Goolwa Maritime Gallery

There are some obsessions which pass but for others like Chris Crabtree, there are those that last a little longer. As you can see, Chris likes to surround himself with all things nautical and this collection has been gathered over a lifetime. Both floors of the old Chart Room at Goolwa are now crammed with ship chandlery but back in the 1880's, this was where the plans for future paddlesteamers and other rivercraft were kept. Both Chris and Judy Crabtree have charted their own special course away from the city rat-race to the banks of the Murray, opposite Hindmarsh Island where they live on this converted 1880's tugboat. "We both love the water and we both love vessels, particularly wooden ones of course but we also love putting things together again." That becomes all the more apparent as you wonder around their riverside flotilla. Berthed next to Leo, and across the park from the Chart Room is their other passion, a floating monument to the efforts of these two maritime bower birds. Welcome to the Goolwa Maritime Gallery. On board is much of Chris's work and that of other local artists. In keeping with their passion, some might say obsession , the Crabtrees have focused on nautical themes like the old paddlesteamers of the Murray, fishing fleets on the Spanish coast and the beauty of the Greek Islands. And all this is housed in another labor of love ,once unflatteringly known as Barge MTB-B-Six, a World War Two ammunition barge - used in the invasion of Sicily.

Judy and Chris found it at Port Adelaide, shipped it here and began a lengthy restoration project. "We're hoping to pass on our passion and we know that there will be people who will come here and say well if they can do it so can we. You know it's sort of to do with lifestyle, it's to do with saying things, it's to do with fine chandlery and art." Here nothing nautical goes to waste. The ceiling timbers are from the Charles Sturt a famous vessel which was beyond restoration when the Crabtrees found it. During its heyday it played a key role in the construction of the Goolwa Barrages. Now the Captain Sturt plays its part in an arts and maritime complex which draws a range of responses. "The two responses we receive which are alternated is that you've got a wonderful lifestyle here or you're totally mad." "Do you agree with that?". "As I said to you before the bank doesn't lend to you on anything that flies or floats, not that we've found anyway. It's something that we've wanted to do and we've done it and that's the way it's working of us and we love it." The Goolwa Maritime Gallery is open Thursday through to Sunday from 10am until 4pm. Admission is $3 per person and $6 per family.

For more information you can email info@postcards-sa.com.au