At nearly 100-years-old ‘Premier’ holds a rich history.
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The fully restored 62' 1922 ketch, based in Hobart, is for sale for the first time since 1983.
Owner Tony Jory, of Launceston, said the decision to sell has caused heartache, after he spent 15 painstaking years completing an extensive refit.
“It was originally a barge ... built for the Sward family in Hobart and back then it was called the Evlyn May,” he said.
“It was used for carting apples and timber around Bruny Island and up the Huon River.”
‘Premier’ is listed on the Australian Register of Historic Ships and had a history of war service with the Australian Navy between 1941 and 1943.
The state government eventually bought the ship off the Sward family and fitted a diesel engine, wheelhouse and cabin.
“It was pretty swish back then and it was used for carting all the government people around the Derwent,” Mr Jory said.
“It was then given to the police as a search and rescue vessel, but it ended up being too slow for catching poachers and they put it up for auction.”
Mr Jory said his most memorable trip was travelling from Launceston to Sydney when he lived on board for 16 months, experiencing a sea change with his wife.
They cruised Port Hacking, Sydney Harbour, Pittwater and up the Hawkesbury River.
“I used it for quite some time as it was [in 1983] and then I decided to put it in the shed and do some work on it and by the time I finished, it had been in the shed for 11 years,” he said.
The vessel has also been exhibited at the Australian Wooden Boat Festivals since 2013.