topsail schooner Derwent Hunter

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The CSIRO purchased the Derwent Hunter to become Australia's first oceanographic research vessel. For over 12 years, from 1949 – 1962, she worked under sail roving from Antarctic waters in the Southern Ocean and as far north as Noumea and the outer Pacific basin.

Information collected from Derwent Hunter cruise reports was used as reference material for New Zealand research on whales in the south pacific. Ironically, 40 years later, Derwent Hunter is still contributing data material for whale research by submitting whale sightings through the GBRMPA sightings network during winter. These are then used by scientists to establish migratory patterns of humpback whales along the East Australian coast.

Unlike the idyllic sailing in the Whitsunday waters, back in the 1950’s the Derwent Hunter carried out her research in the stormy southern ocean, Bass Strait and the Tasman Sea. Her hydrographic work included salinity tests plotting the East Australian Current. The Derwent Hunter Sea Mount (Guyut) was discovered by and named after the vessel.  

The sea mount thought to be an extinct volcano that was once above the oceans surface is found 293km ESE of the coast of New South Wales. Sea mounts have a rich seabed fauna characterised by high numbers of species found nowhere else and the presence of large, erect seabed animals including habitat-forming corals and sponges. Some of these are extremely long-lived – hundreds and possibly thousands of years old – making them some of the longest-lived animals on earth.

During her eventful time with CSIRO she had many adventures, twice losing her rudder at sea and successfully piloting safely in to port unaided under sail, a tribute to the remarkable sailing ability of the men who sailed on her and the seaworthiness of the magnificent ship.

Tropical sailing on a traditional tallship is one of the truly great adventures, that has inspired many generations to leave their humdrum lives and head to sea. The eye catching lines of the Derwent Hunter brought her fame and fortune in 1969 when she was chosen by Paramount Studios 0-Ten Network to become the “Pacific Lady” in the hit family television series “The Rovers”.

The Rovers was an Australian ocean-based family adventure television show originally screened from 21 August 1969 until 12 June 1970 and was broadcast on the 0-Ten network and produced by NLT Productions.

The Rovers was based on the adventures of the crew of the Pacific Lady, an island schooner owned by Captain Sam MacGill (known as ‘Cap’ for short), played by Eddie Hepple. In the series the ship cruised the east coast of Australia under charter to Bob Wild and Rusty Collins played by Noel Trevarthen and Rowena Wallace. Wild was a freelance photographer filming wildlife for use in documentaries by a television network. Rusty was a journalist for “Wildlife” Magazine, whose editor had agreed to her accompany them on the boat as long as it didn’t cost him anything. Captain MacGills 10 year old grandson Mike accompanied the crew.

39 episodes of The Rovers were made, produced in colour and entirely on film, with extensive outdoor filming at scenic locations. Many native Australian animals are featured, in the storylines due to Bob and Rusty’s occupations concerning native flora and fauna, but also by Mike having on board the “Pacific Lady” a pet wombat, koala and cockatoo- the latter which exasperates Cap no end.

An old church hall in Brooklyn was converted to a studio for interior scenes. The permanent set comprised the below decks section of the 'Pacific Lady', including bunks, galley and darkroom. The set was built in sections mounted on castors, so the cabins could be locked together for scenes requiring movement from one area to another. The walls of the cabins were also mounted on castors so that they could be disconnected and rolled back for easier filming of interior scenes.