Acknowledgement of Country
This website contains stories of towns established on the land of the Bengalat balug of the Wadawurrung people. We acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners of these lands and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and Aboriginal Elders of other communities who read these stories.
Several interviews include copies of photographs sourced from either:
• the person being interviewed,
• The Bellarine Historical Society (https://www.bellarinehistory.org)
• Barwon Heads Association. (https://www.barwonheadsassociation.com/new-site/heritage/)
Jack Beazley
Born 92 years ago to a maritime family in Queenscliff, Jack Beazley lives in the house next door to the one he was born in on the hill in King St. overlooking Swan Bay. In this interview, he talks of growing up in Queenscliff, His time at Queenscliff Primary School, how they amused themselves in their spare time, the characters in the town, the Fort during World War 11 and how Queenscliff celebrated major events, New Year's Eve, the end of World War 2 and the Queen's coronation.
After he left school, Jack went to work as a shipwright for the Port Phillip Pilot Service in the shed on the beach next to the Pilot Station. Here he built and maintained boats for the service. He discusses the various designs of the boats and evolution of the design of the current Pilot Boat built to withstand the pressures of the tides, currents and the sudden changing conditions in the Rip. He also talks of the danger of entering Port Phillip Bay and touches on some of the rescues and disasters at the heads.
As one of the original founders of the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum, Jack is a fountain of knowledge of all things nautical around Port Phillip and beyond.
Audio Part 1 ->
Audio Part 2 ->