Cape York
A Commonwealth Lighthouse Service tender, built in Sydney in 1925 and photographed lying off the Gabo Island landing in November 1933.
The ship
Cape York was one of the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service's steam tenders. She was built in Sydney in 1925, ran her trials in October that year, and was registered in Sydney. She measured 225 by 35 feet, with a gross tonnage of 1,406.
Tenders like Cape York carried stores, fuel, equipment and staff to lighthouse stations around the coast, and maintained buoys and other aids to navigation.
She stayed in service for forty years and was sold to China in 1965.
Gabo Island
On 2 November 1933 Russell Grimwade photographed the Gabo Island landing with Cape York lying offshore. Two days later he photographed her ship's company on the Victorian coast. This is a confirmed visit to Gabo Island.
Not yet confirmed:
- How often Cape York called at Gabo Island over her career.