For the tradesmen it is a time of pride as the ship hits the water, but families and friends are usually involved as well.

This was the case in February 1922 when the single screw steamship, Currambene was being launched from the yards of Joseph Dent.

According to the Shoalhaven Telegraph, "motor buses from Nowra arrived before 9am crowded with passengers, and cars kept arriving with visitors, all eager to see the launching of the fine vessel".

In the time honoured tradition, the wife of one of the owners Mrs Burroughs broke a bottle of champagne on the bows, as the chocks on the trigger were knocked off.

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The Currambene slid into the blue waters of the creek after which she had been named, to the "loud cheers and clapping of hands from the hundreds of assembled spectators".

Praise was heaped on the work of the shipwrights, and comment was made of the understanding they had with the yard owner.

After the Currambene had been hauled alongside the wharf, Mr Dent provided a wide range of refreshments; and at the end of the day Mr Burroughs hosted a dance in the School of Arts.

The Currambene was built expressly for the timber trade between Bellinger River in Sydney.

However it did not have a long lifetime, being burnt and destroyed in the Williams River in early 1934.

A decade later, Huskisson saw the significant launching of another ship, the Bolton, built in the yard of Alf Settree for the firm of W. R. Carpenter & Co.

Called the Bolton, it was named after one of the company's pioneers in the Pacific region, John Bolton Carpenter.

It was designed for trading in the islands of New Guinea, and there were some high profile visitors for the launch.

All was in readiness by 9.30am on Saturday, February 11, 1933 with manager of the American Shipping Co. Mr Morris presiding.

He introduced the Minister for Health and Repatriation, Mr C. Marr who addressed the gathering and then called on his wife to carry out the christening.

The scene was described by the Telegraph:

"As the foaming contents of the bottle splashed over the copper sheathing, the vessel moved off gently and took to the water as gracefully as a swan, to the accompaniment of cheering and applause."

In commending Mr Settree and his workmen, Mr Marr said that the contract for the building of the ship had been gained in open competition with the world.

The Bolton had been built of local timber, and its first cargo was 140 tons of spotted gum that had been cut at Goodsell's mill.

Early the following week, the ship was towed to Sydney by the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company's steamer Kianga, for the installation of engines and for the completion of the cabins.

Information from the Shoalhaven Historical Society.

Read more: Local History

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