Ride on Beryl
Iluka's Well Remembered Timber Launch
Owned and operated by ‘Bill’ Hickey (William 1886–1973) from the 1910s to 1955, the timber launch known as Beryl was used to transfer people, goods, and the mail, across the Clarence River from Yamba to Iluka. She ran this route in tandem with her sister motor-launch the Phfrane (pronounced Fray-nee), also owned by Bill.
Europeam settlers established at Iluka in the 1870s, with the building of the break walls at the mount of the Clarence River – known as Moriarty’s River Training Scheme. When the breakwall was finished many families turned to fishing to make a living locally.
In 1904 the Iluka Progress Association took steps to expand and promote the village as a tranquil holiday spot. The timing of this action coincided with similar moves by other coastal settlements to cater to a growing tourist market.
Bill Hickey began his ferry service to meet the demands of tourists coming to the village. The Association’s efforts had paid off. Visitors stayed in private cottages, boarding houses or camp grounds.
In 1916 Bill Hickey also built two holiday cottages, and the North Head Hotel was rebuilt as a two-storey hotel with 33 ‘spacious’ rooms. Hotel guests were often welcomed straight off the boat – including the Beryl.
That Beryl was fitted with a superstructure – and the Phfrane wasn’t – meant she was relied on in wet and windy weather, to get people and provisions where they needed to go. She was admired for her beautiful inside timber-work – including turned stanchion posts (which held up the roof) and varnished seats, under which bulky life jackets were kept.
In the 1950s Beryl was retired and sold, but her beautiful gold-lettered name plate was kept and handed on to the Iluka Museum as a reminder of the village’s much admired motor launch.
