.

The couple is also known for operating the Hungry Duck restaurant in Berry for 11 years.

That operation served its final meals in June last year.

Before the Campbells took over, Nigel and Tracey Hain owned the 'Boatshed by the bridge' restaurant.

And the debate to further develop the Shoalhaven riverfront was happening then.

When Nigel and Tracey still ran the restaurant they were shocked at the under-utilisation of the Shoalhaven River.

They said they were constantly questioned by visiting diners about the river and why there was so little along its banks.

Information from Shoalhaven History Society.